The Lookout

As a bank heist story, The Lookout is suspenseful and well made, albeit predictable and boring. As a story of depression and rehabilitation, it's an absorbing character study. Directed by Scott Frank, it stars (the best actor under 30) Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Chris, a rock-star like hockey player who is a bit reckless on prom night and gets into a car accident that leaves two passengers dead, his girlfriend disabled and him impaired emotionally and physically. Chris tries heroically to perform actions that we deem simple, like listing his day-to-day activities in logical sequence. Even his family, especially his father, is impatient with his arrested development. He needs to write everything in a little notebook and relies heavily on his roommate to cook for him even though his roommate Lewis (Jeff Daniels) is blind. So, he's easy prey for a group of wannabe bank robbers who try to entice him into helping them rob the rural Kansas bank where he is the night janitor.

The movie may seem straightforward, but it's more than meets the eye. If you are going to the movie and expecting a bank heist film then netflix Dog Day Afternoon instead. This movie is about Chris and his decent from popular jock to innocent, hard working janitor, to confused, misled and frustrated individual. There is a huge lack of effort being put into films these days. It seems there are less and less films worth seeing, in comparison to movies from the 70s. This is a movie that is well structured, well written, well performed and well directed. How could you possibly complain about something like that? It's a refreshing change of pace from the recent explosion of brainless action and horror films like Ghost Rider and Dead Silence. This movie veers away from Hollywood and lingers in indie territory (even though it's a studio film). The dialogue is crisp, the violence exists but is not overused, the characters are fully fleshed and well developed. Scott Frank really does deserve a round of applause for his lack of fear in really giving the audience some exposition and background to his main character. We really get a glimpse into the life of Chris and really become invested in his decisions and the repercusions they may have. However, for all the energy Frank spends letting us get to know Chris, he leaves the others behind. The supporting characters become like pawns thrown away once their utility has run out. The prime example of that is Isla Fisher and her character Luvlee who seduces Chris and then... just leaves. Is it because she really doesn't care at all or because she cares too much? And what about Ms. Lang, the helpful bank teller who ends up having no bearing whatsoever on the film? Or what about the wonderful Carlo Gugino's blink and you miss it social worker? All these women are thrown into the mix to serve as Chris' background and mindset, but are never fleshed out enough to stand on their own. Even the role of Bone, while creepy and effective enough as the silent and sadistic muscle of the team, is so out of place that it almost becomes laughable. But I'll stop complaining there. Gordon-Levitt doesn't carry the film entirely on his own. He gets some good back up from Daniels and Matthew Goode (who I loved so much in Match Point) as the charming and cocky brains behind the bank robbery plan.

While Frank may misfire a bit on the background players, he gets the plot progression and lead performances down to perfection. I am constantly waiting for a new Gordon-Levitt film (Stop Loss, anyone?) and he never ceases to impress with his film choices and his performances. There's a lot of wit in this film, a lot of zingy one liners and an absolutely breathtaking opening sequence that includes the car crash scene showing the sublime beauty of fireflies that leads to the tragedy which puts into motion the story that follows. It may not be exactly what you are expecting but it's so well done and has such great performances from Gordon-Levitt, Goode and Daniels that it doesn't really matter.

Grade: B+