| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A |
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| Direction: |
B |
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|
| Visuals: |
A |
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Look Out for This Understated Winner.
by Yahoo! Movies User (movies profile)
Apr 14, 2007
3
of
3 people found this review helpful
Like "Breach" from earlier this year, it is a well-crafted but subtle and slow-burning drama, with plenty of suspense as you realize that what is coming just cannot be good even if you don't know exactly how it will happen, and you realize the main characters probably have a bad feeling in the pit of their stomach knowing the same thing. When the action occurs, the relative early quiet and slow buildup makes it quite effective. Plenty of things in real life are very dramatic. Few of them involve spectacular pyrotechnics or semi-automatic gunfire. "The Lookout" takes the realistic approach to drama.
The script is excellent. The main characters are well-developed, the main friendship seems very real. Jeff Daniels' performance as the blind roommate and friend of the main character is particularly memorable, full of juicy lines.
Another interesting aspect of the film is its setting - much of it takes place in a rural or small town setting. As the plans are hatched, something about such sinister characters scheming undisturbed out in the middle of the heartland for such a deceiptful and selfish and wrong goal is very intriguing. And while in some ways the ways of small-town Americans are taken advantage of for full (if subtle) comic effect, that way of life is ultimately treated with respect.
The "bad guys" are great. One is the strong silent (scary) type that reminds me of an evil cross between Roy Orbison and Keith Richards. The "brains" of the outfit is at once charismatic yet immediately arousing your suspicion, and like the best movie villains he offers a soliloquoy or two persuasively and passionately arguing for the virtues and necessity of his plan.
Because of its style and also because this is not likely a movie you'll see in a packed theater (which I believe adds to the experience of any movie), I would not recommend bringing adolescents to it, as there are what would be deemed "slow" spots by those expecting the aforementioned car chases and/or passionate kissing and/or explosions. But if you are in the mood for a subtle thriller that builds and escalates, with a great script and very solid acting, this is a movie for you. I liked it very much. |
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