Rating of
3/4
Review: Looper
MikePA - wrote on 09/29/12
A science-fiction action film released in late September that is actually good? Yeah, I was surprised, too. That film is Looper, a hyper-stylized action thriller from director Rian Johnson, the director of Brick, a film that I have not seen but is beloved by many. Looper stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, and Jeff Daniels.
I don't want to give away much of the plot because I think, for the viewer's sake, the less you know about the movie, the more enthralling the experience may be. I'll say this: it has to do with time-travel, it takes place forty years into the future, and it involves Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt shottin' up some people, presented in an amazing style and incredible camera work.
Here is a movie that is being called "an instant sci-fi classic." It's getting an immense amount of high praise from both critics and audiences, which I'm happy to see. I really enjoyed Looper. Do I think it's the amazing piece of cinema some people are calling it? No. I don't even see it as a great film. In my opinion, Looper is a solid entertainment, with intense style and admirable originality. It's a sci-fi film that features Joseph Gordon-Levitt in one of his most entertaining performances, action scenes that function with more realism rather than CGI-infested junk (Total Recall remake, anyone?), and characters who slowly grow on us emotionally.
Don't go into this film expecting Total Recall 3. It's that rare action film nowadays that focuses on characterizations and plot more than special effects. But when there's action on screen, it's pretty riveting. After a terrifically mind-bending first hour, the film lays back for a bit and establishes the characters. We meet Sara (Emily Blunt) and Cid (Pierce Gagnon). Director Rian Johnson fuels his characters with just enough gasoline and depth to make us, the audience, feel attached to them. However, this leads me into the problem I had with the movie. This whole segment of the film strictly feels like a set-up to the climax. It looses the great fast-paced storytelling of the film's first hour and drags a little bit at some points. There is also a loss of tension between the two Joes. As for the ending - while still being emotionally satisying, it could have used an energetic boost.
Looper is worth checking out opening weekend for its style and originality. It's a well-done mixture of sci-fi and action with a thought-provoking story and a strong sense of humanity.
3/4
