Movie Review

Killer cast and Steven Soderbergh make No Sudden Move sing

Although the same could be said about a number of people, there is simply no filmmaker working today like Steven Soderbergh. He has released five movies in the past four years — including one just seven months ago — and not one of them bears any resemblance to the others. He has a unique ability to switch among genres, tones, and types of actors, and still deliver a result that is identifiably his own.

His latest film is the HBO Max original No Sudden Move, a crime movie that falls somewhere between his own Out of Sight and the Coen Brothers’ Fargo. Set in Detroit in 1954, three seemingly small-time crooks — Curt (Don Cheadle), Ronald (Benicio Del Toro), and Charley (Kieran Culkin) — are recruited to do what’s supposed to be a simple heist. Naturally, things don’t go exactly as planned, and the bulk of the film is spent trying to clean up the mess, with double crosses abounding.

And with the killer cast that the film boasts, you never know from where the next bit of duplicity is coming. David Harbour plays an accountant for one of the big three automakers, who’s having an affair with his boss’ secretary. Brendan Fraser plays an intermediary for a crime syndicate. Jon Hamm plays a police officer who may or may not be on the level. Ray Liotta plays a criminal nobody seems to want to work with. Bill Duke plays the leader of another crime syndicate. And a surprise big-name cameo in the film’s third act brings the whole thing together in a fantastic way.

Soderbergh, working from a script by Ed Solomon, has a knack for trying wonky things and making them work. For most of the film, he utilizes a fish-eye lens that distorts the edges of the frame while keeping the center in sharp focus. It’s an unusual technique and there’s no doubt that the effect can be distracting at times. However, the majority of the time it serves its purpose of directing the audience’s attention wherever Soderbergh wants it.

While the story starts off relatively straightforward, it quickly gets complicated, with the various characters creating multiple side plots. The particulars can be difficult to follow, especially when the story tangentially brings up mid-century ideas like automaker collusion and systemic racism. The film is not quite as fun as some of Soderbergh’s other movies, but the personalities of the characters give it some needed lightness.

And those characters get those personalities from the immense talents of all of the performers. Cheadle, ostensibly the lead of the film, plays a character who seems to be older than he is, and he uses a voice and demeanor that shows what a versatile actor he is. The previously mentioned supporting actors and others, including Amy Seimetz, Julia Fox, and Noah Jupe, all deliver standout performances, making it an actors showcase no matter which way you turn.

No Sudden Move is the latest example of Steven Soderbergh figuring out how to work the system for his maximum benefit. Whether his films appear in theaters, on Netflix, or now on HBO Max, the director works fast and efficiently, knowing how to get the most out of his band of actors.

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No Sudden Move is now streaming on HBO Max.

Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro in No Sudden Move.

Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro in No Sudden Move

Photo by Claudette Barius

Don Cheadle and Benicio Del Toro in No Sudden Move.

The grass will be greener

AT&T Stadium glows pretty in pink as World Cup field takes root

Dallas Stadium pitch for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Photo courtesy of FIFA

Grass grow-lights suspended from the ceiling at AT&T Stadium are turning the pitch pink.

FIFA officials unveiled the soccer pitch taking shape at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for 2026 World Cup matches, and the most noticeable feature is that it's ... pink. At least for now.

Much like pink-hued LED lights that make indoor gardens grow at home, giant grow lights have been suspended from the ceiling to promote photosynthesis, as the stadium's retractable roof does not allow enough sunlight for grass to grow.

The innovative roof-suspended light system (which allows for lights to be raised or lowered) is the first of its kind for FIFA, says Ewen Hodge, FIFA World Cup 2026 head of pitch infrastructure. AT&T Stadium is the only 2026 World Cup venue employing the technology.

FIFA pitch, Dallas Stadium The lights are suspended on 18 rigs, which can be raised and lowered over the field.Photo courtesy of FIFA

"They've never been hung from the ceiling before," Hodge says. "Typically these systems have a set of wheels that they're wheeled in and out of the facility and these are able to be lifted up, and that means that we have one less thing on the field."

For soccer newbies, the "pitch" is the official term for the rectangular field where a match is played. And in FIFA World Cup world, that field is real grass - not the artificial turf that the Cowboys play on. It is 105 meters by 68 meters, which roughly converts to 115 yards by 75 yards.

Pitch prep at "Dallas Stadium," which AT&T Stadium will be called during World Cup, started about two months ago, Hodge says.

They started by installing ventilation and irrigations systems above the stadium's concrete floor, then laid down several inches of sand to support the natural grass surface - a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass grown and shipped from Colorado, he says.

Dallas Stadium, World Cup pitch The pitch is a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and ryegrass, and there's a layer of sand underneath.Photo courtesy of FIFA

Nylon fibers are being stitched into the grass using specialized machinery to help reinforce the field.

A team of about 25 workers is mowing and irrigating daily, Hodge says, to ensure the grass will be ready and healthy for the first game (Netherlands vs Japan) on June 14. During matches, the grow-lights will be taken up 290 feet into the ceiling so they will not create sight lines, says Tod Martin, general manager of AT&T Stadium.

Between the nine matches that will be played at the stadium, the grow-lights will come back down from the ceiling, and grass will be fertilized, monitored for diseases, and adjustments will be made.

"We always say that our days from the pitch management side are busier than a match day," Hodge says. "On a match day, we're doing a mow and getting the line marks out there, so it's the final touches so we're ready for the game."

Dallas Stadium, World Cup pitch Nylon fibers are being stitched into the grass using specialized machinery to help reinforce the field. Photo courtesy of FIFA

Maintaining a grass standard across all venues for the World Cup tournament is a major challenge due to the climate differences between each city, he says.

Hodge, a New Zealand native, first visited AT&T Stadium in March 2023 to begin planning how the venue would accommodate a World Cup-caliber pitch. To gather ideas, AT&T Stadium's Martin traveled to Wembley Stadium in England, where he met with officials to learn firsthand how they manage one of the world's most famous soccer fields.

"They're impressive. It was a sight to see for sure," Martin says.

"Test games" at AT&T Stadium have been used to evaluate things like how the field feels under the players' feet and how fast the ball travels, Hodge says.

World Cup pitch, Dallas Stadium The field is longer and wider than it would be for an NFL game to allow for things like corner kicks.Photo courtesy of FIFA

By the numbers, Martin offered, the pitch at the stadium has involved 10 contractors, 45,000 man hours, 15,000 tons of materials hauled in, and 24 refrigerated trucks to transport the pitch from Colorado; the grass came in four-foot-wide rolls, 50 feet long.

The biggest installation challenges, Martin says, involved structural modifications to the stadium, including extending the field into the patio suites. "We had to take out roughly three feet in our corners to get a little bit more room for those corner kicks," he says.

After the tournament, Martin says, the grass will be taken out and recycled by a contractor for other projects.

pitch world cup arlington stadium at&t stadium fifa world cup 2026 soccer sports

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