Largely overlooked upon it's release Best Laid Plans is a compact little thriller than twists and turns towards it's conclusion.
As the tale opens when join Nick as meets old college buddy Bryce in a bar, later that night he receives a panicked phone call from Bryce who fears the girl he picked up earlier that night is going to file rape charges against him. It just gets more complicated from there and to say much more is to spoil it for those who haven't seen it.
The taught Mamet like tale essentially rests on a central trio of characters with Josh Brolin, Alessandro Nivola and Reese Witherspoon just starting to break into the big leagues coming of the back of Election and Cruel Intentions. All three put in good performances and take you with the characters as the plot curve balls keep coming.
The film is boosted by a evocative score from Craig Armstrong and a vibrant colour pallet that divides up the bright early days of relationships, the dark desperate night and the drudgery of lives stuck in small town ruts. Although it seems director Mike Barker's career has stalled somewhat over the last few years.
Admittedly the tightly wound threads unravel towards the end as we learn the truth behind events but the emotional resolution is strung enough to carry the film through to the end. To be honest it is hard to really talk too much about the film without giving away details (and I fear already I have here as is) but I can say I recommend it and you'll find a engaging thriller here.
Oh, it does have one of my favourite soundtracks.
http://uk.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2950759193/
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0133412/
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