The Lookout

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to these three creepy thrillers that join the others on video store shelves today, Wild Hogs also comes out on DVD, as well as David Lynch's Inland Empire.

The Lookout
One of my favorite thrillers of the year so far, The Lookout has Jeff Daniels and Joseph Gordon-Levitt both turning in superb performances as the good-natured blind man Lewis (Daniels) and his mentee Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Chris suffers a severe head injury from a car accident that cut short his promising athletic future. Now working as a janitor at a bank and living with his blind friend, Chris falls in with the smooth talking Gary Spargo and his posse (including the sweet and sexy Luvlee played by Isla Fisher).

Gary lures Chris into his bank heist, preying on Chris' loneliness and desire to feel powerful again. At the last minute, though, Chris has second thoughts. Chilling and suspenseful throughout, The Lookout is a fantastically worthwhile thriller. For more of my take, check out my review.

For two more thrilling titles, read more

The Lookout is mostly slow-moving and pretty quiet, which makes the action that much more exciting when it quickly advances, and the denouement that much more satisfying. If one can disregard the tidily wrapped-up ending and some convenient coincidences, the film is a successful piece modern noir featuring a sweet-faced kid and his blind, lovable buddy. Screenwriter Scott Frank delivers a solid product with his first directorial attempt. And in fact, when Frank's script seems weak, the direction and performances step up to fill in the gaps.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a.k.a. "that kid from '3rd Rock From the Sun'") plays Chris Pratt, a teenage jock whose promising future is dashed when he crashes his car, leaving him with a brain injury that effects his short-term memory. Now Chris works as a janitor in a bank, his hubris replaced with guilt and anger. It doesn't help that Chris's family is unabashedly ashamed of his disability. Chris's main source of support is his blind roommate, Lewis, played by a refreshingly comedic Jeff Daniels. With his protective good-nature, Lewis has confidence in the duo's futures. But of course, it's not that simple, so read more

Young Hollywood up and comers Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Isla Fisher celebrated their new movie, The Lookout, at last night's NY premiere. Luckily, Joseph looks to have healed since last week's LA premiere while Isla continued to shine in a form fitting black number. The Lookout, a dark crime thriller (check out the trailer here), comes out this Friday, but it's already getting good reviews. We can't wait to see these two actors, whom we probably know best from comedic roles (Wedding Crashers for her and Third Rock from the Sun for him), show us their serious acting chops.

For more pics including Jeff Daniels, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sergio del Zio just read more

Aside from Blades of Glory, the only other films coming out nationwide this Friday are the animated family flick Meet the Robinsons and the neo-noir crime thriller The Lookout. I'm more interested in the thriller, though I won't be surprised if Meet the Robinsons does well at the box office (see: TMNT).

In The Lookout, which marks screenwriter Scott Frank's (Out of Sight, Get Shorty) directorial debut, Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Chris, a high school jock whose bright future is demolished when a car crash leaves him brain damaged. Struggling to regain a normal life, he accepts a job as a bank janitor, only to find himself enmeshed in a heist attempt. Jeff Daniels costars as Chris' blind mentor, and Isla Fisher plays a mysterious siren.

The Lookout looks like a real treat for fans of indie film — and for anyone following Gordon-Levitt's career. In Brick, he proved his uncanny noir abilities, and he often reminds me of a young Edward Norton. Watch for my review this Friday and in the meantime, you can check out the trailer if you read more

Isla Fisher certainly looked the part of the sexy siren at the premiere of her new film The Lookout last night. Her fiance, Sacha Baron Cohen, was also on hand, but managed to elude photographers and let Isla shine on her big night. Rather than stay home and watch Dirt, Courteney was out on the red carpet too, perhaps the girls stayed in touch after the Borat premiere? Unfortunately it looks like the film's leading man, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, looks like he had a bit of an accident before the big night.

The thriller film stars Joseph as a mentally impaired janitor who is sucked into a bank heist. Isla plays his bad girl love interest, which is a little different than her hilarious character in Wedding Crashers, but we're sure she was up for the task.

For The Lookout trailer and more pics including Jodie Foster, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Carla Gugino, and Matthew Goode just read more