New: Looper (2012)

Looper (2012)

Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt

Rian Johnson’s debut film Brick was made 7 years ago for less than half a million dollars, and was testament to what could be done with a smart idea, strong convictions and fine execution. His third film cost $30m has a Hollywood legend as one of its leads and is laden with impressive special effects; few can deny he has earned his shot at the mainstream.   

Looper  however is a far more conflicted piece than Brick  which strives for high concept Science Fiction centred around the nuance of time travel and its associated repercussions and dangers. Joseph Gordon Levitt is Joe a cocky young  professional hitman (a Looper) of the future who disposes of those on the mobs kill list from an even more distant future. Loopers accept they will one day execute themselves as part of the convoluted, nefarious process to erase evidence of their crimes, but when that day comes  the routine nature of Joe’s work is disrupted when his older self in the shape of Bruce Willis manages to escape, and a resultant game of cat and mouse ensues.

Around the midway point problems emerge, not satisfied with creating an immersive world in the first hour, exploring the poisonous conceits of a cleverly imagined future which should be the launch pad for the rest of the action, Johnson muddies the waters by adding further contrivances and plot devices namely the existence of mutant humans who have telekinetic powers which despite being referenced early into the proceedings, undermines the validity of the story. In addition the involvement of Emily Blunt and the 10 year old boy in her care marks a departure from the futuristic themes as her tough talking, gun totting farm girl houses the younger Joe as he tries to avoids detection. We then play witness to a conclusion which borrows heavily from elements of James Cameron’s Terminator and Brian De Palma’s Carrie which belie any notions of originality. 

The unbalance is more of a disappointment than a crushing defeat Looper has plenty to like but it is difficult to find a place amongst its truly great cotemporaries as it lacks the thematic depth of Inception, the forlorn investments of Moon  or striking beauty of Sunshine. In what should be a film about finding ones self or escaping ones past, Looper never really finds anything deeper or more substantial than mere escapism.

7/10