Looper Review

Looper Review

November 24, 2012

Even though I was a little disappointed that Rian Johnson's Looper wasn't quite what I expected, it's still one of the most ambitious time travel films of all time.

I’ve been sitting on this review for a very long time, not quite sure what to write. Having thought about it, drafted and re-drafted it I think I’m finally okay with my thoughts on Looper, even though they weren’t quite what I expected them to be.

Time travel is invented by the year 2074; immediately outlawed, it’s used by the mob to get rid of victims. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a looper; a hired gunman who waits 30 years in the past for the victim to arrive. Promptly killing him and disposing of the body, Joe is paid well for doing his job; spending his money on drink, drugs and girls. On the face of it, he enjoys the work; until the day that the mob decide to “close the loop” by transporting back Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) for assassination.

I went into Rian Johnson’s Looper fully expecting to come out with it as my film of 2012. After attempting to avoid as many reviews and podcasts as possible, with the odd comment slipping through the net; I was fully aware that everyone loved it. Whilst I really enjoyed it, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I had built up in my head. A beautifully crafted, well cast, slick sci-fi; Looper is easily one of the greatest time travel films around. Dealing with paradoxes in an expertly Doctor-esque fashion (wibbily wobbily timey wimey), the narrative is near perfect, posing often terrifying consequences as the characters’ histories are rewritten.

Despite the casting being perfect throughout (Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis have surprisingly fantastic chemistry as the same person in different times of their life), my biggest problem with Looper was the make up. It took a little time to adjust to Gordon-Levitt’s peculiarly unfamiliar features; his fake eyebrows and transition into the balding Willis especially. I know I’m nit picking, but I think they really could have done a better job at times. If we live in a world where we can transform Brad Pitt into an old man who grows younger as he ages; we can make Gordon-Levitt look less weird as he morphs into Willis.

Stylish, cleverly crafted and challenging; Johnson’s dystopian Looper is quite possibly the most ambitious film of the year. It seamlessly mixes touching scenes with violence and morality, making it as creative as it is mind blowing. Existing entirely by its own rules, Looper is void of the logic that restrains many modern sci-fi flicks, allowing the creativity and originality I haven’t seen in a long time. It might not be my favourite film of the year so far, but Looper is still one of the best science fiction/action movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Tags list

Movie Talking: Les Misérables and Musicals

13 Responses so far.

slick nick says:

November 25, 2012 at 7:20 am

Good review. A flawed but enjoyable sci fier.

Reply
- Amy says:
  
  December 18, 2012 at 6:03 pm
  
  Thanks Nick, it is a little flawed although by no means as flawed as others of its genre out this year.
  
  Reply
Mark says:

November 25, 2012 at 9:19 am

Critics loved this, but audiences didn’t really show up, at least not in the U.S. It didn’t even make enough to be in the top 30 movies for the year. Even Mark Wahlberg’s Contraband made more money. But I don’t care, it still remains one of the best of the year for me. Great review!

Reply
- Amy says:
  
  December 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm
  
  Wow I didn’t realise it wasn’t much of a success over there. As far as I’m aware, everyone loved it here! It was really good, I just wanted more from JGL!
  
  Reply
Fernando Quintero says:

November 26, 2012 at 5:21 am

Nice review. Sorry it didn’t meet your expectations but I’m happy you enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked this one a lot; it was surprisingly poignant (made me cry twice). Needed more action, though. But I LOVED the performances by Pierce Gagnon and Emily Blunt.

Reply
- Amy says:
  
  December 18, 2012 at 5:57 pm
  
  Thanks Fernando, I think it’s my Avengers Assemble! Although I do agree that Blunt is fantastic in it, I love her!
  
  Reply
  - Fernando Quintero says:
    
    December 18, 2012 at 6:10 pm
    
    An 8 is a very good rating, though, I must say. So even if it didn’t live up to your expectations, it shows that you still liked it quite a bit. Emily Blunt is something special, isn’t she? Very talented and beautiful.
    
    Reply
    - Amy says:
      
      January 7, 2013 at 8:07 pm
      
      Thanks Fernando. I think I was a little harsh on it, but I still expected more. I adore Emily Blunt! Have you seen Your Sister’s Sister? It’s had good reviews, can’t wait to catch that one.
      
      Reply
      - Fernando Quintero says:
        
        January 7, 2013 at 11:17 pm
        
        Haven’t seen it yet, actually. But I’ve heard great things.
Dominic the Womble says:

December 6, 2012 at 10:32 am

I have to admit that has been by the far the best film i’ve seen (at the cinema) all year.

Reply
- Amy says:
  
  December 18, 2012 at 7:47 am
  
  .. Yet? Are you planning on seeing The Hobbit? Rob loved it, so I imagine you will too. I’ll reserve my thoughts for the review!
  
  Reply
Alexander Diminiano says:

January 4, 2013 at 8:42 pm

Once again our grades match, and I was, as well, a bit let down by this one. Wow.

I think when I was doing my Best of the Year list, this was originally at #8. Then it was pushed down to #9, followed by #10. Now it’s just an honorable mention.

Reply
- Amy says:
  
  January 7, 2013 at 8:21 pm
  
  Thanks for your comment, Alexander!
  
  I think you’re one of the few people to agree with me on this one! I think it’ll get an honourable mention in my review of the year too, if only for JGL’s eyebrows
  
  Reply