The Lookout - review

The Lookout (15)

Dir. Scott Frank

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (@Cleric20)

The Lookout is a film that slipped almost completely under the radar of most UK cinema goers. I however checked it at the impressive O2 cinema with my mate John and we came away impressed.

Starring Chris Pratt (Joseph ‘Looper’ Gordon-Levitt) as a popular and talented jock ice hockey hero whose life is completely shattered by a terrible car crash. Eaten by guilt (two of his friends died and his girlfriend lost a limb) and brain damaged to the point that he has to write down everything he does for reference in a notebook – life isn’t so good for young Chris.

His problems are compounded when he is befriended by a cool but shady stranger named Gary Spargo (Matthew ‘Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias in Watchmen’ Goode) and his foxy accomplice Luvlee (Isla ‘Wedding Crashers’ Fisher)… Could it be that they are only interested in him because he works nights as the janitor of a small town bank?

Gordon Levitt completely nails the tricky lead role, bringing just the right amount of pathos and vulnerability to the part of Chris. The poor chap is estranged from his wealthy family, desperate for a girl and even more desperate to atone for his guilt.

Living with Lewis (Jeff Daniels who is getting better and better as he gets older) - his old blind mentor is an unsatisfying grind. It might be a simple life but all that is going to change... Debut director Scott Frank does a fantastic job of ratcheting up the tension piece by piece until before you quite know it we’re up to our necks in a full on heist movie.

When the action kicks off it still keeps you guessing and is intelligent enough not to spoon feed you the motivations of all concerned. Fisher is great as the cute minx who beds Chris as the honey trap vice in order to get him onside, she plays ‘hot but dumb’ very convincingly – in fact reminded me of too many of my ex-girlfriends!!

Goode as Spargo delivers good 'dastard' and is backed up with a shadowy constant threat of a shade wearing stone cold killer ‘Bone’ (Greg Dunham) – this guy really looks like he’s wandered in from the set of Near Dark 2!?

The Lookout is a must see for anyone who liked Memento or Brick, it's understated and cool and just goes to show that sometimes the best films around are those not embraced by the mainstream…


Out of 5 you have to go with a cult classic 5 (from out of nowhere to Matt's top 10 films of the year!)...

Darkmatters ratings:

Action öööö – builds up then delivers in the goods
Laughs öö – not many but a couple of good ones
Horror öö – not too nasty
Babes öööö – Fisher is totally hot!! (see below)

Overall ööööö (highly recommended!)

"is that look enough to make you rob a bank?"

"the setting for the climax... hold tight!"

Darkmatters: H O M E