No Sudden Move Movie Review

No Sudden Move (2021)

Watch the trailer
Written by: Ed Solomon
Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Starring: Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Jon Hamm, Brendan Fraser, Julia Fox, Kieran Culkin, Ray Liotta
Rated: R

Plot
A group of criminals are brought together under mysterious circumstances and have to work together to uncover what's really going on when their simple job goes completely sideways.

Verdict
This is a twisting and complicated movie as it's difficult to know who works for whom. While that may be secondary to the main plot, new characters continue to appear as two low level criminals work their way through a hierarchy of buyers for sensitive information. It's a dense character list, but the ties to actual events provide a great setting for the story. It just might require a second watch or at least a few minutes of pondering to put the pieces together.
It depends.

Review
A trio of criminals have an uneasy alliance as they attempt to steal top secret documents from General Motors in 1955. Things take a turn with second guessing and backstabbing as criminals just can't trust each other. It ends up with Curt (Don Cheadle) and Ronald (Benicio Del Toro) trying to outsmart everyone (and each other) while attempting to sell the stolen documents.

Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro play Curt and Ronald.

There are a lot of characters. Curt and Ronald are hired by Jonas who claims he doesn't work for Frank. There's the mark that's going to help steal the documents, and then there is everyone above Curt and Ronald in this hierarchy and that's a lot more people. It's not easy to keep track of them because many of them don't get an introduction and if they do, very little characterization.

While I understood the plot, I had lingering questions about who employed the guys at the top of the hierarchy and how, or if, they were connected to the big four car companies. Naismith was a character referenced a few times. We see him, but he doesn't have any dialog.

The backdrop to the plot is the city of Detroit. Characters mention black communities razed by the city, and that actually happened. The rich prosper and the poor become poorer. The car companies are out to increase profit. The secret documents could cause the car manufacturing process to become more expensive. The car companies only want to protect their bottom line.

SPOILERS

So Ronald and Curt were hired by Jonas who was hired by or working for Frank Capelli. Naismith hired Capelli. I'm guessing they were hired by a car company. Then you've got Wertz who is the mark Ronald, Curt, and Charley force to steal the documents. Wertz has to go to his boss to get the documents. If that's not it, it's close enough. Mike Lowen (Matt Damon) works for the big four car companies. I'm not sure how if at all he and Naismith relate. The car companies don't want the catalytic converter information getting out.