The Lookout (2007 film)

Last updated

The Lookout
LookoutPoster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Scott Frank
Written byScott Frank
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Alar Kivilo
Edited by Jill Savitt
Music by James Newton Howard
Production
companies
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release date
  • March 30, 2007 (2007-03-30)
Running time
98 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$16 million [2]
Box office$5.4 million [2]

The Lookout is a 2007 American crime film written and directed by Scott Frank, in his directorial debut, and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Bruce McGill, and Isla Fisher.

Contents

Plot

Driving at night with his lights off, high school sports star Chris Pratt crashes into a combine stalled on the road. Two of his passengers are killed, while he and his girlfriend Kelly survive. The crash leaves Chris with lasting mental impairments, including anterograde amnesia and anger management issues.

Four years later, Chris takes classes to learn new skills, including the simple sequencing of daily tasks to compensate for his inability to remember, and keeps notes to himself in a small notebook. Challenged by a tough case manager to build a life despite his injuries, he is emotionally supported by his roommate, a blind man named Lewis, but receives only financial support from his wealthy family. Chris works nights cleaning a small-town bank, and his only friend besides Lewis is Ted, a Sheriff's Deputy who checks in on Chris regularly. Chris repeatedly tries to convince the bank's manager, Mr. Tuttle, to allow him to apply for a teller job, to no avail.

Chris comes under the scrutiny of a gang planning to rob the bank. Their leader Gary, who knew Chris from high school and resented his wealth and popularity before his accident, befriends him and uses a young woman, Luvlee Lemons, to seduce him. Taunted by the gang about his limitations since the accident, Chris initially goes along with their scheme. His frustrations lead to a confrontation with Lewis. After a talk with Lewis, Luvlee leaves Chris and moves away.

On the night of the robbery, Mr. Tuttle offers to consider Chris for the teller job. When the gang arrives, Chris tells them he has changed his mind, but is forced to empty the vault at gunpoint. Ted stumbles upon the robbery, and one of the robbers, Bone, begins shooting. Ted kills two of the robbers, Marty and Cork, and seriously wounds Gary before Bone maneuvers around and shoots Ted in the back, executing him with a second shot. Escaping in the getaway car, Chris realizes he has the stolen money, and is compelled to return to the site of his accident, where he buries the money. Gary escapes with Bone.

Returning to his apartment, Chris sees the lights on and realizes something is wrong. He calls and learns Gary and Bone have taken Lewis hostage to get the money back. Chris, using his new sequencing skills, hatches a plan to stay alive and save his friend, but the robbers catch him napping at the arranged meeting place and force him to take them to the buried cash.

While Chris digs in the snow for the money, Gary's condition deteriorates. Chris gives one of the two bags to Bone, who is preparing to execute Lewis, but Chris kills Bone with the shotgun stashed in the other bag. Gary collapses and dies. Chris returns the money and turns himself in, but the FBI investigation concludes that he was not responsible due to his mental condition and, because the robbers failed to disconnect the video surveillance, the FBI was able to see Chris was forced to act at gunpoint.

Chris and Lewis reconcile and open a restaurant together with a loan from Mr. Tuttle. Chris hopes Kelly will forgive him for the loss of her leg in the accident and that one day he will find the courage to talk to her again.

Cast

Production

Although set near Kansas City, Missouri, the bank in the movie was filmed in the town of Hartney, Manitoba, [3] using the town's Museum, and city scenes were filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. [4] [5] Scenes of the skating rink were filmed behind the Millennium Library, and the exterior of Chris's apartment was filmed in the Exchange District and various historic sites in Winnipeg including the Bank of Montreal (1911–13), the Ambassador Apartments (1909), the interior of the Market Building (1899) and the James Ashdown House at 529 Wellington (1913). [6] The Ambassador Apartments appear on the film's poster. [6]

Reception

The Lookout received critical acclaim. The film has an aggregated score of 87% at Rotten Tomatoes based on 169 reviews. [7] The critical consensus reads, "The Lookout is a genuinely suspenseful and affecting noir due to the great ensemble cast and their complex, realistic characters." [7] On Metacritic, the film has a score 73 out of 100 based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [8] Particularly favorable reviews came from Richard Roeper [9] and Leonard Maltin, with the latter praising the film as "the best movie so far" of the first half of 2007. [10]

The Lookout won the award for Best First Feature at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards. [11]

Soundtrack

The score was composed by James Newton Howard and was his first collaboration with director Scott Frank. [12] Frequent collaborators Stuart Michael Thomas and Clay Duncan are credited with additional music. The score was orchestrated by Brad Dechter, Stuart Michael Thomas, and Chris P. Bacon, who also conducted. Several songs were featured including "One Big Holiday" and "Lay Low", both performed by My Morning Jacket. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Bank Dick</i> 1940 American comedy film starring W. C. Fields

The Bank Dick, released as The Bank Detective in the United Kingdom, is a 1940 American comedy film starring W. C. Fields. Set in Lompoc, California, Fields plays Egbert Sousé, a drunk who accidentally thwarts a bank robbery and ends up a bank security guard as a result.

<i>Taxi</i> (2004 film) 2004 film by Tim Story

Taxi is a 2004 action comedy film directed by Tim Story and starring Queen Latifah, Jimmy Fallon, Gisele Bündchen in her film debut, Jennifer Esposito, and Ann-Margret. An incompetent New York City police officer is banned from driving and comes to rely on a talented taxi driver to help him solve a series of bank robberies. The film is a remake of the 1998 French film of the same name and was panned by critics.

<i>Freddy Got Fingered</i> 2001 surreal black comedy film directed by Tom Green

Freddy Got Fingered is a 2001 surreal black comedy film directed by Tom Green in his feature film directorial debut and written by Green and Derek Harvie. The film stars Green alongside Rip Torn, Marisa Coughlan, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Julie Hagerty.

<i>Creepshow</i> 1982 horror comedy anthology film by George A. Romero

Creepshow is a 1982 American horror comedy anthology film directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King, making this film his screenwriting debut. The film's ensemble cast includes Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Leslie Nielsen, Carrie Nye, E. G. Marshall, Viveca Lindfors, Ted Danson and Ed Harris, as well as King himself. The film was primarily shot on location in Pittsburgh and its suburbs, including Monroeville, where Romero leased an old boys' academy to build extensive sets for the film.

<i>Set It Off</i> (film) 1996 film directed by F. Gary Gray

Set It Off is a 1996 American heist drama crime action film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Kate Lanier and Takashi Bufford. The film stars Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. It follows four close friends in Los Angeles, California, who plan to execute a bank robbery—each doing so for different reasons—to achieve better for themselves and their families.

<i>At the Movies</i> (1986 TV program) Movie review television program

At the Movies was an American movie review television program produced by Disney–ABC Domestic Television in which two film critics share their opinions of newly released films. Its original hosts were Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel, the former hosts of Sneak Previews on PBS (1975–1982) and a similarly titled syndicated series (1982–1986). After Siskel died in 1999, Ebert worked with various guest critics until choosing Chicago Sun-Times colleague Richard Roeper as his regular partner in 2000.

<i>Millions</i> (2004 film) 2004 British film by Danny Boyle

Millions is a 2004 British comedy-drama film directed by Danny Boyle, and starring Alex Etel, Lewis Owen McGibbon, and James Nesbitt. The film's screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce adapted his novel while the film was in the process of being made. The novel was subsequently awarded the Carnegie Medal.

<i>The Real McCoy</i> (film) 1993 American film

The Real McCoy is a 1993 American heist crime film, directed by Russell Mulcahy and starring Kim Basinger, Val Kilmer and Terence Stamp.

<i>Fear in the Night</i> (1947 film) 1947 film by Maxwell Shane

Fear in the Night is an American 1947 film noir crime film directed by Maxwell Shane, starring Paul Kelly and DeForest Kelley. It is based on the Cornell Woolrich story "And So to Death". Woolrich is credited under pen name William Irish. The film was remade by the same director in 1956 with the title Nightmare this time starring Edward G. Robinson playing the cop and Kevin McCarthy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pratt</span> American actor (born 1979)

Christopher Michael Pratt is an American actor. He rose to prominence in the late 2000s for playing Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–2015). He also appeared in The WB drama series Everwood (2002–2006) and had supporting roles in the films Wanted (2008), Jennifer's Body (2009), Moneyball (2011), Zero Dark Thirty (2012), and Her (2013).

<i>Seems Like Old Times</i> (film) 1980 film by Jay Sandrich

Seems Like Old Times is a 1980 American comedy film starring Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn, and Charles Grodin, directed by Jay Sandrich and written by Neil Simon. It was the only theatrical film directed by Sandrich, who was best known for his television sitcom directing work. It follows Nick Gardenia, a writer who is forced to rob a bank and becomes a fugitive, leaving him to seek help from his ex-wife Glenda Parks, a public defender. Her current husband, Ira Parks, is the Los Angeles County district attorney, who harbors a jealous disdain towards Nick.

<i>The Big White</i> 2005 film by Mark Mylod

The Big White is a 2005 black comedy film directed by Mark Mylod and starring Robin Williams, Holly Hunter, Giovanni Ribisi, Woody Harrelson, Tim Blake Nelson, W. Earl Brown, and Alison Lohman.

<i>Deck the Halls</i> (2006 film) 2006 American Christmas comedy film

Deck the Halls is a 2006 American Christmas comedy film directed by John Whitesell, written by Matt Corman, Chris Ord, and Don Rhymer, and starring Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, and Kristin Chenoweth. It tells the story of an optometrist who ends up in a Christmas competition with his new neighbor. The film was released on November 22, 2006, by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on DVD on November 6, 2007. It was a critical and commercial failure.

<i>Pineapple Express</i> (film) 2008 American film

Pineapple Express is a 2008 American buddy stoner action comedy film directed by David Gordon Green, written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and starring Rogen and James Franco alongside Gary Cole, Rosie Perez and Danny McBride. The plot centers on a process server and his marijuana dealer as they are forced to flee from hitmen and a corrupt police officer after witnessing them commit a murder. Producer Judd Apatow, who previously worked with Rogen and Goldberg on Knocked Up and Superbad, assisted in developing the story.

<i>The Bank Job</i> 2008 film by Roger Donaldson

The Bank Job is a 2008 heist thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. It is based on the 1971 burglary of Lloyds Bank safety deposit boxes in Baker Street. It stars Jason Statham.

<i>Takers</i> 2010 American film

Takers is a 2010 American heist action thriller film directed by John Luessenhop from a story and screenplay written by Luessenhop, Gabriel Casseus, Peter Allen, and Avery Duff. It features Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, and Zoe Saldana in an ensemble cast. The film was released on August 27, 2010.

<i>The Town</i> (2010 film) 2010 American crime thriller film directed by Ben Affleck

The Town is a 2010 American crime thriller film co-written and directed by Ben Affleck, adapted from Chuck Hogan's 2004 novel Prince of Thieves. The film stars Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Titus Welliver, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper and Slaine. Its plot follows a Boston bank robber who begins to develop romantic feelings for a victim of one of his previous robberies, while he and his crew set out to get one final score by robbing Fenway Park.

<i>Transit</i> (2012 film) 2012 film by Antonio Negret

Transit is a 2012 American action crime thriller film directed by Antonio Negret and written by Michael Gilvary. It stars Jim Caviezel, James Frain, Diora Baird, Elisabeth Röhm, Ryan Donowho, Sterling Knight, Harold Perrineau, and Jake Cherry. It follows a gang of bank robbers who stash their loot in a vacationing family's car and then try to retrieve it down the road.

<i>Hell or High Water</i> (film) 2016 film by David Mackenzie

Hell or High Water is a 2016 American neo-Western crime drama film directed by David Mackenzie and written by Taylor Sheridan. It follows two brothers who carry out a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, while being pursued by two Texas Rangers. It was the final film produced by OddLot Entertainment before its dissolution in 2015.

<i>The Last Heist</i> 2016 American film

The Last Heist is a 2016 American action thriller film directed by Mike Mendez and written by Guy Stevenson starring Henry Rollins, Torrance Coombs and Victoria Pratt.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Lookout (2006)". British Film Institute . Archived from the original on December 3, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "The Lookout (2007)". Box Office Mojo .
  3. ↑ "City streets buzz with major film shoots". CBC . April 25, 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. ↑ Kit, Borys (March 27, 2007). "New movie "Lookout" not in Kansas any more". Reuters . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. ↑ Dawson, Nick (March 30, 2007). "Scott Frank, The Lookout". Filmmaker. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. 1 2 "10 Movies You Didn't Know Were Filmed in Winnipeg". Complex. January 29, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "The Lookout - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Lookout, The (2007): Reviews". Metacritic . March 30, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ Roeper, Richard (March 30, 2007). "First time's a charm". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Leonard's Picks". leonardmaltin.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  11. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (February 23, 2008). "'Juno' tops Spirit Awards". Variety. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  12. ↑ "James Newton Howard - The Lookout". AllMusic . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ "The Lookout". ringostrack.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.