Matthew Goode

The Lookout [Blu-ray]
$34.99
With the rise of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie, the ever popular crime and heist films genres have grown more outlandish, as seen in the baffling nightmare "Running Scared" and the out and out parodies of "Shoot `em Up" and the "Crank" films. Released into such a market, the contemplative "The Lookout" was likely doomed to a lukewarm public reception. Fortunately, DVD has been kind to many overlooked films, and hopefully "The Lookout" will find a second-life in the coming years. While few will find the hair-raising thriller they probably expected, "The Lookout" is one of the more engrossing and moving human dramas in recent memory, though given a crime/heist sheen that will make it palatable to testosterone-oriented audiences, like myself.

Though heist films most often hinge on labyrinthine plots, "The Lookout" is rooted in the terrific lead performance of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Long best known as "that one kid in the sitcom with aliens" (Third Rock From the Sun), Gordon-Levitt transitioned to film a few years ago and has earned surprising accolades. Though I can't speak for his work generally, his Chris Pratt is a remarkably sympatheic and compelling protagonist, and he gives the films a human quality rare to contemporary crime and heist films. The general story offers no great surprises, but the film's humanity makes the final result more personally moving than any elaborate plot machinations could.

We're first introduced to Chris Pratt as a teenager, where he's the quintessential promising youth, a Midwestern hockey star and the son of a well-to-do family. Whatever advantages Pratt had, however, he was not spared teen idiocy, which he uses in causing a senseless car crash which kills and cripples his friends while leaving Pratt with a severe head injury. We next see Pratt a half-decade later, where he struggles with impulse control, aphasia and a general inability to mentally organize his life. His previous dreams shattered, Pratt works alone as a bank's night janitor, and confides only in his blind ex-hippie roommate Lewis, (Jeff Daniels) and his case worker Janet (Carla Gugino). Pratt, though functioning (barely), hopes for more out of life, and soon meets Gary Spargo (Matthew Goode), a shifty but sympathetic local character. Spargo is Pratt's only friend apart from Lewis, and the tie is cemented when Pratt falls for Spargo's friend Luvlee (Isla Fisher). Spargo's friendship is indeed superficial, as he eventually reveals his plan to rob Pratt's bank, with Pratt as the titular lookout. Though Pratt has no natural inclinations towards crime, he can't help but see this as an opportunity to escape his seemingly hopeless life, and, especially, to maintain a relationship with Luvlee.

In further contrast to conventional crime films, "The Lookout" has compactm limited form that makes it much more plausible and personal than other flims. Just as how the bank heist is not especially elaborate, neither are Pratt's motivations grandiose. He does not dream of wealth or a life of luxury, but wants an unassuming middle class life and some small sense of control over his destiny. He is not, however, a plaster saint: the terrible accident is wholly his fault, and Pratt can be quite cold or hostile towards those who would help him. Equally impressive is the cast of secondary characters, none of whom play as cliched crime films types. Goode, a Brit best known for playing cold and effete roles in "Match Point" and "Watchmen," creates a lively, surprisingly charismatic lowlife in Spargo, while Daniels adds a lot of humor and sympathy to Pratt's roomie Lewis in what could've been a throwaway role. The film handles the middle American characters with surprising care, portraying even the more dimwitted figures with realism and understanding. (I'm thinking particularly of Fisher's ex-stripper Luvlee and Di Zio's Deputy Ted, a local cop who checks in on Pratt in a manner both friendly and condescending.)

After an hour of background and character development, the standard plot machinations come into effect with the requisite action scenes, complications and betrayals. First-time director Frank uses an appropriately distant, icy look for a the frigid Midwestern setting, and the film wholly lacks the self-conscious stylization of most modern crime pics. (Those of you who hate shakycam and schizoid editing will prefer this to most contemporaries.) The actual heist elements are not especially stunning, but they provide punctuation to the inner struggles that consumed the rest of the film. "The Lookout", ultimately, is not really about the heist, but about Pratt's oppressive and monotonous day-to-day life and how we come to understand his desperate need to escape. The heist was not the best option, needless to say, but we can understand both how he could give into such temptations and his misgivings and second thoughts that play heavily into the actual robbery.

In the end the film is wrapped up in a rather clean, tight manner. This is a somewhat inappropriate, considering the sprawling, free-form nature of the early narrative. That said, it offers a certain satisfaction. In the real world the narrative would not likely resolve itself as it does in "The Lookout." But damned if we often don't wish that it would.

Grade: A-

Imagine Me & You
$14.98
I personally think that love has no boundaries. Love just is. And it really doesn't matter who we fall in love with as long as the feeling is genuine and honest. It's just our prejudices and misconceptions as human beings that ruin the spark for many.

This is a great love story, the kind that brings me back the faith I've lost in people as a whole. It's sweet and charming, with great photography, music and dialogues. It's an everyday story, well told, and it happens out there more times than we could possible imagine or account for. Their acting is great, and the chemistry between these two actresses is just perfect. It's one of my all time favorites. I fully recommend it, you won't be disappointed.

Masterpiece Theatre: My Family and Other Animals
$19.95
Netflix recommended I watch this, and so I did, never having heard of it before nor, obviously then, read the book. So, if you're looking for a compare and contrast with the book, skip this review because I can't help you there.

Weakness: It is incredibly episodic, and the various vignettes don't tie together very well. The only real thread that runs through the whole film are the the setting and the family. People walk in and out of their lives with little to no connection to the movie.

Strengths: the setting is so beautiful, and the acting so well done (except for Margot, whose overly-dramatic teenage girl is too overly-dramatic! I hate the sound of fake crying that teenage girls that don't get there way fall into!) that the weaknesses don't matter. What you get is a series of adventures by a very eccentric family. Think early Wes Anderson, but not over-written.

This is family safe fare, and one I'll certainly watch again and again.

Chasing Liberty
$12.98
While on a diplomatic trip to Europe with her parents, first daughter Anna (Mandy Moore) escapes the secret service and meets mysterious stranger Ben Calder, who also happens to be an undercover agent.