The Lookout DVD Review

Considering the fact that this was acclaimed screenwriter Scott Frank’s directorial debut, and that he wrote the script himself, I was actually surprised to find that the story was what felt to be lacking the most. This isn’t to say it is a bad script, but somewhat of a let-down in final execution. Part of the problem is that the film holds so much potential, and seems to be building towards a grand resolution, which is what makes the by-the-numbers ending so unsatisfying. From the amazing opening sequence The Lookout begins a slow decline, never becoming less than good but opinion certainly seems to decline as the film continues.

The opening sequence so brilliantly directed has protagonist Chris driving with his friends on an open country road one night after a hockey game. Chris (played by noir’s latest golden boy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a star and one of the most popular kids at school. He has an amazing future ahead of him until an accident makes it difficult for him to complete even simple tasks. He finds himself working as a janitor in a bank, which brings some unsavory characters around. Lulled by the desire of a woman (Isla Fisher) and the promises of power and wealth from an older thug who went to the same high school as Chris, he agrees to help them rob the bank he works at.

At a certain point the film becomes more of a morality play and this slows down the plot quite a bit, but it also keeps the film on a direct path of noir tendencies. There are a great many aspects of the film which are incredibly brilliant and all of the film is well acted and directed, but there just seems to be more set-up than payoff by the time the final shots have finished. This is also not to say that there isn’t any or enough action, because much more would have been odd for a subtle film like this. Maybe there is nothing wrong with the story except for the fact that it just isn’t as good as the ones Frank has written for others to direct.

The DVD includes a commentary track with Scott Frank along with his director of photography, Alar Kivilo, who also did a fantastic job with the film, the opening scene in particular. The special features also include a making-of featurette called “Sequencing The Lookout” and another featurette, “Behind the Mind of Chris Pratt”.