Best Laid Plans

1999 Mystery & Suspense

Absolutely nobody is who he or she seems in this stylish thriller about a guy who wants to get out of his fly-speck hometown, the girlfriend who wants to help him, and the successful friend who just might make it possible. When Bryce (Josh Brolin) returns to his tiny hometown of Tropico, NV, he finds pal Nick (Alessandro Nivola) still living there unhappily. One night the pair meets a beautiful blonde at the bar and eventually Bryce takes her back to the house where he's staying. When the girl, Lissa (Reese Witherspoon), reveals that she's under age and threatens to turn Bryce in for statutory rape, he panics, ties her up in the basement, and puts in an anguished call to Nick. Little does Bryce realize, however, that Lissa is actually Nick's very grown-up girlfriend, and that the two lovers have decided Bryce and the ritzy house where he's staying will play a major role in their bid to leave behind dead-end Tropico forever. more..

Director: Mike Barker

Starring: Alessandro Nivola, Josh Brolin, Reese Witherspoon, Rocky Carroll, Michael G. Hagerty

Reviews

  • Has the refined taste to crib from classics like "Double Indemnity."

    Susan Wloszczyna - USA Today

    29 November 2012

  • A fine mood piece with lots of atmosphere and boasts terrific performances from its stars.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

  • Style overwhelms substance by default.

    Elvis Mitchell - The New York Times

    29 November 2012

  • The plot thickens and thickens and thickens until it chokes on a tangled mess of double-crosses.

    John Petrakis - The Chicago Tribune

    29 November 2012

  • Director Mike Barber springs a twist ending that makes you sit up and stifle those yawns.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Location Professional of the Year - Features

    California on Location Awards (1998)