Thoughts on: The Lookout


Despite the bland name, “The Lookout” is a surprisingly insightful look into the lives of damaged, flawed people. Nearly every character with even a handful of speaking lines had an interesting, nuanced background, while remaining very much rooted in reality and the lives of ordinary people. It’s a pity that by the end of the movie, there really wasn't time to resolve all the different relationships and character struggles, and it left me feeling unsatisfied despite the objectively excellent climax. 

By far the most glaring example was his ex-girlfriend, who only gets a quick conversation in a dream when there was a hell of a lot more potential for exploration. In many ways, the bank heist actually gets in the way of the main character’s opportunities for growth, rather than enabling it. After putting all that attention into introducing and growing a swathe of characters, it was a pity to see it all ultimately boil down to a movie about money. The movie certainly doesn't fail in either regard however, so it’s not a large complaint.

The main plot point of the movie is pretty similar to “Memento”, but in a much more vague and subtle way. While in “Memento” the illness acts as an interesting storytelling device, “The Lookout” focuses on how the main character deals with the illness and how it shapes him. It was commendable to see “The Lookout” keep up the suspense without resorting to using the illness as a crutch. 

8/10


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