Looper is a movie that proves difficult to review, namely due to the tightrope one has to walk when it comes to spoilers. So, fear not readers, this will be spoiler free….I hope….
It’s the year 2042 and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) works for the mob, except the mob are in the future. When the mob want someone to disappear, the send them back to the past (in this case 2042) where Joe (aka a Looper) is at an exact location, at a precise time. They arrive bound, gagged and with a bag around their head. As soon as they appear, Joe lets loose and that’s it. Job done. He picks up his “reward” and disposes of the body. But what happens when Joe’s future self (Bruce Willis) is sent back for termination. This is what the mob (in the future) see as closing the loop, where a looper’s services are no longer required. And that’s where I’ll leave the story as going any further will only invariably drag up a spoiler or 5.
Rian Johnson’s previous work included The Brothers Bloom and two episodes of Breaking Bad, has done a pretty phenomenal job with 2042. It’s far removed from the typical Hollywood future that audiences have come to witness. Instead, it’s gritty, dirty and intense with little regard for human life. As well as directing, Johnson also wrote, and Looper is a really clever and fantastic idea.
Bruce Willis pulls off one of the best performances of his career here and is thoroughly enjoyable as the older version of Joe. Gordon-Levitt is equally impressive, although I’m not sure about the hint of eye-liner he wears from time to time. But to his credit, he is really coming into his own. There is a great deal of sincerity lurking under his cold, hard exterior.
Supporting cast are also spot on, especially Emily Blunt who has a fabulous intensity to her. But the real star here is a young actor called Pierce Gagnon. Trust me, he’s phenomenal.
Pacing wise, Looper rollicks along and while it seems a bit contrived and dragged out in the middle, it’s grand finale is just outstanding. Overall, Looper requires your full attention and at times will blow you away, with a well written and clever story, outstanding cast and a entirely convincing futuristic landscape. Definitely worth a trip to the cinema.
