March Movies Part II

Picking up from two posts ago, the rest of the movies I saw in March:

The Lost Reunions (NF 2012) Danny Diaz [1:14]

Previously discussed here. 

4.5/5

Do You See What I See? (2013) Lee Bonner [1:20]   2.5/5 

The End of Time (NF 2012) Peter Mettler  [1:54]   3/5

Oxygen for the Ears: Living Jazz (NF 2012) Stefan Immler  [1:34]   4/5

All three of the above films discussed previously here.

The Lookout (2007) Scott Frank [1:39]

I probably would’ve gotten around to The Lookout eventually, since it stars one of my favorite young actors, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but since the film appeared in Leonard Maltin’s book  Leonard Maltin’s 151 Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, viewing it was something of a certainty. 

Gordon-Levitt plays Chris, a high school hockey star who makes a foolish mistake that ends in a tragic accident early in the film. As a result, Chris suffers brain damage, which limits his ability to remember. Reduced to working as a late night janitor in a bank, Chris falls into the wrong crowd and is soon part of a plot to rob the bank. 

I’m not sure why this film wasn’t better received. Although the heist film is a familiar sub-genre, first-time director Scott Frank structures the film well and knows how to put Gordon-Levitt to good use with the character of Chris. Here’s a guy who’s made a huge mistake, has learned from it, but is about to make another one. Gordon-Levitt is one of those actors who makes us want to root for him. He’s good-looking, but probably not a head-turner. He’s the kid next door that you like hanging out with. In The Lookout, you not only want to hang out with him, you’re pulling for him not to make another big mistake. 

4/5

Donnie Darko (2001) Richard Kelly [1:53]

I intend to write much more about Donnie Darko, especially with respect to worldview, once I have also watched the director’s cut, which runs at [2:13]. 

3.5/5

Looper (2012) Rian Johnson [1:59]

Another Joseph Gordon-Levitt film, but one that will have you wondering during the first few minutes whether you’re really watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt. You are, he’s just wearing a lot of prosthetic make-up. (Watch the movie and you’ll understand why.) 

All I’ll tell you about Looper is what you no doubt already know: it’s a time-travel movie, and anytime you’re watching a time-travel movie, you really can’t think about it too much, not if you want to enjoy it. It’s sort of like watching a magician work. If you look closely enough for long enough, you’ll probably discover how the trick is done. But that also takes away from your enjoyment of the trick. 

Rian Johnson also directed Brick, another film with Joseph Gordon-Levitt that I reviewed recently. Both films are entertaining and worth your time, but they also confirm that Johnson is a director worth keeping your eye on. 

4/5