3. Out of Sight (1998)
The George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez starring Out of Sight is Soderbergh's most likeable film. It is less arrogant than Ocean's 11, deeper than Haywire and has a broader audience than Magic Mike. It is funny sexy and irresistible - which as it stars Clooney and Lopez, is to be expected. Out of Sight marked the birth of a successful working relationship between Soderbergh and Clooney as they would work together five more times after this. Out of Sight also boasts an incredibly talented supporting cast featuring Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Albert Brooks, Dennis Farina, Luis Guzman, Viola Davis and uncredited performances from Samuel L Jackson and Michael Keaton. Out of Sight will seduce you with its charm, wit and beauty and it is a great film without trying to be one. Adapted from the Elmore Leonard novel of the same name and the original text has much influence of the successful adaptation, but it is overall Soderbergh's show as Clooney and Lopez sizzle with their chemistry igniting the screen. Out of Sight birthed a new dawn for Soderbergh who had become too oblique and indie for his own good as he delivered numerous box-office and critical failures in the aftermath of Sex, Lies, and Videotape. Here, he tones down his experimental quirks but still delivers an outstanding movie and one that appeals to casual cinema fans and movie buffs alike.