Rants: Another Look at The Lookout (2007).
Re-watched Scott Frank’s The Lookout again last night. I wrote about this film in March, but a summer earthquake at BC somehow destroyed it. If I remember correctly I wrote that the film had a terrific first half followed by a second half that dampened the proceedings somewhat by being just ok.
I’m sticking to that. The first half is, if anything, even better than I initially wrote. Frank’s script is lean, mean and character heavy in equal measure, and he, in Joseph Gordon Levitt’s Chris Pratt, gives us a humdinger of a desperate noir hero. Brain damaged, self-loathing, perpetually suffering from shame and blue balls, this is definitely a guy you can see robbing a bank to get away, particuarly when charismatic weasel Gary Spargo (Mathew Goode) and the yummy Luvlee (Isla Fisher) get ahold of him.
The acting is superb. Levitt is one of the most exciting young actors of his generation. Unlike a certain overrated Ryan Gosling, Levitt doesn’t feel stifled and self-conscious: trying to convince you every moment of what a Great Actor he is. Levitt is authentically sensual, tortured and dangerous, particularly in this, Brick, and his brilliant career best work in the under appreciated Mysterious Skin. Mathew Goode, of Match Point, is just as startling here. The Likeable Villian is trickier than most acknowledge, you either go too likeable or too villian, but Frank and Goode handle Spargo’s seduction of Pratt confidently, convincingly, with tasty dialogue familiar to anyone who’s seen the Frank penned Out of Sight. Add Jeff Daniels doing another of his bitter beard numbers and you’ve got something with potential.
And the second half is fine. Just fine. But I don’t want to call it fine. I want to call it violent, pent up, deranged, sexy. I want the damn thing to come off the tracks, or be shaggier, less beholden to the framework of the classic noir story. Frank cares about his characters and that might be a bit of problem: he doesn’t want to put them through their paces. The end is safe and anti-climactic. A big build to, drumroll, just another bank robbery. Everyone who should die dies and everyone who should live lives.
Still worth seeing though, for the Swiss watch that is the opening two acts. I hope Frank gets behind the camera again soon and really takes his gifts for a spin.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Yes, Keanu Gordon-Levitt is a better actor than Ryan Gosling. Ha . . . I’ll tell you when that makes sense the same time scientists find Joseph some charisma.
Geez, the lengths people go to champion the underdog.
Oh, and Gosling was originally offered The Lookout role. As it’s a trite piece of work, saved only by Jeff Daniels, I think a certain so-called “overrated” actor–get a new vocabulary by the way–proved not only is he more capable making movies but picking them too.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
“Overrated” was used carelessly, as Ryan Gosling is undeniably talented, and I said as much while discussing Half Nelson sometime ago. But I feel he’s a showoff, and he falls victim to the Great American Tortured Actor cliche thing. More than welcome to disagree, awilltocorrect, but that’s how I see it. I’m pretty sure that Gosling’s gonna prove me wrong in a big way one of these days if it makes you feel any better.
While we’re speaking of using words carelessly though let’s talk about linking Levitt to Keanu Reeves (unless there’s a Keanu Brando that I’m unfamiliar with). Are you kidding?
And the mighty Gosling, I might add, is not above “trite” as you say. Take another spin through the guy’s filmography. He’s made more than The Believer and Half Nelson.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
thats the Bowen-ator! given ‘em the ol one two punch
January 8th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I fully agree with you on this film. I got criticized for giving it a very lukewarm review, but I stand by it, and you pinpoint exactly where the rub is: this is a film full of great character moments (take the Lewis-flirting-with-a-waitress scene), with some great performances, but ultimately, it doesn’t add up to anything. Even for a film that’s more character than plot driven, the plot was simply too lame, or at least its resolution. You’re right in that it would be a much more interesting film if it had a messier, less controlled third act.
Oh, and @awilltocorrect: Gordon-Levitt doesn’t always feel the need to overdo it. He understands that understatement is often better. Don’t mistake that for Keanu-ness.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:02 am
I gave this film a miss, but I knew nothing about it, now I wish I hadn’t….I will have to get on dvd.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am
As flawed as The Lookout is, the performances do merit the film a look on DVD.