The Lookout's Recent Activity

list The Lookout's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around The Lookout on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg The Lookout's Recent Activity - Spout http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 Film:The Lookout http://www.spout.com/films/The_Lookout/268230/default.aspx

Title: The Lookout
Year: 2007
Director: Scott Frank
Plot: A former high-school hockey star handicapped in a tragic car accident becomes an unlikely ally to a crack team of determined bank robbers in this thriller starring Jeff Daniels and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. When his promising career on the ice is suddenly cut short, former athlete Chris Pratt (Gordon-Levitt) goes to work as a janitor in a local bank. Cleaning floors soon gives way to criminal enterprise when the onetime puck-slinger is recruited to help clean out the very bank that employs him. Screenwriter Scott Frank (Out of Sight and Minority Report) makes his directorial debut, working from his own original screenplay. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 27
Number of Lists: 22
Number of blog posts: 10
Number of discussion threads: 7
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Sun, 03 May 2009 23:43:14 GMTThe Lookout2007Scott FrankA former high-school hockey star handicapped in a tragic car accident becomes an unlikely ally to a crack team of determined bank robbers in this thriller starring <a href="/players/P____16881/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jeff Daniels</a> and <a href="/players/P____27836/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Joseph Gordon-Levitt</a>. When his promising career on the ice is suddenly cut short, former athlete Chris Pratt (Gordon-Levitt) goes to work as a janitor in a local bank. Cleaning floors soon gives way to criminal enterprise when the onetime puck-slinger is recruited to help clean out the very bank that employs him. Screenwriter Scott Frank (<a href=/films/118415/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Out of Sight</a> and <a href=/films/207684/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Minority Report</a>) makes his directorial debut, working from his own original screenplay. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide27Tag Target (>10)221073http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/s268230.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/The_Lookout/268230/default.aspxFilm Spout Post: Doncha just love those Hockey jocks? http://www.spout.com/blogs/chrismorrell/archive/2008/10/12/36223.aspx

Post By: chrismorrell
Post To: chrismorrell Blog
Post Date: 10/12/2008 7:26:47 PM
Body: I got this as a "JGL " fan,thinking it would be another "Indie" goodie,like "Brick" ,but no, it turned out to be pretty mainstream fare..Hockey "jock" ..rich parents..loses memory in a car crash ,career ruined .works in bank as security guard..stalked by crims..fill in the blanks..It's not that bad..Jeff Daniels is his blind "rehab buddie" and the main "baddie" is a very charismatic Matthew Goode, who is a Brit.(?) He was in "Matchpoint" ,that's why i thought ,"Wimbledon" connection!...Looks like it's shot in "Fargo" territory,the police have flaps over their ears,and everyone ice-skates.
]]>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:26:47 GMTchrismorrellchrismorrell Blog10/12/2008 7:26:47 PMI got this as a "JGL " fan,thinking it would be another "Indie" goodie,like "Brick" ,but no, it turned out to be pretty mainstream fare..Hockey "jock" ..rich parents..loses memory in a car crash ,career ruined .works in bank as security guard..stalked by crims..fill in the blanks..It's not that bad..Jeff Daniels is his blind "rehab buddie" and the main "baddie" is a very charismatic Matthew Goode, who is a Brit.(?) He was in "Matchpoint" ,that's why i thought ,"Wimbledon" connection!...Looks like it's shot in "Fargo" territory,the police have flaps over their ears,and everyone ice-skates. Spout Post: The Lookout (2007) http://www.spout.com/blogs/kowalski76/archive/2008/10/12/36218.aspx

Post By: Kowalski76
Post To: Rebellious Celluloid
Post Date: 10/12/2008 10:31:02 AM
Body: "whoever has the money has the power" the tagline states. I'll tell you something Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode nor the walking cliche named 'Bones' had the money. If they had there's no evidence they ever spent any of it on acting lessons. Their performances, for me spoiled an otherwise solid film. Can't fault Scott Franks script or directing, and the two leads nail their roles.Sadly, not enough to make me recommend a viewing.
]]>Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:31:02 GMTKowalski76Rebellious Celluloid10/12/2008 10:31:02 AM"whoever has the money has the power" the tagline states. I'll tell you something Isla Fisher, Matthew Goode nor the walking cliche named 'Bones' had the money. If they had there's no evidence they ever spent any of it on acting lessons. Their performances, for me spoiled an otherwise solid film. Can't fault Scott Franks script or directing, and the two leads nail their roles.Sadly, not enough to make me recommend a viewing. Spout Post: Re:Recasting THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmgaming/Re_Recasting_THE_BREAKFAST_CLUB_1985/563/28481/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: tl8706
Post To: Filmgaming
Post Date: 5/11/2008 10:54:27 PM
Body: Joseph Gordon Levitt (The Lookout) ... Andrew 'Andy' Clark (make him a swimmer) Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up) ... Brian Ralph Johnson Taylor Kitsch (The Covenant) ... John Bender Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants) ... Claire Standish Emma Stone (Superbad) ... Allison Reynolds Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore) ... Principal Richard Vernon Ethan Hawke (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead) ... Carl The Janitor
]]>Mon, 12 May 2008 02:54:27 GMTtl8706Filmgaming5/11/2008 10:54:27 PMJoseph Gordon Levitt (The Lookout) ... Andrew 'Andy' Clark (make him a swimmer) Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up) ... Brian Ralph Johnson Taylor Kitsch (The Covenant) ... John Bender Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants) ... Claire Standish Emma Stone (Superbad) ... Allison Reynolds Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore) ... Principal Richard Vernon Ethan Hawke (Before The Devil Knows You're Dead) ... Carl The Janitor Spout Post: Scott Frank's directorial debut http://www.spout.com/blogs/vhsparrow/archive/2008/3/20/26438.aspx

Post By: vhsparrow
Post To: vhsparrow Blog
Post Date: 3/20/2008 2:47:42 PM
Body: Did anyone see any advertising for the directorial debut of screenwriter Scott Frank last year? “Scott who?,” you say — and that’s where the problems begin… The other sadness is that Mr. Frank, the award-winning writer of ‘Minority Report‘ (2002), ‘Out of Sight’ (1998) and ‘Dead Again’ (1991) got next to no promotional support for his debut feature. It was budgeted at $16M, took in $4M and slipped quietly beneath the waves 5 weeks later. Problem is, Mr. Frank’s feature shared it’s opening weekend with last year’s Tarantino/Rodriguez double-feature ‘Grindhouse’ (2007) and it was released by the post-Weinstein Miramax and Spyglass Entertainment. So, given a choice between promoting a celebrated screenwriter in an open field against the brand-names Tarantino™ and Rodriguez™, Disney chose to punt. The unfortunate fact is that it’s a pretty good, if over-budgeted film, far more engaging than the two-fer that Wonder Twins Tarantino and Rodriguez produced. “Over-budgeted”, you ask? Despite the fact that Mr. Frank has been revered as the go-to script-doctor out in Hollywood for more than a decade, his first feature could have/should have been able to do more with less. The cinematography just a bit too assured, the music just a bit too lush for a film that’s essentially a neo-noir set in a midwestern town someplace (really Winnipeg, Manitoba). However, I guess Disney/Miramax wanted to treat Frank well, considering all of the work he’s done for Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Kenneth Branagh, Steven Soderbergh and Sydney Pollack. From all accounts, the screenplay was finished back in 2002, yet sat on a shelf for 4 years. By all rights, The Lookout should have been an independent film, but what are you gonna do if someone offers you $16M to make your first feature?. The story is sound here. As other writers have observed, Frank’s main strengths are sharp dialogue and character-driven stories, which is particularly why the film is overproduced: The script is an admirably small-scaled character-driven thing, full of unknowns, save for Jeff Daniels — yet the quality of the production is entirely A-List, nothing that Spielberg or Soderbergh or Pollack wouldn’t be disappointed with. Early scenes in the film are so beautifully presented that they are at odds with the would-be grittier feel of the story that follows. Frank’s script might have benefitted from a more verité treatment. Of course, those production choices could be Frank’s alone and not that of his DP or production designer; ultimately though, it all falls back upon Frank. Numerous reviewers have commented that The Lookout seems to be a cross between ‘Memento’ (2000) and ‘Fargo’ (1996) due to its rural small-town location, and the hook of a protagonist with memory problems, but Frank’s most remarkable invention in this film is his use of the amnesiac story-device — writing things down — to create a meta-narrative that speaks to the very heart of screenwriting. “Ritual, Pattern, Repetition”, mutters our protagonist, Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) , during a session with his occupational therapist. As a result of the events in the film’s teaser episode, he has suffered a traumatic brain injury that denies him a short-term memory, requiring that he write everything down, just to get through his day as a janitor at a local bank. Eventually, this writing serves the story in a central way as Chris plots against his antagonists to rescue his best friend, Lew (Jeff Bridges), from arch-crooks Matthew Goode and Greg Dunham. As his therapist suggests, “Start at the end, and work your way back toward the beginning,” thus, Mr. Frank’s graduate school lessons are made available to us mere-mortals spec-monkeys.All told, The Lookout is ultimately a noir film, down to it’s femme-fatale, it’s central caper and betrayal. In any case, this one is highly recommended — stick it in your Netflix cue or catch it on cable — whichever comes first.
]]>Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:47:42 GMTvhsparrowvhsparrow Blog3/20/2008 2:47:42 PMDid anyone see any advertising for the directorial debut of screenwriter Scott Frank last year? “Scott who?,” you say — and that’s where the problems begin… The other sadness is that Mr. Frank, the award-winning writer of ‘Minority Report‘ (2002), ‘Out of Sight’ (1998) and ‘Dead Again’ (1991) got next to no promotional support for his debut feature. It was budgeted at $16M, took in $4M and slipped quietly beneath the waves 5 weeks later. Problem is, Mr. Frank’s feature shared it’s opening weekend with last year’s Tarantino/Rodriguez double-feature ‘Grindhouse’ (2007) and it was released by the post-Weinstein Miramax and Spyglass Entertainment. So, given a choice between promoting a celebrated screenwriter in an open field against the brand-names Tarantino™ and Rodriguez™, Disney chose to punt. The unfortunate fact is that it’s a pretty good, if over-budgeted film, far more engaging than the two-fer that Wonder Twins Tarantino and Rodriguez produced. “Over-budgeted”, you ask? Despite the fact that Mr. Frank has been revered as the go-to script-doctor out in Hollywood for more than a decade, his first feature could have/should have been able to do more with less. The cinematography just a bit too assured, the music just a bit too lush for a film that’s essentially a neo-noir set in a midwestern town someplace (really Winnipeg, Manitoba). However, I guess Disney/Miramax wanted to treat Frank well, considering all of the work he’s done for Spielberg, Jodie Foster, Kenneth Branagh, Steven Soderbergh and Sydney Pollack. From all accounts, the screenplay was finished back in 2002, yet sat on a shelf for 4 years. By all rights, The Lookout should have been an independent film, but what are you gonna do if someone offers you $16M to make your first feature?. The story is sound here. As other writers have observed, Frank’s main strengths are sharp dialogue and character-driven stories, which is particularly why the film is overproduced: The script is an admirably small-scaled character-driven thing, full of unknowns, save for Jeff Daniels — yet the quality of the production is entirely A-List, nothing that Spielberg or Soderbergh or Pollack wouldn’t be disappointed with. Early scenes in the film are so beautifully presented that they are at odds with the would-be grittier feel of the story that follows. Frank’s script might have benefitted from a more verité treatment. Of course, those production choices could be Frank’s alone and not that of his DP or production designer; ultimately though, it all falls back upon Frank. Numerous reviewers have commented that The Lookout seems to be a cross between ‘Memento’ (2000) and ‘Fargo’ (1996) due to its rural small-town location, and the hook of a protagonist with memory problems, but Frank’s most remarkable invention in this film is his use of the amnesiac story-device — writing things down — to create a meta-narrative that speaks to the very heart of screenwriting. “Ritual, Pattern, Repetition”, mutters our protagonist, Chris Pratt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) , during a session with his occupational therapist. As a result of the events in the film’s teaser episode, he has suffered a traumatic brain injury that denies him a short-term memory, requiring that he write everything down, just to get through his day as a janitor at a local bank. Eventually, this writing serves the story in a central way as Chris plots against his antagonists to rescue his best friend, Lew (Jeff Bridges), from arch-crooks Matthew Goode and Greg Dunham. As his therapist suggests, “Start at the end, and work your way back toward the beginning,” thus, Mr. Frank’s graduate school lessons are made available to us mere-mortals spec-monkeys.All told, The Lookout is ultimately a noir film, down to it’s femme-fatale, it’s central caper and betrayal. In any case, this one is highly recommended — stick it in your Netflix cue or catch it on cable — whichever comes first. Spout Post: Weekly Roundup: Movies Pt. 1 http://www.spout.com/blogs/theworkingdead/archive/2008/3/2/25789.aspx

Post By: TheWorkingDead
Post To: TheWorkingDead Blog
Post Date: 3/2/2008 7:03:38 PM
Body: Lately I've had more time to watch movies than I have had to write about them. Actually, that statement is a bit misleading, because any time I'm watching a movie I could be writing instead, but forgive me, I recently got cable for the first time in about 20 years, so I've been overwhelmed lately by so many viewing options. Some of the movies inspire a few random thoughts, but sometimes not enough to warrant a full review. So here goes, my first weekly roundup of the movies I've seen, but don't think I can stretch a full post out of. A little disclaimer; these weren't ALL within the past seven days, lest you think I've done nothing but sit on my couch 24 hours a day. I'm being a bit lenient in my first post so I can clean out the backlog.Justice League: The New FrontierI haven't read the graphic novel this is based on, but seeing how closely the animation follows the stylistic illustrations of artist Darwyn Cooke, I'm going to assume it's fairly accurate. It's possible that the comic book is a little more coherent, since the central plot concerning a new villain called The Center doesn't get nearly as much screen time as the individual journeys of it's heroes. The New Frontier is an alternate history story set in the mid-50s, as the Justice Society, disbanded amid McCarthyism and public distrust, investigates individually some pretty gruesome cult activity. While this is going on we get to witness the seeds of the Justice League, as all of the founding members of that group start getting their powers. As I said the central plot tying everyone together is a little vague; I'm still in the dark as to who or what The Center is, or who that man who committed suicide in the movies opening scene was(oh yes, this film takes advantage of it's PG-13 rating), all I know is that it all culminates in a pretty badass battle between the Justice League and some weird sentient island that spawns dinosaurs, and veers off into some weird, 2001, A Space Odyssey style mindfuckery. All that aside, the animation is stylistic and smooth, with some unfortunate CGI(something you can't really avoid in DTV animation these days) that isn't actually too distracting, and the voice work is across the board impeccable. The main cast is of course full of name actors, but instead of stunt casting they all come across pretty well, particularly Neil Patrick Harris as the Flash. Also, it was great seeing Batman in his old school, big eared costume, and a humorous, self serving reason for getting a sidekick.I bought this film on blu-ray(making it my first such purchase), and despite some cool extras(including an awesome sneak peek at the upcoming Batman: Gotham Knight anthology), I have to complain about their presentation. The entire menu is one screen, and filled with text. Even on my big screen TV I couldn't read the options, and had to go by trial and error.HatchetThis one wins the title for least appropriately named horror film of the decade. The cover features a blood spattered hatchet, and yet only once does the killer wield the titular weapon, although he does so memorably. The setup isn't even worth mentioning, because it's all just filler to get to the gory murders, but props must be given to a screenwriter with the wit to inject real humor into the proceedings, and a cast capable of pulling it all off. And I know it's not really worth complaining about, because all slasher films do it, but I started to get annoyed at the group of tourists stalked by a deformed backwoods maniac; every time the killer showed up, someone would get a hit in and incapacitate him, and everyone would run away. After shooting him, and seeing him fall to the ground, no one thought to walk over and shoot him in the head, or stab him AGAIN with the pitchfork once he stumbled bleeding and incapacitated into the mud.The MatadorHere's where Spout's rating system breaks down a bit, because I think this is a far superior film to Hatchet, and yet on their scale it gets the same grade. I really liked this movie, about a burnt out hitman and a struggling, slightly emasculated everyman, but something held me back from outright loving it. I think it was the on-the-nose nature of Julian Noble's(Pierce Brosnan) breakdown. I totally loved the storyline surrounding the mental decline of this character, and appreciated how nicely it was represented in his life, and how he envied Greg Kinnear for the simple act of owning a home. It was the more stylistic flourishes that I disliked, such as the visions of Julian framed in a gunsight and screaming to the heavens, or of Julian jumping on a trampoline in a cheerleader outfit. This seemed a bit of a hackneyed way of illustrating something that was already perfectly defined in dialogue and character interaction. Still, I enjoyed this movie for at least aiming high, even if I didn't feel it quite hit the mark.FreedomlandThe same can't be said for this film, which seemed to set the bar low, and not even try that hard to reach it. The setup could have lent itself to any number of superior films; a tense crackerjack thriller, a biting examination of race relations, or an emotional character study of a mother suffering unspeakable loss and an African American cop trying to straddle both worlds; that of the street, and that of the establishment. Instead the film shows absolutely no interest in really examining any of these aspects of the film, and it doesn't even seem interested in any type of story. People arrive at conclusions to the central mystery with no discernible reason, and not even the capable performance of Julliane Moore made me care about her dead child. Which is surprising, given how sensitive to the subject I've been since having a child of my own.The LookoutI hate to get into the wishing game when it comes to movies. That is, I hate to say of a movie that it could have been better if only it had done such-and-such different. A movie is what it is, and saying you wish it had been different means you should have watched another movie to begin with. And yet, I still wish this movie had done certain things differently. I found Joseph Gordon Leavitt's performance, playing ex-hockey player Chris Pratt, who has a brain injury due to a car accident, to be finely tuned and deeply affecting, and his friendship with a blind Jeff Daniels felt real and rewarding, but the movie itself was full of too many cliches. It had an interesting central twist(pinning the focus of the film on a man with brain trauma), but the rest of the film was standard fare. In the way that characters would stand in the freezing cold and stare at the horizon to show they were conflicted, or the menacing character who only scowls angrily at people through sunglasses that seem to be attached permanently to his head. The Lookout almost seemed ashamed of it's thriller lineage, until the very end, where Chris, with fairly severe memory problems, must figure out how to murder two thugs and save his friend. For a brief moment there, the film embraced the two-fisted allure of the thriller, and offered a few genuine thrills.It occurs to me that my description of The Lookout, and it's central character, sound suspiciously like Memento. I should note, however, that that's probably due to my interpretation, since I watched the entire film without making the connection. Chris Pratt's condition isn't primarily associated with memory, but he instead must make do with limited physical and mental capabilities. He's aware enough to realize everything he's missing, but not always aware enough to do anything about it. And I should say again that Joseph Gordon Leavitt does an amazing job here. Pretty soon he'll be getting reviews that call him his generations (insert famous, respected actor here). Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Duck, You Sucker, so tune in next week for my thoughts on that.
]]>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:03:38 GMTTheWorkingDeadTheWorkingDead Blog3/2/2008 7:03:38 PMLately I've had more time to watch movies than I have had to write about them. Actually, that statement is a bit misleading, because any time I'm watching a movie I could be writing instead, but forgive me, I recently got cable for the first time in about 20 years, so I've been overwhelmed lately by so many viewing options. Some of the movies inspire a few random thoughts, but sometimes not enough to warrant a full review. So here goes, my first weekly roundup of the movies I've seen, but don't think I can stretch a full post out of. A little disclaimer; these weren't ALL within the past seven days, lest you think I've done nothing but sit on my couch 24 hours a day. I'm being a bit lenient in my first post so I can clean out the backlog.Justice League: The New FrontierI haven't read the graphic novel this is based on, but seeing how closely the animation follows the stylistic illustrations of artist Darwyn Cooke, I'm going to assume it's fairly accurate. It's possible that the comic book is a little more coherent, since the central plot concerning a new villain called The Center doesn't get nearly as much screen time as the individual journeys of it's heroes. The New Frontier is an alternate history story set in the mid-50s, as the Justice Society, disbanded amid McCarthyism and public distrust, investigates individually some pretty gruesome cult activity. While this is going on we get to witness the seeds of the Justice League, as all of the founding members of that group start getting their powers. As I said the central plot tying everyone together is a little vague; I'm still in the dark as to who or what The Center is, or who that man who committed suicide in the movies opening scene was(oh yes, this film takes advantage of it's PG-13 rating), all I know is that it all culminates in a pretty badass battle between the Justice League and some weird sentient island that spawns dinosaurs, and veers off into some weird, 2001, A Space Odyssey style mindfuckery. All that aside, the animation is stylistic and smooth, with some unfortunate CGI(something you can't really avoid in DTV animation these days) that isn't actually too distracting, and the voice work is across the board impeccable. The main cast is of course full of name actors, but instead of stunt casting they all come across pretty well, particularly Neil Patrick Harris as the Flash. Also, it was great seeing Batman in his old school, big eared costume, and a humorous, self serving reason for getting a sidekick.I bought this film on blu-ray(making it my first such purchase), and despite some cool extras(including an awesome sneak peek at the upcoming Batman: Gotham Knight anthology), I have to complain about their presentation. The entire menu is one screen, and filled with text. Even on my big screen TV I couldn't read the options, and had to go by trial and error.HatchetThis one wins the title for least appropriately named horror film of the decade. The cover features a blood spattered hatchet, and yet only once does the killer wield the titular weapon, although he does so memorably. The setup isn't even worth mentioning, because it's all just filler to get to the gory murders, but props must be given to a screenwriter with the wit to inject real humor into the proceedings, and a cast capable of pulling it all off. And I know it's not really worth complaining about, because all slasher films do it, but I started to get annoyed at the group of tourists stalked by a deformed backwoods maniac; every time the killer showed up, someone would get a hit in and incapacitate him, and everyone would run away. After shooting him, and seeing him fall to the ground, no one thought to walk over and shoot him in the head, or stab him AGAIN with the pitchfork once he stumbled bleeding and incapacitated into the mud.The MatadorHere's where Spout's rating system breaks down a bit, because I think this is a far superior film to Hatchet, and yet on their scale it gets the same grade. I really liked this movie, about a burnt out hitman and a struggling, slightly emasculated everyman, but something held me back from outright loving it. I think it was the on-the-nose nature of Julian Noble's(Pierce Brosnan) breakdown. I totally loved the storyline surrounding the mental decline of this character, and appreciated how nicely it was represented in his life, and how he envied Greg Kinnear for the simple act of owning a home. It was the more stylistic flourishes that I disliked, such as the visions of Julian framed in a gunsight and screaming to the heavens, or of Julian jumping on a trampoline in a cheerleader outfit. This seemed a bit of a hackneyed way of illustrating something that was already perfectly defined in dialogue and character interaction. Still, I enjoyed this movie for at least aiming high, even if I didn't feel it quite hit the mark.FreedomlandThe same can't be said for this film, which seemed to set the bar low, and not even try that hard to reach it. The setup could have lent itself to any number of superior films; a tense crackerjack thriller, a biting examination of race relations, or an emotional character study of a mother suffering unspeakable loss and an African American cop trying to straddle both worlds; that of the street, and that of the establishment. Instead the film shows absolutely no interest in really examining any of these aspects of the film, and it doesn't even seem interested in any type of story. People arrive at conclusions to the central mystery with no discernible reason, and not even the capable performance of Julliane Moore made me care about her dead child. Which is surprising, given how sensitive to the subject I've been since having a child of my own.The LookoutI hate to get into the wishing game when it comes to movies. That is, I hate to say of a movie that it could have been better if only it had done such-and-such different. A movie is what it is, and saying you wish it had been different means you should have watched another movie to begin with. And yet, I still wish this movie had done certain things differently. I found Joseph Gordon Leavitt's performance, playing ex-hockey player Chris Pratt, who has a brain injury due to a car accident, to be finely tuned and deeply affecting, and his friendship with a blind Jeff Daniels felt real and rewarding, but the movie itself was full of too many cliches. It had an interesting central twist(pinning the focus of the film on a man with brain trauma), but the rest of the film was standard fare. In the way that characters would stand in the freezing cold and stare at the horizon to show they were conflicted, or the menacing character who only scowls angrily at people through sunglasses that seem to be attached permanently to his head. The Lookout almost seemed ashamed of it's thriller lineage, until the very end, where Chris, with fairly severe memory problems, must figure out how to murder two thugs and save his friend. For a brief moment there, the film embraced the two-fisted allure of the thriller, and offered a few genuine thrills.It occurs to me that my description of The Lookout, and it's central character, sound suspiciously like Memento. I should note, however, that that's probably due to my interpretation, since I watched the entire film without making the connection. Chris Pratt's condition isn't primarily associated with memory, but he instead must make do with limited physical and mental capabilities. He's aware enough to realize everything he's missing, but not always aware enough to do anything about it. And I should say again that Joseph Gordon Leavitt does an amazing job here. Pretty soon he'll be getting reviews that call him his generations (insert famous, respected actor here). Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Duck, You Sucker, so tune in next week for my thoughts on that. Spout Post: Legend of Idiocracy Lookout http://www.spout.com/blogs/dibot/archive/2008/2/4/24728.aspx

Post By: dibot
Post To: dibot Blog
Post Date: 2/4/2008 7:12:13 PM
Body: The Legend of Drunken Master is a really enjoyable Jackie Chan ("Rush Hour 3") flick. The martial arts and fight sequences are well choreographed and some of the dialogue and characters, especially the step-mother are hilarious. The plot is kind of light. A group of thieves are smuggling Chinese artifacts out of the country and selling them on the black market. Chan has to stop them using a form of fighting of which his father does not approve, Drunken Boxing. This is an entertaining movie and a good showcase of Chan's skills.I feel that Mike Judge ("Office Space")'s Idiocracy will get funnier over time. I remember the first viewing of Office Space when I didn't get why everyone thought it was so great. And then I watched it again. And again. Now I love it. Idiocracy has a few laughs and many more chuckles. The story follows an average man who is frozen in an army experiment and forgotten. When he awakens 500 years in the future, he's the smartest man alive. And boy have things changed. Please give this movie a go. It's well worth it.The Lookout is a interesting thriller/character drama. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("Killshot"), one of my new favorite actors, is fast proving himself as a really, really good actor. Here he portrays a young man who was a popular, successful high school hockey player until a car accident left him with brain damage. He now works as a janitor at a bank and has to write things down to remember them. The movie focuses on Levitt dealing with his injury as well as a group of guys who exploit him to rob a bank. Jeff Daniels ("Mama's Boy") plays Levitt's blind roommate, and he is equally fascinating. This is the directorial debut for writer Scott Frank ("The Interpreter") and I think he shows real vision. The film feels a bit rushed at the end, but the rest of the film makes up for it.
]]>Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:12:13 GMTdibotdibot Blog2/4/2008 7:12:13 PMThe Legend of Drunken Master is a really enjoyable Jackie Chan ("Rush Hour 3") flick. The martial arts and fight sequences are well choreographed and some of the dialogue and characters, especially the step-mother are hilarious. The plot is kind of light. A group of thieves are smuggling Chinese artifacts out of the country and selling them on the black market. Chan has to stop them using a form of fighting of which his father does not approve, Drunken Boxing. This is an entertaining movie and a good showcase of Chan's skills.I feel that Mike Judge ("Office Space")'s Idiocracy will get funnier over time. I remember the first viewing of Office Space when I didn't get why everyone thought it was so great. And then I watched it again. And again. Now I love it. Idiocracy has a few laughs and many more chuckles. The story follows an average man who is frozen in an army experiment and forgotten. When he awakens 500 years in the future, he's the smartest man alive. And boy have things changed. Please give this movie a go. It's well worth it.The Lookout is a interesting thriller/character drama. Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("Killshot"), one of my new favorite actors, is fast proving himself as a really, really good actor. Here he portrays a young man who was a popular, successful high school hockey player until a car accident left him with brain damage. He now works as a janitor at a bank and has to write things down to remember them. The movie focuses on Levitt dealing with his injury as well as a group of guys who exploit him to rob a bank. Jeff Daniels ("Mama's Boy") plays Levitt's blind roommate, and he is equally fascinating. This is the directorial debut for writer Scott Frank ("The Interpreter") and I think he shows real vision. The film feels a bit rushed at the end, but the rest of the film makes up for it. Spout Post: Re:Re:Re: Top 5 Heist Films http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Re_Re_Top_5_Heist_Films/190/24458/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: Puhnner
Post To: Top 5
Post Date: 1/28/2008 2:41:16 PM
Body: ok, maybe these are not the best, but:Take the Money and Run ( I still laugh my ass off each time I see it, especially the scene where the teller and then everyone in the bank argues about what Woody's 'stick-up' note actually says )The Getaway ( although the book is much better ) The Master Touch with Kirk Douglas; surprisingly great, unintentionally hilarious, and with blinking light type 'state of the art' technology The LookoutPoint Blank
]]>Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:41:16 GMTPuhnnerTop 51/28/2008 2:41:16 PMok, maybe these are not the best, but:Take the Money and Run ( I still laugh my ass off each time I see it, especially the scene where the teller and then everyone in the bank argues about what Woody's 'stick-up' note actually says )The Getaway ( although the book is much better ) The Master Touch with Kirk Douglas; surprisingly great, unintentionally hilarious, and with blinking light type 'state of the art' technology The LookoutPoint Blank Spout Post: my 2007 movie lists http://www.spout.com/blogs/wonga/archive/2008/1/10/23719.aspx

Post By: wonga
Post To: wonga's filmblog
Post Date: 1/10/2008 12:19:35 PM
Body: i have a wonderful picture of all my movie ticket stubs from this year in a pile but i can’t get it transferred to my filmblog (yes, i save my ticket stubs and scrapbook them at the end of the year…i know, it’s sad really)! armed with discount movie coupons, i saw 118 movies this year at the theater and, as usual, it was really hard to narrow them down but here’s my list, for what it’s worth. some are from 2006 that i didn’t see until later. my 15 favorite movies at the theater in 2007the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert fordthe diving bell and the butterflythe lives of othersjunothe painted veilonceno country for old menthe darjeeling limitedwaitressstarting out in the eveningsunshinefirst snow zodiacin the shadow of the moonacross the universehonorable mention (alphabetically)2 days in paris 3:10 to yuma51 birch streetdirty dancing (20th anniversary)dreamgirlshairsprayinto the wildthe jane austen book clubkiller of sheepknocked uplars and the real girlletters from iwo jimathe lookouttalk to me wristcutters: a love story2007 movies i still want/need to seeking of kongthe savagessweeney toddthere will be blood 2007 movies I didn’t like so well before the devil knows you’re deadfeast of lovei now pronounce you chuck and larryla vie en rosemartian childold joyratatouillespider-man 3other movies (on video) that I fell in love with this yearthe dead girllonesome jimlook both ways
]]>Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:19:35 GMTwongawonga's filmblog1/10/2008 12:19:35 PMi have a wonderful picture of all my movie ticket stubs from this year in a pile but i can’t get it transferred to my filmblog (yes, i save my ticket stubs and scrapbook them at the end of the year…i know, it’s sad really)! armed with discount movie coupons, i saw 118 movies this year at the theater and, as usual, it was really hard to narrow them down but here’s my list, for what it’s worth. some are from 2006 that i didn’t see until later. my 15 favorite movies at the theater in 2007the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert fordthe diving bell and the butterflythe lives of othersjunothe painted veilonceno country for old menthe darjeeling limitedwaitressstarting out in the eveningsunshinefirst snow zodiacin the shadow of the moonacross the universehonorable mention (alphabetically)2 days in paris 3:10 to yuma51 birch streetdirty dancing (20th anniversary)dreamgirlshairsprayinto the wildthe jane austen book clubkiller of sheepknocked uplars and the real girlletters from iwo jimathe lookouttalk to me wristcutters: a love story2007 movies i still want/need to seeking of kongthe savagessweeney toddthere will be blood 2007 movies I didn’t like so well before the devil knows you’re deadfeast of lovei now pronounce you chuck and larryla vie en rosemartian childold joyratatouillespider-man 3other movies (on video) that I fell in love with this yearthe dead girllonesome jimlook both ways Spout Post: Re:Re: Latest unknown fave http://www.spout.com/groups/Viewing_with_a_purpose/Re_Re_Latest_unknown_fave/288/22531/1/ShowPost.aspx

Post By: JimBell
Post To: Viewing with a purpose
Post Date: 12/4/2007 1:22:17 AM
Body: The fellow at the video store said the same thing; The Lookout tanked in theaters but is good. I agree the acting is very good. I also liked a lot of the little touches. Example: The young guy (Chris) is getting to know his new girlfriend (Luvlee) when he casually mentions that he hunted as a teenager and kept doing it even though he did not like it, becuase he was a very good shot. Do you think that might come up again in the climax of the movie? Although this moive is a "gem,' the first half is pretty slow. We are, after all, following a young man who has suffered serious brain damage in an auto accident. He just keeps waking up in the morning . . . then waking up in the morning . . . then waking up in the morning. But when he gets in with the wrong crowd the movie grips. And, oddly, when the movie shifts from focusing on his brain damage, his brain damage becomes a lot more realistic and interesting.JIMBELL
]]>Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:22:17 GMTJimBellViewing with a purpose12/4/2007 1:22:17 AMThe fellow at the video store said the same thing; The Lookout tanked in theaters but is good. I agree the acting is very good. I also liked a lot of the little touches. Example: The young guy (Chris) is getting to know his new girlfriend (Luvlee) when he casually mentions that he hunted as a teenager and kept doing it even though he did not like it, becuase he was a very good shot. Do you think that might come up again in the climax of the movie? Although this moive is a "gem,' the first half is pretty slow. We are, after all, following a young man who has suffered serious brain damage in an auto accident. He just keeps waking up in the morning . . . then waking up in the morning . . . then waking up in the morning. But when he gets in with the wrong crowd the movie grips. And, oddly, when the movie shifts from focusing on his brain damage, his brain damage becomes a lot more realistic and interesting.JIMBELL Spout Post: Wow http://www.spout.com/blogs/ryan123/archive/2007/12/2/22479.aspx

Post By: Ryan123
Post To: Ryan123 Blog
Post Date: 12/2/2007 8:52:20 PM
Body: This is not the perfect film but in everything it tries to be, it succeeds! It is a masterpeice from long time screen writer and first time directer Scott Frank. I loved every performance in this film and I hope next time Scott will take even more chances
]]>Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:52:20 GMTRyan123Ryan123 Blog12/2/2007 8:52:20 PMThis is not the perfect film but in everything it tries to be, it succeeds! It is a masterpeice from long time screen writer and first time directer Scott Frank. I loved every performance in this film and I hope next time Scott will take even more chances Spout Tag:drama http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/drama/MemberTagFilms.aspxdrama
Number of films tagged: 526

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]]>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:38:30 GMT526102626Tag Spout Tag:crime http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/crime/MemberTagFilms.aspxcrime
Number of films tagged: 401

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Number of films tagged: 129

Number of people who tagged: 66

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Number of films tagged: 452

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]]>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:02:06 GMT4524969Tag Spout Tag:heist http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/heist/MemberTagFilms.aspxheist
Number of films tagged: 169

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]]>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:59 GMT16947109Tag Spout Tag:robbery http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/robbery/MemberTagFilms.aspxrobbery
Number of films tagged: 3798

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]]>Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:01:25 GMT262432Tag Spout Tag:hockey http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/hockey/MemberTagFilms.aspxhockey
Number of films tagged: 216

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]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:04:22 GMT2161930Tag Spout Tag:trauma http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/trauma/MemberTagFilms.aspxtrauma
Number of films tagged: 139

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]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:47:47 GMT111111Tag Spout Tag:2007 http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/2007/MemberTagFilms.aspx2007
Number of films tagged: 31

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Number of times used: 33

]]>Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:41:59 GMT31933Tag Spout Tag:janitor http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/janitor/MemberTagFilms.aspxjanitor
Number of films tagged: 101

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]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:04:09 GMT10179Tag Spout Tag:bankrobbery http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/bankrobbery/MemberTagFilms.aspxbankrobbery
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]]>Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:03:15 GMT383610Tag Spout Tag:brain-damage http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/brain-damage/MemberTagFilms.aspxbrain-damage
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]]>Sun, 03 May 2009 23:40:12 GMT233Tag Spout Tag:kansas http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/kansas/MemberTagFilms.aspxkansas
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