Don't miss the best movie of 2007 thus far. Scott Frank's crime thriller is actually more of a character study. Star Joseph Gordon-Levitt solidifies his place in the upper echelon of young actors. This taut story is driven by a strong central character and filled with a fleshed out supporting cast. Director/writer Frank, who makes his directing debut with this film after writing such films as MINORITY REPORT and OUT OF SIGHT, makes us believe in his protagonist's life and clearly allows us to understand his motivations. It ranks up there with films like FARGO and A SIMPLE PLAN.
Chris Pratt (Gordon-Levitt, TV's THIRD ROCK FROM THE SUN) was a cocky, high school hockey star in his small Mid-Western town before a car accident killed his friends and left him scarred and mentally and emotionally damaged. Now working as a janitor at a bank at night, Chris has trouble remembering things as well as sequencing events. He is prone to emotional outbursts and lacks impulse control. He lives with a sardonic, blind man named Lewis (Jeff Daniels, THE HOURS), who is his best friend. They hope one day to open a restaurant, but a visit to the Pratt house for a holiday meal, shows us how little faith they have in Chris now and how much denial is still present regarding who he has become.
In comes Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode, MATCH POINT), who we know is no good from the start. He went to school with Chris and though he was a few years ahead of him, he looked up to the confident jock. Long before Gary sets Chris up with the beautiful Luvlee (Isla Fisher, WEDDING CRASHERS), we know Chris is getting played for a sap as a way for Gary and his crew to rob the bank.
What makes the film fascinating is that we aren't sure how things will turn out. The amazing thing is that we completely buy Chris' motivations even though we may not agree with them, because we naturally connect to his desire to gain some of his old life back.
Besides the characters mentioned before there are a host of great smaller roles too. Carla Gugino (SIN CITY) has a great one-scene role as Chris's counselor Janet. Bruce McGill (CINDERELLA MAN) plays Chris's snobby, insensitive and very wealthy father Robert. Alex Borstein (CATWOMAN) plays Mrs. Lange, the bank teller who has a crush on Chris. Sergio Di Zio (THE BOONDOCK SAINTS) plays Deputy Ted, an easy-going officer who brings donuts to Chris at the bank every night. David Huband (WRONG TURN) plays Mr. Tuttle, the bank manager who is reluctant to allow Chris to work as a teller. Greg Dunham makes his film debut as the cold, older bank robber, Bone.
All of the characters complete the rich texture of the film's world. In a quick moment Frank adds depth to a minor character, which not only fleshes out the role, but adds tension to Chris's tale as well. Lewis is not your cliché wise, blind mentor, he's Chris's support group. He has a positive outlook with a sarcastic bent, yet he isn't clueless about how life really is, which becomes evident in a confrontation with Luvlee. Daniels is wonderful in a role that's more than just comic relief. Gary is a prefect villain, because his frustrations mirror Chris's own issues. He is a slick manipulator, who plays on Chris's resentments.
Frank pens a nearly perfect screenplay and brings just the right dose of visual flare to make the flick slick and cool. The story twists and turns at the end, but its all driven by the characters. Hollywood churns out a lot of thrillers every year and most are weak to awful, because they focus on gimmicks or clichés. THE LOOKOUT really thrills because it puts real characters in thriller situations, allowing the audience to have a strong emotional connection to the action elements. The suspense is just a hook; Frank understands that it’s the characters that reel us in.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
