Movie Review - Looper

  Looper (2012)

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt

I love it when a movie surprises me.  I went into Looper with very little knowledge of the movie's plot other than the most basic details, and my reward was a movie that, much to my delight, surprised me greatly.  Certainly, I expected something much more action-y, or at least much more science fiction-y.  But what I got was a very smart but surprisingly simple character-based movie about the importance of family and relationships.  Of course, I should have known better than to expect any variation of a by the numbers sci-fi action flick with director Rian Johnson at the helm.  39-year old Johnson is one of the most celebrated young directors out there, and considering he wrote the film as well, Looper is a pretty solid indication that the quality of Johnson's films won't suffer as he inevitably (and deservedly) moves on to bigger budget fare.

I have no idea if Rian Johnson is a Tarantino fan but, Looper is undoubtedly the work of a director who came of age in a post-Tarantino landscape.  The movie has the same kind of genre mish-mash sensibility associated with many Tarantino films.  It's a science fiction movie, but also an action movie, a dark comedy, a gangster film, and a moving family drama.  It draws influence from movies as diverse as The Terminator and The Untouchables.  Despite all that though, Looper never comes off as schizophrenic.  It's a film very confident in what it is (even if that film is very different from the one presented in some of the trailers).  After all, how many people, based strictly on the advertising campaign for Looper, knew going in that it prominently featured a super-powered, murderous toddler?  To be sure, there is a lot going on here, but clearly, for Johnson, the dramatic elements of this movie are far more important than the action or science fiction ones. 

In fact, the action scenes are arguably the weakest part of Looper.  Scenes at the end where Bruce Willis turns into John McClane with a machine gun actually seemed somewhat forced.  The science fiction parts of the story are much better handled, although Johnson rightfully takes the Back to the Future approach of not delving too deeply into the details of time travel (a fact alluded to by actual dialogue spoken by Bruce Willis' character in the movie: "...if we start talking about (time travel)...then we're going to be here all day talking about it, making diagrams with straws!" he exclaims).  That said, the dystopian world of Looper, depicted mostly only in flashes in the background, is as intriguing as any science fiction film in recent memory.  I, and no doubt many others, would not be opposed to a sequel that further explores the world Johnson created for this movie.

Nonetheless, for Looper, it was a wise decision by Johnson to focus less on those elements.  It makes the film very unique and allows him ample time to really explore the concept of time travel from an under-utilized perspective.  Johnson is interested in how the advent of something like time travel would affect people on a very personal level.  And he is very successful in raising lots of interesting questions.  In fact, there are so many interesting things going on in Looper it would be difficult to cover them all in this space.  Themes of circuity, of destiny vs. fate, of personal choice, of violence, and of the importance of good parenting are just some of the ones that bubble to the surface in Looper. 

Yes, the movie manages to be very dense, but not at all in the way that time travel movies typically are.  It also never drags, or feels boring, despite a fairly lengthy running time and a notably low-key second half.  Credit for that surely goes not only to the considerable talents of Mr.  Johnson, but also Gordon-Levitt, who carries the film well.  To be sure, there is something slightly disturbing about the makeup the young actor dons for this role, but he does a truly masterful job of mimicking the voice pattern and mannerisms of Bruce Willis.  He also manages to be typically relatable and expressive under all that makeup.

Also kudos to Mr. Willis, foremost for appearing in a lower budget film with a promising director like this one.  And for his impressive performance.  From acting perspective, quiet Bruce Willis is usually good Bruce Willis, and the veteran tough guy turns in a very solid, subtle performance in Looper.  In closing, those desiring a movie that will make them think would be wise to check out Looper.  But be prepared leave the theater puzzling less over time travel technology and parallel future scenarios (although there is some of that), and more about the nature of what makes "you" you, and just how far you would be willing to go to protect that concept.

Verdict: 8/10