The Lookout
A thrilling, thought-provoking story perfectly told and filmed.
Review by Dack

The Lookout is about Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a person suffering from a brain injury in result of getting into a car wreck only four years ago that killed two friends and left Chris seriously hurt. Now, in result of a serious head injury from the crash, Chris can't remember anything without writing it down. His dreams of being a hockey player are over, and everyday he simply goes to classes to help his memory, and works a simple job of being a janitor. Chris wants more in his life then just pushing around a mop and feeling sorry for himself. When Gary, a person who claims to have known Chris in the past, walks into his life and quickly accepts him as a friend, and introduces him to a beautiful woman, Chris starts to spend time with them and trust them as friends. Things might not be as they seem ,however, when Chris is thrown into the middle of a scheme to rob a bank. Chris must now decide if he wants to remain the disabled person living the same day over and over, or wants to put his life in jeopardy to try to change his monotonous life.

Most crime capers try to mix comedy with action, but The Lookout has a heartfelt story behind it about a young man trying to cope with an accident he blames himself for. The cast give such great performances you forget they are actors, and start to imagine this film as a documentary. Up and coming actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives an award-worthy performance as the lead, in which the evolution of his character is perfectly captured. Jeff Daniels as usual is great in the supporting role of the blind Lewis, a man who lives with Chris and constantly tried to help him get his life back. The Lookout is predominately a Drama, with only one short action scene near the end of the film. The cinematography masterfully captures the bleak world of The Lookout,being reminiscent of the recent drama Breach. The film is not stuffed with useless details and side characters. Its moderately short running time of 98 minutes gets everything said that needs to be said, and leaves nothing out.

The quote from the movie "I have the money, I have the power", is basically what The Lookout is all about -- I had the money to see this movie, and it had the power to captivate me with a thrilling, thought-provoking story perfectly told and filmed.The Lookout is another example of where everything comes together perfectly. With its lack of star-power and a major hook, The Lookout was overlooked in the theaters by many moviegoers, but it's sure to find a cult following on video -- especially when it's nominated for the awards it deserves.

Final Score: 4.5/5