1 Good Acting Performance coupled with an Obvious Story ...

Rating: Null/10 (26 April 2008)

The first half of this movie is really good because the lead actor, Shia LaBeouf, is really interesting to watch. You simply want to see what his character will do next. However, the second half of the movie brings in weak characters and an obvious plot. The quality of the movie drops off a bit.
Basically, the film is about a teenager who spies on his neighbors using binoculars. It's his way of passing time since he's serving a 3 month jail sentence at home. Initially, his primary target is an attractive girl next door. However, he soon begins to suspect that his other neighbor may be linked to a missing persons case in the news.
Shia LeBeouf puts in a great performance as the teenager under house-arrest. His mannerisms and dialog make his character interesting to watch. Unfortunately, when other characters enter into the foreground, they detract from the quality of the movie. The attractive girl neighbor is not quite believable - she's a little too over the top. And the suspicious neighbor is a little too obvious.
Plot-wise, it's pretty average by today's standards. The movie doesn't quite deliver things you can't already guess ... and for a movie like this, that's not ideal.
If you're looking for an above-average movie with a mix of good and bad elements, this is OK to watch. If you're looking for an all-around great thriller, this doesn't quite fit the bill.