Sanaa Lathan stars as Ann Merai Harrison
"A roller-coaster ride of a thriller, steeped in suspense and the kind of hair-raising twists that have gone the way of quick gratification filmmaking."
Jeanne Aufmuth PALO ALTO WEEKLY
"Gripping crime thriller that reunites Devil in a Blue Dress star Denzel Washington with director Carl Franklin and, in many ways, reinvents the genre."
John Anderson NEWSDAY
"Washington has never been more of a movie star than he is here."
Joe Baltake SACRAMENTO BEE
"If you're willing to forgive some unlikely scenarios, Out of Time is cracking good fun"
Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS
"Denzel Washington shines in Carl Franklin's thriller about a man trapped, working against time."
Boo Allen DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE
Eva Mendes stars as Detective Alex Diaz Whitlock
What The Critics Say
Denzel Washington stars as Chief Matt Lee Whitlock
"“Out of Time” moves so swiftly that you won’t look at your watch during the two hours that this taught thriller unfolds."
Linda Cook QUAD CITY TIMES
"Working from a tight script by first-time screenwriter Dave Collard, Franklin moves the story at a brisk pace as his often-in-motion camera captures the sultry sensuality of a backwater coastal town."
Kirk Honeycutt HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
"A shrewd thriller."
Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"Out of Time holds enough twists, surprises and laughs to make it a fun ride to the very last frame."
Louis B Hobson JAM! MOVIES
"Denzel Washington has never made better use of his screen persona than he does in Out of Time, a slick crime thriller from director Carl Franklin."
Greg Maki STAR-DEMOCRAT
Dean Cain stars as Chris Harrison
At A Glance
"Out Of Time" marks the screenwriting debut for first-time screenwriter Dave Collard and the question everyone wants answered is, why a mystery thriller? Collard admits that he "was inspired by the mystery thrillers he enjoyed most as a kid.Those were the movies I grew up really liking," he saids. "Anywhere you have those twists, where you’re trying to figure it out and put together the puzzle, I just loved it." So what was the idea behind a central character who is a pretty good sort of a bloke, but does all the right things for the wrong reasons? "My intent was to get the audience to like the character, then sort of throw him in a blender for the second half of the movie, hit ‘blend,’ and watch him try to stay away from the blades," he explained. "I was going for a movie where you lean forward in your seat, where you’re really interested in what’s going to happen because you really feel for the guy."
Producer Neal H Moritz
was looking for his next project. When Collard's script came to him he knew he had it right there. "It made for exciting entertainment from beginning to end," says Moritz. "Audiences love to root for a hero, and it’s even more electrifying when you have no idea how they can possibly get themselves out of the trouble they’re in. That’s the case with Matt in Out of Time – you’re right there with him, taking the journey, and you can’t wait to see where it ends up. It’s a very suspenseful, thrilling story, and it’s very well told."
Fellow producer Jesse B'Franklin
saw great potential in Collard’s script, and was particularly intrigued by its central character. "I liked the character of Matt," B’Franklin says. "He’s basically a good guy who, for various reasons, makes a few choices that land him in hot water. What makes it even more complex is that he makes his decisions for what the audience understands to be the right reasons. That makes us root for him from the very beginning." Now they had to find the right Director.
They focused on director Carl Franklin
who was sold on the project as soon as he read the script. "I was intrigued by the characters and the element of the ticking clock," says Franklin. "I knew it would be a challenge. I just thought, ‘You know, I’d like to try to pull this off.’" And when it came to the right cast members he says he " wanted to find actors that could breathe vivid life into these characters." The first person he turned to was Denzel Washington. And, just like those before him, Washington was impressed with the script and Chief Matt Whitlock.
"When I first read the script, I thought it was a great ride," says Washington. "Carl and I had a good success previously, so that was there, but first and foremost with me it always comes down to the script. I found it very interesting and I liked the character of Matt. I thought it would be a great role to play." Now the film-makers were faced with the daunting task of finding two strong women to play opposite Washington. "In Mendes and Lathan, the filmmakers found what they were looking for."
"Both Sanaa and Eva are incredibly exciting to work with," says producer Jesse B’Franklin. "They are both beautiful, both immensely talented, and their careers are on a definite upward climb. In their scenes with Denzel, it makes for a sizzling combination."
For actress Sanaa Lathan
it was a real thrill working with Washington, and she was grateful for the opportunity. "Denzel is so enthusiastic about his work," she said. "He is there for you, he is there for himself. He really honors his character, he honors the story. He immerses himself in the world of the film. Working with Denzel means having a co-star who is completely in that imaginary world with you, and that naturally brings you deeper into it, too." So how did she handle those very sexy love scenes?
"Of course, we had to do one of our first scenes, which is a love scene," Lathan laughs. "I met him, then five minutes later, here we are doing this love scene. We were laughing because we were like, ‘Crazy what we do for a living,’ you know?"
Actress Eva Mendes
had already worked with Washington before. "Denzel is so open, available and exciting. I learned so much from him every single day. He is so professional, and he taught me so much without even knowing it. It’s like acting school, but I’m getting paid instead of paying the school," she said laughing. So what did Denzel think about working with these two hot, sexy actresses?
"The women dominate this movie. I am just along for the ride," Washington laughs. "Sanaa plays the woman I fool around with, and Eva, who was in Training Day with me, plays my wife, with whom I’m in the process of going through a divorce. Both are strong actors giving fine performances. And yes, playing opposite these two women makes me a very lucky man."
Casting About
"Out Of Time" was directed by Carl Franklin ["Punk", "Devil In A Blue Dress", "One True Thing" and "High Crimes"], produced by Jesse B'Franklin ["Devil In A Blue Dress", "Mona Lisa", "Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "High Crimes"] and Neal H Moritz ["Sweet Home Alabama", "Cruel Intentions", "XXX", 2 Fast 2 Furious"and "S.W.A.T."].
"Out Of Time"
stars two time Academy Award winner (for Best Actor"Training Day" and Best Supporting Actor "Glory") Denzel Washington
["Glory", "Cry Freedom", "Devil In A Blue Dress", "The Hurricaine" and "The Bone Collector"], Eva Mendes ["Training Day", "2 Fast 2 Furious" and "All About The benjamins"], Sanaa Lathan ["The Wood", "Life", "Blade" and "Brown sugar"], Dean Cain ["The Stone Boy", "The Boken Hearts Club" and "Rat Race"] and John Billingsly ["The Glass House", "High Crimes" and "White Oleander"] as Chae.
Time Out for Trivia
Denzel Washington had his sights set on a career in medicine. He abandonded that idea after he was bitten by the acting bug. In a twist of fate, and early in his career, he would play Dr Phillip Chandler in the TV series "St Elsewhere".
Eva Mendes
was discovered after a Los Angeles neighbour asked to photograph her. She soon had a manager and started her career appearing in commercials. Her first film was "Children of the Corn 5".
Dean Cain
appeared on television as "Superman". His film debut was in "The Stone Boy". Later he formed his own production company which produces the TV show "Ripley's Believe It Or Not". In real life he played football for the "Buffalo Bills".
John Billingsly
started acting at the tender age of five in a school production of "A Christmas Carol" in which he played 'Scrooge'. He went on to become an acclaimed stage actor. He helped to found the Seattle acting studio 'Freehold' and taught there for seven years. He has made guest appearances in many major hit TV shows including; "Six Feet Under', "The Practice", "NYPD Blue" and "The X-Files", to name a few.
Carl Franklin
got his big directing break thanks to a low budget film called "One False Move" which starred Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Cynda Williams. It was named in the National Board of Reviews 10 Best Films for 1992. And guess who was in the cast of his next film "Devil In A Blue Dress"? None other than Denzel Washington.
Jesse B'Franklin
is director Carl Franklins producing partner and more recently became his wife.
The Story
Matt Lee Whitlock, chief of police in Banyan Key Florida has a problem. Make that one big problem and a hell of a lot of loose ends hanging from it. Matt has been having an affair with former football identity Chris Harrison's foxy wife Ann Merai. So far it seems he's been able to keep it well hidden from the locals and Ann Merai's husband who openly despises him. Matt's problems start when a fire destroys the Harrison's house. In the burntout remnants, Fire Officers discover two bodies, burnt beyond recognition but apparently those of Chris and Ann Merai. A neighbour recalls someone running from the property. A police sketch artist draws the man described to him. He looks an awful lot like Chief Whitlock. Well the witness is elderly, it was dark and she does wear glasses. Then Matt's estranged wife Detective Alex Diaz Whitlock, who has taken over the case from him, calls the local phone company. There may just be a clue in the records of calls made to the Harrison's. He's really in big trouble. No matter which way he turns it looks like he is the prime suspect. And to make matters worse, he gave Ann Merai nearly half a million dollars, money which was evidence in a drug bust. Now the FBI wants the money. Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now.
The Verdict
"This is a film you imagine they had fun making. More than a thriller/drama because there is a lot of really cute humour throughout. It's fresh, bounds along at a ripping pace and as always, Denzel Washington is solid as a rock. It's great watching his character Matt trying to keep one step ahead of the detectives who take over the case from him. If your looking for a solid film, a fair storyline, a few good laughs, thrills and spills then "out Of Time" should meet your needs. Returns good value for your box-office bucks."
The Cast
Denzel Washington
Eva Mendes
Sanaa Lathan
Dean Cain
John Billingsley
Robert Baker
Alex Carter
Antoni Corone
Terry Loughlin
Nora Dunn
James Murtaugh
Peggy Sheffield
Evelyn Brooks
Eric Hissom
Tom Hilmann
Parris Buckner
Arian Ash
Mike Pniewski
Veryl E Jones
Tim Ware
Jesse B'Franklin
Edward Amatrudo
Neil Brown Jr
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Chief Matt Lee Whitlock
Det Alex Diaz Whitlock
Ann Merai Harrison
Chris Harrison
Chae
Tony Dalton
Cabot
Deputy Baste
Agent Strark
Dr Donovan
Dr Frieland
Judy Anderson
Judy's Mom
Hotel Clerk
Living Gift Salesman
Dr Shider
Dental Assistant
Agent White
Agent Fetzer
Fire Chief
Ramona
Arson Investigator
Morgue Attendant
The Crew
Directed by Carl Franklin
Written by David Collard
Original Music by Graeme Revell
Cinematography by Theo van de Sande
Film Editing by Carole Kravetz
Casting by Mali Finn
Production Design by Paul Peters
Art Direction by Gary Kosko
Set Decoration by Kathryn Peters
Costume Design by Sharen Davis
Production Supervisor Stephen Traxler
Unit Production Manager Kevin Reidy
Run Time 104 minutes
Rated MA15+ [AUST]
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