You can’t keep a good man or woman down, and one of 2020’s better moods was the revitalisation of the career of Scott Frank. He’s he writer/director behind arguably the year’s most unexpected streaming sensation, The Queen’s Gambit, a review of which is coming soon on this blog. A man who knows the mechanics of a good thriller, Frank made a splash on the back of high-profile writing work like Get Shorty and Out of Sight, but this directorial debut was seen and appreciated by precisely no-one, and that’s something you and I have the power to change.
The Lookout is a tense little thriller, with Joseph Gordon Levitt as high-school athlete somehow named Chris Pratt, reduced to menial janitorial work by a fatal road accident. That makes Pratt vulnerable to the nefarious plans of aspiring bank robber Gary Spargo (an early role for the always watchable Matthew Goode), with the comely Luvlee (yes, that’s Isla Fisher) offered as bait. The support of his room-mate Lewis (Jeff Daniels) offers something to cling onto, but as the bank-job becomes imminent, who can Pratt trust?
For Pratt to attempt to keep his thoughts in order with a notebook recalls Memento, but Frank’s film has a low-key feel of its own, with a shaven-headed Goode unexpectedly menacing and a palpable tension throughout. Both Sam Mendes and David Fincher were touted to direct this project, but Frank does well with with a talented cast; making a small thriller work is no easy feat, but Frank has the stones to make a tough little story play.
Frank has only directed one other feature to date, the above-average Liam Neeson action flick A Walk Amongst The Tombstones, so although he’s clearly hot stuff as a director, there’s precious little to clue us in to the break-out job he made of The Queen’s Gambit for Netflix. Anyone curious as to where his precocious talent developed from, or just seekers of a decent thriller to pass the time, should keep a look-out for, erm, The Lookout.
One of those wonderful movies where nothing else was on at t’pictures and I went in with no preconceptions. Yet again, it didn’t meet my expectations, it exceeded them. Jeff Daniels steals the show.
Very rare to meet someone who knows this film! Daniels is a super actor and does very well here…thanks for the comment!
It’s amazing when a director suddenly explodes in fame through the creation of something utterly original. While The Lookout doesn’t seem mind-boggling, it’s nice to know there’s something by him to check out if we’re curious!
I think Queen’s Gambit is a big pop culture event, and it’s worth tracing the roots of a sensation; this is an unassuming little thriller, but you can see Frank’s style evolve….
It sounds worthy of a yep though I’m more interested in the Tombstone movie, haven’t seen that either. I really enjoyed The Queen’s Gambit.
These films are both good for the discerning audience ie you. Just finishing Queen’s Gambit, good so far…
Look forward to the review.
Chris Pratt! Sometimes you just can’t make this stuff up….
The Day of the Locust 1976 was on UK tv last night, main character; Homer Simpson.
I became a fan of Levitt through the tv comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun. Then I watched Looper and my interest put him right back with every other actor. So now I have a vague interest in any movie with him but not enough of one, all by itself, to get me to watch that movie.
I only recognized the name Chris Daniels from the list of other actors.
Any idea why they would call one of the characters Chris Pratt? I didn’t look at the year but was that actor not a thing yet?
I guess it’s just a coincidence re the Chris Pratt name. But this film wouldn’t be a waste of time, a neat little thriller. Surely my recommend is enough to encourage an immediate watch? Isn’t it? I read every book your review…
I guess coincidences can happen, even in Hollywood.
I am very dubious about your reading claim.
By reading I mean at least looking at the cover, the best thing to judge a book on…
Ahhh, well, then I watch every single movie you review too. So I guess we’re good to go.
(I guess I need to update my definitions of read/watch however)
Read=be vaguely aware of.
Watch= be vaguely aware of.
All in the terminology.
Is there a level below “vaguely” that I could use? It would even easier that way.
Slightly?
Nominally? Symbolically?
I think I’ll choose “nominally”. It has a good blase feel to it.
So…looking at the cover is nominally reading it. Glad we had this talk.
As long as looking at the cover of the movie counts as nominally watching it, I’m good.
We are really powering through the material this way!
Similarly, you only need to know the name of the band to know if their music is any good. The art of uninformed reviews.
Oh, I don’t know. I think knowing the name of the band DOES tell you all you need to know about their music. If it doesn’t, then I think the band has failed on its end.
That is correct. You can judge a book by its cover. And lead a horse to water. Don’t let anyone say you can’t. Cry over spilled milk too. No harm in it.
You cry over your spilt milk? Is that because it had all your Lucky Charms in it and so you lost a bowl of the worlds most magical cereal?
Wrong film critic. That’s the other guy. Pussycat Dolls. The Dooley’s.Uriah Heep. Bon Jovi. The names promise what the music delivers.
Can’t say I’ve ever listened to any music by Heep. Sounds spikey…
And you are familiar with The Dooley’s?
Not unless that is where Dr Doolittle sprang from.
That would be a pop culture tableau. Melodic Irish boy girl group.
Well, the Doolies are the Dontlie’s in terms of my knowing about them then.
It’s probably a box that you can safely leave shut.
As long as there isn’t a box of Lucky Charms inside that other box….
And that’s a yellow card for persistent Lep referencing.
I’m going to tell my coach you yellow carded me and he’s going to get in your face and scream at you.
His name is Lucky, by the way and wears a green hat…
And a RED is brandished. Early bath for you, sunshine. Long walk back to the dressing room.
*sits in the middle of the field*
I’m protesting…. something or other.
I’m sorry, sir, this is a Wendy’s…laughs Psychic Grandma as she pulls the plug on the floodlights.
DAGNABBIT!!!!!!!!!
That Psychic G gets me again!
Sucker! One nil to the notorious PSY-G!
It’s embarrassing, that’s what it is!
There you were. Protesting in an imaginary football stadium. So caught up in the moment, you never saw her coming. Classic Psychic Grandma.
Once I make her eat Lucky Charms though, then I’ll be set. I’ll be her favorite for sure…
Keep telling yourself that mate. She left twenty minutes ago. You’re talking to yourself.
It’s just sad his career was saddled with a superfluous “e.”
That was obviously a comment meant to respond to your previous comment, but again your comments are being shuffled around by poltergeists.
*sigh*
I’m answering comment by comment to see if they get rejigged…sigh…
I’m thinking of offering a cash prize for anyone who can put these comments in the right order…
Their very randomness adds to their charm.
Almost Pinteresque…
He’s done well despite that unrequited e…
A shaven-headed Good would be less menacing, I’m afraid. But my library has it so I’ll pick it up.
I’m a big fan of Goode, and he’s surprisingly Goode here….