Release Date: September 28, 2012
Rated: R
Directors: Rian Johnson
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt
Rating: B+
The premise of Looper is one that pervades human thought and incites debates amongst even the most learned of scholars: time travel.
Set in the year 2044, Looper follows the story of Joe (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young man hired to be a hit-man for the future. In Joe’s world, time travel doesn’t exist yet, but Joe’s bosses are criminals from 30 years in the future, and his job is to kill the people that they send back in time, no questions asked.
Fortunately, Rian Johnson doesn’t focus on time travel as the point of this film. Instead, he uses it as the back drop for an extremely compelling tale, full of developed characters and plenty of emotion. It’s a sci-fi, action, drama, gangster movie, all rolled into one.
The first part of the movie follows Joe’s rather repetitive life; which includes killing, partying, and living for the moment; but we soon realize there is more at stake when Joe’s future self comes back with a plan to prevent the future from happening.
This film was high action much of the time, but a surprisingly complex plot emerges about halfway through, when it becomes clear that the story is far more complicated than present day Joe is prepared for. Mid-way through the film, Joe also meets Sara (Emily Blunt) and their on screen chemistry and skillful acting take over.
The movie was indicative of almost all of Gordon-Levitt’s films, even down to the “Inception-esque” plot twist at the very end. Were there parts of the movie that were predictable? Sure, but the foreshadowing nature of the film was not overdone and the audience was left surprised.
Those 17 years of age or older (or those that have parental permission) should go and see Looper, if only for the fact that it offers such a respite from the plotless dramas that tend to saturate the current box office.
