Reviewer's Rating 4 out of 5
The Lookout (2007)
15Contains strong language and violence

A mentally impaired young man is drawn into a heist in The Lookout. Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) may appear normal, but a car accident has left him with severe memory problems, making him dependent on his notebook and his blind roommate Lewis (Jeff Daniels). Smarmy crook Gary (Matthew Goode) uses sexy sidekick Luvlee (Isla Fisher) to persuade Chris to play lookout when he robs the bank Chris works at. But little goes to plan in this smart, gripping crime thriller.

The set-up instantly recalls Memento, which is no bad thing: Chris' memory problems leave him open to exploitation, and he has to write reminders of events and people just to get through the day. The idea is intriguing, and the performances excellent, although lead Gordon-Levitt (Brick) is for once outshone by his co-stars. Daniels is terrific as his darkly funny, hippy flatmate, and it's great to see British posh boy Goode deliver an impressive turn as a sinister Yank.

"DESPITE THE RESEMBLANCE, THIS IS NO MEMENTO"

But while Chris' disability is essential to both plot and character interest, the details of his symptoms are unclear (would he be allowed to drive, for instance, if he can't remember how to open a tin in the kitchen?). So despite the resemblance, this is no Memento. Still, thanks to suspenseful scenes and top-notch performances, it's a cracking little thriller all the same.

The Lookout is out in the UK on 2nd November 2007.

End Credits

Director: Scott Frank

Writer: Scott Frank

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Length: 99 minutes

Cinema: 02 November 2007

Country: US

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