Film Review: Looper

 

1. Pierce Gagnon

2. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

3. Excellent story
 

1. JGL's eyebrows

2. A bit confusing

3. JGL's eyebrows

Action-adventure has a new face in 'Looper'

This has been the year of the action hero. We’ve seen Batman, Spiderman, and the Avengers blow up cities and box offices alike but the most interesting crime fighter has a new face.

If it looks familiar that’s because it’s a cross between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. Why the hybrid makeover? Gordon-Levitt plays a young Bruce Willis.

Gordon-Levitt plays Joe, an assassin of sorts. After being taken under the wing of a mob boss, a surprisingly intimidating Jeff Daniels, Joe kills people from the future.

Time travel has been invented in the future, but outlawed, so the mob sends their hits back in time for Joe to “take care of.”

He’s paid well, and spends his evening using recreational drugs with a band of similar misfits who have come from broken families. Joe dreams of a better life, secretly stashing his paydays, until his next hit turns out to be his future self. Confused yet? Well, it is a time travel movie.

To director Rian Johnson’s credit it plays out pretty clear. It’s no surprise when future Joe, played by the always hardcore Bruce Willis, makes an escape. And here’s where the plot gets interesting. Joe doesn’t join forces with his future self. He vows to take him out before the mob gets either one of them.

So there are three players in this race. But it’s not all chase, run and explosion, older Joe has an agenda.

It’s always a thrill to see how the future looks in a sci-fi movie like this. We’re looking at the late 21st century so it’s refreshing to see so much realism. The phones and computers are incredibly advanced, while everyone drives junker cars with solar plates attached to the hood.

But this movie isn’t a commentary about materialistic priorities. If anything it’s about the effects of family on an individual. We see the differences in the lives of the two Joe’s, changed by the people in their lives.

This point is really driven home by a farmer and her son. Emily Blunt plays the tormented mother of a troubled child out in the middle of nowhere. Gordon-Levitt arrives on her farm seeking shelter. It's here that her son, Pierce Gagnon, gives the film’s most incredible performance. His range of emotions is heartbreaking.

The plot is fast, tight and interesting but the driving force behind this film is the character study.

Gordon-Levitt steals the show with his portrayal of Joe. He nails Willis’s voice, walk and mannerisms but still retains a youthful energy and stubbornness.

Gordon-Levitt does such a good job shadowing Willis that it’s almost a shame to cover his face with so much prosthetics. Sure he looks more like Bruce Willis with the new nose, lip and forehead but sometimes it’s a distraction.

You can almost tell the future yourself because his makeup gets heavier when he’s going to be in a scene with Willis. It’s like they’re trying extra hard to prove that he’s the same person.

But that’s a minor complaint. Overall this movie is fresh, fun a grounded in a genre known for stretching realism. The acting is fantastic and writing is even better. Do your future self a favor and see Looper in theaters.

'Looper' is the most original thriller since 'Inception.' Buy, rent, or see it in theatres. Just see it.