4. The Lookout (2007)
One of the best and most under-appreciated films of 2007,
The Lookout helped establish Joseph Gordon-Levitt as less of a comedy actor and more as a mainstay in thrillers and film noirs. Playing Chris Pratt, a young man whose reckless driving causes a car accident that kills two youngsters, the actor is tasked with a challenging role indeed, having to digest not only the guilt that his character feels, but the resulting amnesia that makes his living a normal life even more difficult. His youthful looks help to ably convey the vulnerability of his beleaguered character, while Gordon-Levitt's strong acting chops ensure he also realises the more internal struggle of someone trying to cope with a chequered past. Though it is anything but a regular heist film - topped by other excellent performances by Jeff Daniels and Matthew Goode - it is Gordon-Levitt as the lead who makes this such an invigorating sit. His emotionally involving performance makes Chris, a character who could potentially be not-so-likeable given his past actions, a sympathetic figure who we want to overcome his issues.