Very disappointing...

The acting in this movie is really good.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This movie begins with a possible occurrence of a rape, and I wondered what on earth was happening. However, in the first 10-15 we find out that it's all set up, so the rest of the movie is based in explaining how the three characters have gone into the rape scene. Throughout its explanations, spectator is able to notice that Lissa is someone who does everything to be with Nick, even if that means danger-- and that's really what happens. She puts herself in big danger in order to save her boyfriend's life from a group of pseudo-bandits. It doesn't get clear if Lissa was deeply in love with him, or if she was just crazy to move out. The story, sometimes, felt a little over-the-top, considering that people wouldn't invent all that just to get a paid debt. However, I admit that directing made it feel tense for some very moments, mainly when their commercial is showing on TV, and they have to hide it from Bryce. That was such an intense moment. All in all, "Best Laid Plans" is different from everything you've seen, and there's a big chance that you will enjoy it. I did.

„The best laid plans" is quite obviously inspired by David Mamet's movies . It tries to imitate Mamet style , but fails . The direction is lack luster . The plot twists are delivered without subtlety and movie is rather boring . Add to that a rather weak acting (even coming from Josh Brolin and Terrence Howard) and disaster is ready .Well , it isn't really a disaster . The movie is watchable . Sometimes a good dialogue appears and the guy who plays the drug dealer is quite good . Still , I can't shake off the feeling that David Mamet could do wonders with this story . The creators of this movie have nice twist at the end that definitely reminds me of Mamet . Unfortunately the emotional impact of that twist is strangely small. Nothing before and after that twist could be reward for audience patience.With better direction , acting and more tight screenplay "TBL" had a chance to be a good movie . It is however just a forgettable Saturday night entertainment.I give it 3/10.

Lissa (Reese Witherspoon) accuses Bryce (Josh Brolin) of rape, and then the film unfolds in interesting ways as we see how Nick (Alessandro Nivola) plays a part in her past and their future.The film relies on the universal desires for love, sex and money. Bryce just wants to get laid, Lissa pretty much just wants love but Nick wants both love and money. His plans to get that money get in the way of other dead-end criminals also wanting money. As the film's title suggests, no plans go quite as according to plan. The various twists in getting the plans foiled weren't particularly ingenious but they were well done. I never quite knew what was coming next, but I always wanted to find out. A crime drama thriller with some crimes but minimal violence, and although it seems a bit slow there is enough intrigue to keep the suspense level, or at least interest, up."Best Laid Plans" stars three great actors at the beginning of their careers, and each proved why they have become the respected-stars they are. I recommend it to fans of crime drama thrillers and to fans of Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, or Alessandro Nivola.

First of all (Alessandro Nivola) can't act, his provocative dead features ruined all of it. (Reese Witherspoon) is another provocative face but at least she gave her role some creditability and effort. So.. What was that anyway ? : An invitation to finance the collage students ? A good warning for everyone to "Never Trust Anybody" ! Or it's a helluva way to spent a night ! As a movie with a lead that owns nearly every cadre of it; it's one big failure, and it deserves it, because casting (Nivola) was exactly like casting a corpse to handle the job. He didn't make any respectable attempt to persuade, I bet this dude had watched too many Marlon Brando's movies and studied them BADLY I can tell you that ! Look at him seeing a flat tire in his car.. What a flat expression !! He can be sad, disappointed, angry, flirty, surprised, meditative, scared all by the same forever frozen countenance ! I gave him definitely the ultimate 0 out of 10. God.. Even losers like (Jay Mohr) can show more vitality than him ! PLUS how (Mike Barker)'s direction looked pedantic and tasteless. For instance, some of the scenes were overdone; they filmed the first telling of the story (from the confused professor to his friend) with a camera running with the 2 actors in circles??!!, the lighting insisted on being a forever sick yellow. The music, very much like the lead, didn't do anything to the whole story. Add to that : Some strange dramatic doings; the professor wants to kill the girl to end the night peacefully !, the drug dealer talking like an economic high expert and the lead doesn't concern !?? I said to myself Hey.. It's such a renewal in stereotype character to discover that it's just an idiocy!. Observe the performance to feel how bad the direction was, (Josh Brolin) was the best of it but even when he looks at the dead girl comes-to-life at the end he was for moment stricken by contagion of his fellow actor's dull expressions ! It's not a very good Noir about such situation of unbalanced community full of exploiters, thieves, bloodsuckers, backstabbers, where everybody scheming everybody, and the word "friendship" doesn't exist. Though it was close to that. Anyhow I had a terrible night watching this and I'm sorry to say it : this is one of those rare movies where I ask myself what did you enjoy in it? To replay: I enjoyed nothing !