In the sexy, slick, and sharp-witted Out of Sight, a never-better George Clooney plays Jack Foley, a career bank robber who pulls off heists based on pure charm alone. His charisma is so powerful it even turns the cat-and-mouse game he plays with federal marshal Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) into a seductive dance. Karen is no easy mark, though: she’s a tough agent who’s used to being underestimated by the men she works with. The sizzling connection that sparks between her and Jack is gripping precisely because it threatens to break the basic logic both live their lives by: he a slippery criminal, she a no-nonsense professional. Clooney and Lopez’s naturally electric chemistry is supercharged by the fact that the film never slips into sentimentality, always keeping their will-they-won’t-they amour at a tantalizing distance until the decisive moment. A crime caper with many strings to its bow — among them sizzling romance and brilliant dialogue brought to life by a dazzling supporting ensemble — this is a masterfully entertaining ride from director Steven Soderbergh.

Two things: first, its Pulp Fiction-esque dual timelines (one in the film's present day, one two years prior), which are cleverly woven together by none other than Lawrence of Arabia editor Anne V. Coates. Second: the frankly unbelievable cast. Clooney’s star rose dramatically with his role here, but it’s arguably even more thrilling to see how well so many of the film's other casting decisions hold up. With its ranks bolstered by the likes of Viola Davis, Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle, Steve Zahn, Albert Brooks, Michael Keaton (reprising his role from Jackie Brown), and many more stars — including a wry cameo in the movie’s final scene — Out of Sight overflows with charisma.