rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2007
Directed by Scott Frank; produced by Gary Barber, Roger Birnbaum, Laurence Mark, Walter Parkes; written by Scott Frank
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill, Alberta Watson
'The Lookout' offers an interesting premise, follows the right way in the first half and has to use silly coincidences to come to an appreciated conclusion. It is entertaining all the way through, but the feeling it could have been better is also there. It is one of those little thrillers trying to tell a real story instead of throwing around with bullets, car crashes, and other visual effects.
However, the film does start with an off screen car crash. The scene builds up really well. The viewer knows something is going to happen, but before it actually does, we have been effectively fooled three times. Fast forward to one year later. Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), the man behind the wheel, is one of two survivors of the crash. He does not speak to the other. He has the kind of brain damage which is the drive for many films. In this case he forgets easily, has trouble with simple patterns and sometimes says what is on his mind in a very offensive way.
He cleans a bank at night, where he is visited once or twice per night by deputy Ted (Sergio Di Zio). Of course this is the kind of job asking for a criminal to use him. He presents himself as a friend, Gary (Matthew Goode), and uses the beautiful Luvlee (Isla Fisher) to really interest Chris. Chris is living with the blind Lewis (Jeff Daniels), who does not trust neither of the new friends. When Gary shows Chris the plans for a bank robbery he turns out to be right.
The robbery itself happens around halfway in the film and up to there nothing goes wrong. The story is slightly predictable, but it's also an interesting study of a depressed person, learning to deal with his past. During the robbery the film goes off track. It needs clichés to move the plot forward into a real thriller. Simply said, things do not go as planned and Chris is left with the money, which makes Gary and friends pretty mad. I would have preferred if the film would have chosen for the dramatic part of the story.
Luckily for the viewer, later the tracks are found again. Small hints from the first half make the second half believable, especially when it comes to actions taken by Chris. The conclusion is smart and satisfying enough for most, although a second thought makes room for plausibility-doubts. I preferred another path, but without thinking too much, I am able to like this one as well. This little film does a better job than most blockbuster thrillers, and that is something I am thankful for.