The Lookout (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  After a tragic car accident leaves him with brain damage and the inability to function beyond a very basic level, a former high school hockey star turned lowely janitor at a bank finds himself drawn into a plot by a former classmate to rob the bank where he works in this taut thriller… More
  After a tragic car accident leaves him with brain damage and the inability to function beyond a very basic level, a former high school hockey star turned lowely janitor at a bank finds himself drawn into a plot by a former classmate to rob the bank where he works in this taut thriller from screenwriter Scott Frank, who makes his directorial debut here. Even though this is a crime thriller that belongs into the heist genre, this is ultimately a character study that happens to have crime elements to it. Basically you just mix a bit of Memento with Fargo and throw in a tale of struggle and redemption, and you have this movie. And, you know what? I really enjoyed the end result. This is a solid film that surprised me with the emphasis on character over action, and how the crime elements are merely just part of the overall scheme of things instead of being the driving force. Of course, they are a big part of the movie, but they're not the focus, and that's cool. You really grow to care about the protagonist, and you feel for how the events going on affect him, especially since he may not be as over his head as it seems. Don't worry though, Frank keeps this from getting too far into the maddening territory of twists common in the works of Christopher Nolan. And it's not just the lead that you enjoy watching either. His blind roommate Lewis is a great character, and even the thuggih villain is rather compelling. It really helps too that the film has some great actors giving strong performances, especially Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the lead, Jeff Daniels as Lewis (who really steals his scenes), and Matthew Goode in probably his best performance as Gary the villain. You've also got a decent Isla Fisher as a femme fatale, and brief appearances by Carla Gugino and Alex Borstein, so that's cool too. All in all, I really liked this and found it to be veryt compelling, engaging, and attention holding. I did take issue with a few thigns that kinda stretched some of the believabiolity, but I won't get into the specifics since that would involving some spoilers. Despite those little issues though, this is some good stuff, albeit maybe not the most memorable film ever (no pun intended). I'm torn on the rating, so let's split the difference and call it a trong B to a light B+.

• Eric A

  
  Reminds me alot of Memento, except not as well done. The Lookout is very thrilling throughout, but I believe it could have had some better direction here and there. All in all, you should definitely watch this film if you are looking for a good mystery and suspense film.

• Albert K

  
  An engaging thriller. Nothing more, nothing less. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's acting is not bad, however it is not convincing to truly believe that his character is suffering through the disability that he is. Direction could've been better as well, but overall, a good movie.

• Idrees K

  
  The Lookout is Memento done more as a character study. While the plot is mildly predictable, the film functions as an interesting insight into the life of Chris Pratt, and the things that he struggles with on a daily basis. Some not-so-great decisions lead to some not-so-great… More
  The Lookout is Memento done more as a character study. While the plot is mildly predictable, the film functions as an interesting insight into the life of Chris Pratt, and the things that he struggles with on a daily basis. Some not-so-great decisions lead to some not-so-great consequences, that he must deal with for the rest of his life. Gordon-Levitt is great, as usual, at hinting at the deeper struggles of his character. The film is smart and thrilling, and just plain enjoyable.

• Jakey L

  
  Though familiar, Scott Frank's The Lookout is a smart crime film. The script is poignant with their characters' realistic mindsets and actors that portray them with enough believability. Frank artfully blended engaging suspense and sharp performances that never overpowers… More
  Though familiar, Scott Frank's The Lookout is a smart crime film. The script is poignant with their characters' realistic mindsets and actors that portray them with enough believability. Frank artfully blended engaging suspense and sharp performances that never overpowers the protagonist's own tragedy.

• Ken S

  
  A solidly entertaining and surprisingly original heist flick.

• Shawn E

  
  The Lookout is a solid suspense/crime film that you will remember for it's shocking introduction. Learning about the main character's past and issues is also a lot more interesting to watch than the criminal act he gets pushed into.

• Anthony L

  
  It's cool, it's hip, it's the new noir etc etc but it's also extremely over-rated, much like the rest of Scott Frank's film work. Gordon-Levitt is a good actor but the reality is that his performance here is just good but not exceptional, in fact the whole… More
  It's cool, it's hip, it's the new noir etc etc but it's also extremely over-rated, much like the rest of Scott Frank's film work. Gordon-Levitt is a good actor but the reality is that his performance here is just good but not exceptional, in fact the whole film is actually fairly forgettable.

• KJ P

  
  It is pretty slow and dull, but I admire the style it took! It is not anything I would take the time to watch again, it's definitely not a bad movie, but I just didn't like it!

• Jeff "

  
  The Lookout is a stellar film with a great cast. This is a very good Crime Thriller, as a young man who copes with the aftermath of his car accident is unwillingly set up to take part in the heist at the small town bank he works at. At first it's a game of setting up the guy, and… More
  The Lookout is a stellar film with a great cast. This is a very good Crime Thriller, as a young man who copes with the aftermath of his car accident is unwillingly set up to take part in the heist at the small town bank he works at. At first it's a game of setting up the guy, and he doesn't know whats going on, but he starts to notice somethings up. The tension slowly builds up, and director Scott Frank masterfully paces and steadily elevates the story so it doesn't attack you all at once. The Lookout is a terrific Crime Thriller with a bit of action, and is an impressive debut from first time director, Scott Frank. The cast he has assembled here is simply terrific, there is not one bad character, every character is well written and well developed. It's also very surprising to me to have seen Isla Fisher in this film, especially after seeing her in Hot Rod and Wedding Crashers, I didn't think she'd be able to pull off a serious role, but she did. Joseph-Gordon Levitt gives a stellar performance as Chris Pratt, the unwilling pawn in the bank heist. A solidly well paced and acted out thriller, The Lookout delivers.

• First L

  
  The Lookout is an indie film with a simple story: a young man suffers a brain injury after a car accident and is used by some bank robbers to help rob a bank. This movie reminded me a little of "Before The Devil Knows Your Dead" and "A History of Violence" only… More
  The Lookout is an indie film with a simple story: a young man suffers a brain injury after a car accident and is used by some bank robbers to help rob a bank. This movie reminded me a little of "Before The Devil Knows Your Dead" and "A History of Violence" only it's vastly inferior to both (critics seem to be giving it positive reviews based more on it's indie cred than anything). High schooler Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is out with his girlfriend and another couple on prom night. They're driving down a deserted country road, looking at fireflies with the headlights turned off. One thing leads to another and Pratt is living his day to day life one step at a time, unable to process simple tasks or properly sequence the steps of his daily routines. Living with a colorful, yet dignified blind man (Jeff Daniels), his life is mundane and sad. He goes to a special class and works as a janitor at a small town bank. Things perk up for him when he meets Gary (Matthew Goode), a cool, tattooed Tommy Lee type who introduces him to some hot girls ("Wedding Crasher"s hot psycho, Isla Fisher) and cool bros. Before long, he's running with the kind of crowd his blind mentor disapproves of. They enlist his help in casing the bank, plying him with dreams wealth and respect (something he hasn't had since his high school days). It's clear the film is inspired by better films and I think director Scott Frank does a fine job, but story (also written by Frank) is weak and derivative. It's high school fantasy-type stuff that never goes deeper than the surface. It's fine for what it is, which is a middle-of-the-road, low budget indie film, just don't expect too much.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a guy named Chris Pratt, an allstar athlete at his high school who's life goes spiraling down after a horrific car accident that put him in a coma. When he awakens he is a changed person. He has memory problems so he has to use a notepad to right down… More
  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a guy named Chris Pratt, an allstar athlete at his high school who's life goes spiraling down after a horrific car accident that put him in a coma. When he awakens he is a changed person. He has memory problems so he has to use a notepad to right down everything he does or needs to do so he can remember them. He also takes medication to help him with his illness. To help him cope with life is his blind roommate Lewis (played by Jeff Daniels). Chris Pratt now works in a bank as the night janitor. After work he goes to a local bar where he meets Gary Spargo. Gary soon enough cons his way into Chris's life and there on talks Chris into helping him and his gang rob the bank Chris works at. Chris feeling like he has no power in his life thinks this will give him some of his life back. Although on the night of the robbery Chris has doubts and decides he wants no part in it, but Gary and his gang don't agree. That's when things start unraveling quickly. It was a great movie with great performances. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in my opinion is one of the best young male actor's today. He can play any part. Definitely not the normal bank robbing movie. Jeff Daniels was BRILLIANT as always. I thought Matthew Goode (who played Gary) was a great villain. It was half drama and half thriller. Just really good.

• jay n

  
  Gloomy and grimy.

• E.J. B

  
  When you have great character suspense pieces like this one, you sometimes question the need for big dumb action flicks. Joseph Fordon Levitt is quickly on his way to becoming the next Johnny Depp. He gives a subtle and brilliant performance as an ex-hockey player who has no short… More
  When you have great character suspense pieces like this one, you sometimes question the need for big dumb action flicks. Joseph Fordon Levitt is quickly on his way to becoming the next Johnny Depp. He gives a subtle and brilliant performance as an ex-hockey player who has no short term memory. The film follows a Memento-like plot, but The Lookout is a character study first, a heist thriller second. Scott Frank blends these two aspects perfectly to create one hell of a film. From the opening sequence to the last, The Lookout offers tense, well paced action. The film takes its time getting to know every character, which also allows for great supporting performances by Matthew Goode, the great Jeff Daniels, and Isla Fisher. When Act Three begins, you will be stuck to your seat until the credits role. The Lookout is smart, suspenseful, and downright awesome!

• A.D. V

  
  Well written crime drama with a surprising and outstanding performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Uusually this type is a one time thing but I'd watch this one again.

• Dan S

  
  One of the best movies of 2007. Although the genre of "heist thriller" has been used countless times, this one ranks amongst the best. Director Frank not only takes common people (with the exception of Gordon-Levitt's character) and turns them into intriguing… More
  One of the best movies of 2007. Although the genre of "heist thriller" has been used countless times, this one ranks amongst the best. Director Frank not only takes common people (with the exception of Gordon-Levitt's character) and turns them into intriguing characters, he gives us a dark, dreary, and depressed lead man you can't help but root for. I can't say enough about how well this film is executed and how fascinating each scene was. Not a "shoot em up" sort of thriller by any means, but more of a character study, and I admire any director (especially a first timer) that shows a completely different dimension to a film that has a similar plot, but is completely different in terms of characters and the decisions they make.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Whoever has the money has the power"</i> Chris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds… More
  <i>"Whoever has the money has the power"</i> Chris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist. <b><u>REVIEW</u></b> The Lookout is an expertly crafted thriller. Never in a hurry. Never over-written or too flashy. It flows with the ease and subtlety of a mountain stream. Joseph Gordon-Levitt rehashes a quiet, quirky and likeable character, very similar to his role in 'Brick'. The film's strongest characteristic is its realistic feel and pace. It almost feels like this really happened, like someone was just there filming actual events. The supporting roles are perfectly cast. It's nice to see that there are some filmmakers out there not afraid to do things the old way. A successfully minimized, and realistic thriller. A cross between Hitchcock and the Coen bros. Highly recommended.

• Emily A

  
  The posters and cover art for this film really sell it short: It's not a crime caper, it's a character study about a very interesting character with a very prominant problem. Joseph Gordon-Levitt masterfully creates Chris Pratt, the protagonist who serves as the X factor in… More
  The posters and cover art for this film really sell it short: It's not a crime caper, it's a character study about a very interesting character with a very prominant problem. Joseph Gordon-Levitt masterfully creates Chris Pratt, the protagonist who serves as the X factor in his own life. The brain injury he sustained impairs his cognitive function and makes everything in life difficult for him, which kind of makes his behaviour unpredictable. Little does Gary realize that it's a bit of a mistake to try to take advantage of someone like that. Really though, I found that the bank robbery plot was just window-dressing for the much more interesting element of Chris himself, dealing with his handicap and the guilt that came with it. Jeff Daniel's character also helped round him out. This movie is something special.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Scott Frank. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode. <i><< "My old man used to say to me, probably the only thing we ever really… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Scott Frank. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode. <i><< "My old man used to say to me, probably the only thing we ever really agreed on, was that whoever has the money has the power. You might wanna jot that down in your book. It's something you're gonna need to remember." >></i> The story follows Chris, he pretty much has everything, a wealthy family, great friends, a beautiful girlfriend and he is a top athlete...but when a fatal car accident changes the lives of those in it, everything changes. Not only does Chris have to live with the damage he has caused, but he also has a brain injury which effects him from remembering things for long periods of time. Now, with a completely different lifestyle, he takes a simple job as a janitor at a bank, which causes a chain of events to lead him to ultimately get caught up in a planned heist. 'They don't make films like they used to'. You will probably hear that from many people and I have to agree with them wholeheartedly (for the most part). Hollywood has turned into a problem child, the one you can't fix and a majority of movies made in modern society are an insult to what films should be...The Lookout is the opposite and reminds us that brilliance is out there. Scott Frank has always been a brilliant writer, from Minority Report, the best film of 2002 to some classic heist/mob related films (Get Shorty, Out of Sight), this is Scott as his personal best. At first glance, it may appear like a heist film, it isn't. For a good 80% of the film, it is a character drama, a very rich and realistic study on how changes in life can really effect you. Everything is so well written...thoughtful, brilliantly executed and quite emotional...and the extremely likable characters help that. But what drama we are shown is also balanced with thrills and the surefire intensity works brilliantly as well. Scott Frank makes his directional debut here and although its not necessarily a doorway from a unique visionary, Scott knows what he is doing, he knows the story and his characters well and how to bring out the best in them, with great range and executing every element perfectly...and with a great little noir touch. The performances are what you would hope for. Although some actors are a little underused in the background, it doesn't ruin anything. Jeff Daniels is strangely cast as a blind man but with his deft control and as always, brilliant acting, he delivers. Joseph Gordon-Levitt still isn't known to the public just yet, mainly because he has done many independent films...but they are missing out. Not only does he inhabit the role to a tee, but he shows a rare range for his characters differences throughout the film and he is mesmerizing because of it...he will go a long way. This is what film making is all about, when the mainstream audience require big action flicks to satisfy there little minds, films like this slip through unseen. A brilliantly smart and rich character study full of intensity, care and emotion and with some of the most likable characters you can have, a surprisingly rich score from the always pleasing James Newton Howard, a brilliant directional debut by Scott Frank and another strong performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt, The Lookout is like a little masterpiece, to remind us that great films can still be made, you just have to look. <p><b>90/100</b> <i><< "I started skating again. I'm not as good as I used to be, but I'm okay. What happened that night along Route 24 is a part of me now. I just hope that one day Kelly will be ready to see me again and I can finally tell her what I've only been able to say in my dreams. Until then, all I can do is wake up, take a shower, with soap, and try to forgive myself. If I can do that, then maybe others will forgive me too. I don't know if that will happen, but I guess I'll just have to work backwards from there." >></i>

• Aaron N

  
  Chris Pratt: I wake up...take a shower... A good character driven crime drama. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is proving to be one of the guys I look forward to seeing in more movies. Here he stars as a formerly bright kid, who made a mistake and lost the better parts of his life. Now he has… More
  Chris Pratt: I wake up...take a shower... A good character driven crime drama. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is proving to be one of the guys I look forward to seeing in more movies. Here he stars as a formerly bright kid, who made a mistake and lost the better parts of his life. Now he has trouble with arranging things in his mind, inner monologue, and some physical things. Lewis: Please tell me you're not waving your hand in front of my face. His best friend is his blind roommate played by Jeff Daniels, who is very good as well, their chemistry and dialogue are some of the best parts in the movie. Eventually Levitt befriends some guys who knew him back in the day and he becomes involved in some schemes they have. What works here is how the plot works very naturally. Levitt is not simply convinced to participate immediately, the way it is handled is done well and so is his relation with these shady characters. Gary Spargo: My old man used to say to me, probably the only thing we ever really agreed on, was that whoever has the money has the power. You might wanna jot that down in your book. It's something you're gonna need to remember. Speaking of which, Mathew Goode, who I've only known as an English actor, does a great job selling his performance as an ex-con looking to score using some quiet methods to convince Levitt's character. He doesn't over play his criminal nature, doesn't try to be brooding, he comes off as a criminal that feels in place here. Written and Directed by Scott Frank who penned the screenplay adaptations of some of my favorite movies, Out of Sight and Get Shorty as well as Minority Report, the movie relies mainly around dialog which plays very well, is sharp, quick, and darkly funny in some instances. Lewis: [explaining how he went blind] When I was about your age, me and some friends decided to make some money by opening up a meth lab. Luvlee: Oh! Did you blow yourself up? Lewis: Does it look like I blew myself up? The style of the movie is also pretty well handled, taking place in Kansas, it's always good to see snow handled well enough to feel real, and it is. The scenes toward the end of the movie, which of course involve more action, are also neatly done, using handheld work to give more flavor to the scenes. The only real complaints I have surround the conclusion, things are wrapped up pretty quickly. Even though this is a bank robbery film, the standard elements of that aspect are handled well enough that the originality matters little, because it is how it is done that matters, and it is done well. A well done film that makes good use of its characters. Gary Spargo: I know you want to kill me. Chris Pratt: [blurts out] I've gotta kill Bone first.

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