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Customer Reviews of The Lookout

Bad Driving 101
OK, so how many people are we talking about that are allowed to drive on the freeway after severe head trauma? Hey, I'm not against handicapped parking and sidewalk ramps or anything, but I think I've encountered a disproportionate number of these head cases on the highway and I'm fed up. It's bad enough that they drive like they're leading a parade in the fast lane, but then they la-la along in the righthand lane when I'm trying to merge or ride my bumper when we're the only cars on the freeway, and then hoist up a finger in defiance when I cuss them out and bang on the dash like an irritated monkey. What a sad little man. You could call this "Third Block From the Sun-Maid Prunes" because it's fruity as in dried plums, which lube up your desert-like colon and let the poo throo. And, yeah, let's just let this pass, if you catch my whiff, I mean drift. But back to this driving thing: So it's OK to just drive around at night without your lights on if you're a registered nutwonder?

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Somewhat unbelievable, but good performances make up the balance
The Lookout tells the story of Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mysterious Skin), a former high-school hockey star who suffered a severe head injury in a car crash that he caused. We see the crash in the beginning of the film. He's with his girlfriend and two other friends, and while driving down a country road at night he turns the headlights off. There are no streetlamps, so all they see are fireflies racing by. It's a gorgeous scene, and they all revel in it - for a moment too long, as when Chris turns the headlights back on they see a combine in the middle of the road (odd place for a combine), and crash head on. The other two are killed, his girlfriend loses her leg, and he suffers a severe head injury. <
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>Four years later, we find him living in a small apartment with a blind roommate, Lewis (Jeff Daniels, The Squid and the Whale). Chris suffered a severe head injury in the crash, and now needs notes to remind him to do simple things, such as to grind the coffee beans before trying to make a pot of coffee (although he could just buy pre-ground coffee...little details like this slip past). He even writes down things like, "Get up, take a shower with soap", and on his alarm clock is a reminder to turn it off after it wakes him up. He keeps a spare key in the bottom of his shoe because he seems to leave his keys in the ignition of his car on a daily basis. His life - what we learn was somewhat of a superstar life - is left behind, and all he has left is this shell. <
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>Gordon-Levitt does a terrific job in an understated performance. We've seen actors in roles like this before, and they always make sure to remind us through very specific facial tics or movements that they are, as Lewis refers to them once, "gimps". His sad, old-soul eyes tell more of the story than his movements. <
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>Chris runs into Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode, Match Point), who claims to have known Chris since high school. Chris doesn't remember him, but when Gary mentions that he went out with his sister Alison (who later tells Chris that she doesn't remember him), Chris good-naturedly believes him. Gary introduces Chris to some girls the next night, and one of them, Luvlee Lemons (Isla Fisher, Wedding Crashers) appears keenly interested in Chris. She reminds him of a hockey game that she saw him in, which reminds him of what he used to be. Gary and friends do this often, reminding Chris of who he was, how much he has lost, and how impotent he is. It's part of a well-rehearsed (and rather unoriginal) con. Once Chris remembers who he was, and is keenly aware that his existence depends on others, he is ready to be shaped into almost anything Gary wants from him. <
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>And what he wants is this: Chris is a night janitor in a bank, and Gary wants to rob that bank. <
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>That's as much of the plot that I'll reveal. <
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>I had difficulty believing that Chris would have found employment in a bank. With all the sympathy I would have for anyone in Chris's position, I would not put him by himself in a position where he's alone with tens of thousands of dollars. Remember, he needs to write notes that say, "take a shower *with soap*". Gary and his pals also expect quite a bit from Chris, and again, you'd have to be a fool to do so with so much riding on him getting everything right. <
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>The bank manager and Gary aren't the only ones expecting much of Chris: the director, Scott Frank (a screenwriter turned first-time director with this film) is expecting much as well. It's difficult to imagine Chris overcoming all of the obstacles thrown at him, if not impossible. <
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>The film was at its strongest when dealing with Chris's personal issues. It was at its weakest when it asked us to believe that Chris could be so capable. <
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>However, both Scott Frank and Joseph Gordon-Levitt did something remarkable: they created a character that you can't help but root for. In the end, which was surprisingly effective even though much of what led up to it suffered for lack of believability, we are firmly in Chris's corner. <
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>This gets 3½ stars from me, rounded up to four for both Daniels's and Gordon-Levitt's performances. <
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Unexpectedly Smart, Brutal, And Uncompromising--"The Lookout" Makes A Tired Story Seem New Again
Within the traditional crime drama genre, it has become increasingly difficult to find serious minded films that don't play as "hip and ironic." Add a young leading man to the equation, and it's twice as likely that you'll end up with a movie filled with artifice and self-awareness. In fact, reading the description of "The Lookout," I was sure that this picture would be just another film where clever one-liners were more important than generating actual suspense and drama. I couldn't have been more wrong! "The Lookout" is a tough and believable entry in the arena of heist films. Bolstered by a powerful lead performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this film is both true to the conventions of crime genre and surprisingly different. The film succeeds with strong character development and provides an intriguing twist on the traditional protagonist. <
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>Here, Gordon-Levitt plays a man coping with severe memory loss, control issues, and occasional motor skill inconsistencies. Sounds scary, huh? But don't worry, this is a real character dealing with real head trauma issues--not some cliche'd portrait or movie-of-the-week caricature. As a former "golden boy," Gordon-Levitt struggles to adjust to his disability. But he's also trying to cope with a monstrous grief--the car accident that impaired him (he was driving) also resulted in the death of two others. One day, he meets a mysterious stranger who claims to know him and seems to accept him in his present condition. Excited to belong, to be normal--he is drawn into a new world of friendship, women, and living life free and on the edge. But he soon questions the motives of his new friend as he is pulled into a plot to rob the bank in which he works. What follows is a hard edged story with real consequences--a riveting and suspenseful drama made even stronger by its attention to characterization. <
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>Joseph Gordon-Levitt seems intent on becoming a serious thespian as opposed to just a big "star." With smart and unusual roles, he has certainly set himself apart from most actors in his age group. With "Mysterious Skin," "Brick," and now "The Lookout"--Gordon-Levitt has put himself on a short list of performers who can be counted on to make interesting choices. These diverse performances demonstrate a great versatility, a willingness to take chances, and (most importantly) the opportunity to really showcase what a great actor he has become. But "The Lookout" also benefits from a great supporting cast. Jeff Daniels gives an understated, humorous and quietly moving performance as Gordon-Levitt's blind best friend. And I found Isla Fisher ("Wedding Crashers") to be enchanting--complicit and innocent at the same time, what might have been a stereotypical role is refreshingly free of cliche. <
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>I thoroughly enjoyed "The Lookout." One small note--the skeptic in me wondered how Gordon-Levitt was mentally (not to mention legally) able to handle a car due to his circumstances. In all honesty, it's unlikely that he would have been licensed based on what happened and on his current state of health. But it's a small point in an otherwise exemplary film. Smart, tough, and unexpected--"The Lookout" works as a caper, as a drama, and as a character study. A remarkably complex entry into what has become a fairly routine genre, this film packs an emotional punch and provides another great Gordon-Levitt performance! KGHarris, 03/07. <
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