Scan and Pan
Sunday, September 02, 2007
The Lookout
Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a talented hockey player who causes a car accident that claims the lives of two friends, maims his girlfriend, and leaves him brain damaged. Four years later, he lives with a blind roommate named Lewis (Jeff Daniels) and works as a janitor in a bank, struggling to rebuild his life. Still cognitively impaired, he becomes an easy mark for ex-con Gary (Matthew Goode) and beautiful ex-stripper Luvlee (Isla Fisher) in the former's plan to rob the bank Chris works in.
Screenwriter Scott Frank (Dead Again, Minority Report) makes his directorial debut with a good film that favors character and dialogue over action. While in some ways it's predictable, the pleasure of watching it comes from well-conceived characters and a slow building of suspense to pull the viewer into the story. Frank makes us care about what happens to Chris, and this is the hook that everything else is built around. The voice over narration at first seems repetitive of what we're seeing on screen, but it quickly becomes apparent that it shows how Chris tries to function with a disability and becomes very important to the story's resolution.
Cinematographer Alar Kivilo (A Simple Plan, The Ice Harvest) gives the film a moody, low key look that subtly suggests film noir without any stylistic excesses, which complements the simple but expressive sets of production designer David Brisbin (After Dark, My Sweet). The score by James Newton Howard (Lady in the Water) nicely matches the tone of the film.
As he was in Brick, Gordon-Levitt is compelling as a young man caught up in a web of danger. His character's frustration over his limitations is palpable, but he never overplays it. He's best known from the television sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, but he's developed into quite a good dramatic actor. Daniels is almost unrecognizable as Lewis, but his performance as Chris' only friend feels genuine. Goode is, well, good as the manipulative Gary, and plays him in a way that makes it plausible that Chris would buy into his plan. Fisher is believable as she uses her physical charms to ensnare Chris while seemingly developing real feelings for him. Greg Dunham is intimidating as Gary's henchman, Bone. Also good in small roles are Carla Gugino as Chris' caseworker, Bruce McGill as his father, Alberta Watson as his mother, and Sergio Di Zio as a friendly policeman.
If you're searching for a suspenseful film with good performances, The Lookout should satisfy you. It's one of those films that seems to get overlooked when it's released, but don't let that stop you from seeing it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is really good.
[4 out of 5 stars]
Although it failed to make its mark at the box office, this understated thriller with a strong cast is worthy of a look on video.
Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a talented hockey player who causes a car accident that claims the lives of two friends, maims his girlfriend, and leaves him brain damaged. Four years later, he lives with a blind roommate named Lewis (Jeff Daniels) and works as a janitor in a bank, struggling to rebuild his life. Still cognitively impaired, he becomes an easy mark for ex-con Gary (Matthew Goode) and beautiful ex-stripper Luvlee (Isla Fisher) in the former's plan to rob the bank Chris works in.
Screenwriter Scott Frank (Dead Again, Minority Report) makes his directorial debut with a good film that favors character and dialogue over action. While in some ways it's predictable, the pleasure of watching it comes from well-conceived characters and a slow building of suspense to pull the viewer into the story. Frank makes us care about what happens to Chris, and this is the hook that everything else is built around. The voice over narration at first seems repetitive of what we're seeing on screen, but it quickly becomes apparent that it shows how Chris tries to function with a disability and becomes very important to the story's resolution.
Cinematographer Alar Kivilo (A Simple Plan, The Ice Harvest) gives the film a moody, low key look that subtly suggests film noir without any stylistic excesses, which complements the simple but expressive sets of production designer David Brisbin (After Dark, My Sweet). The score by James Newton Howard (Lady in the Water) nicely matches the tone of the film.
As he was in Brick, Gordon-Levitt is compelling as a young man caught up in a web of danger. His character's frustration over his limitations is palpable, but he never overplays it. He's best known from the television sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, but he's developed into quite a good dramatic actor. Daniels is almost unrecognizable as Lewis, but his performance as Chris' only friend feels genuine. Goode is, well, good as the manipulative Gary, and plays him in a way that makes it plausible that Chris would buy into his plan. Fisher is believable as she uses her physical charms to ensnare Chris while seemingly developing real feelings for him. Greg Dunham is intimidating as Gary's henchman, Bone. Also good in small roles are Carla Gugino as Chris' caseworker, Bruce McGill as his father, Alberta Watson as his mother, and Sergio Di Zio as a friendly policeman.
If you're searching for a suspenseful film with good performances, The Lookout should satisfy you. It's one of those films that seems to get overlooked when it's released, but don't let that stop you from seeing it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is really good.
[4 out of 5 stars]
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