The Lookout

WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
Click here to show this review. A well directed, acted and shot character study that uses the plot conventions of a heist movie primarily to move the story and main character arc along. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to impress with a solid central performance as Chris Pratt, a broken young man trying to put his life back together after a horrible mistake in judgement results in him suffering from short term memory-loss and long term guilt. Jeff Daniels is very good as his blind room-mate, adding a touch of comedy to an otherwise noirish tale. Mathew Goode is effective as the requisite bad guy who attempts to lure Chris Pratt out of his frustrating daily grind as a small town bank janitor and into a chance at a easy money through involvement in a heist. The movie benefits from spending the first two of its three acts developing the backdrop for the inevitable heist leaving the viewer with more concern for the final outcome than would otherwise be the case in a conventional film. The cinematography and lurid low-key lighting add a nice atmospheric touch to this neo-noir flick. If you enjoy Josesph Gordon-Levitt in this one, check out earlier films such as "Brick"," Mysterious Skin" and "Manic". He is certainly a pleasant surprise to watch as he continually develops from his somewhat humble acting beginnings as a child star in TV's "3rd Rock From The Sun" to a series of increasingly challenging roles in independent and now mainstream film.