Christopher McLaughlin
csmclaugh@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
“Looper” is solid proof that action movies don’t have to be brainless and shallow with stale, cookie-cutter characters.
The film is written and directed by Rian Johnson, whose filmmaking debut consisted of a little indie gem by the name of “Brick,” a fresh take on classic noir, which also starred Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Johnson is fairly unknown, considering he only has three films under his belt, but I doubt it will be too long before his name becomes relatively well-known, not only with film enthusiasts, but with general movie-goers also. And as of now, he certainly deserves it.
The plotline is much too complex to adequately describe here, so all one really needs to know is that it involves time travel, telekinetic powers, organized crime, sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll. The action never overshadows the characters but still remains fun and thrilling to watch. And like any good noir, there are many twists and turns along the way that keep you guessing all the way up until the very end.
The plot is good, but the characters are even better. The film stars the obscenely likable Joseph Gordon-Levitt (500 Days of Summer) as a young, time-traveling hitman named Joe. Joe is great at what he does, but he’s also self-centered, arrogant and addicted to drugs. His life is one of high energy and luxury, but it’s clear Joe lacks a sense of personal self-fulfillment that he’s not yet ready to admit.
All of this changes when Joe meets his older self, played by Bruce Willis, who has traveled back in time to prevent a personal tragedy from happening in the future. By doing so, old Joe forces his younger self to confront his faults and leave his life of debauchery behind. While old Joe is working to complete his mission, young Joe takes refuge with a woman and her son, and a romance soon forms.
What’s excellent about the characters is that they’re actually human. Nobody is entirely good or entirely bad. They make mistakes, lie to themselves, act on their emotions and change and grow. They’re everything movie characters should be. And because they think and behave like real people, we can actually care about the conflict of the film.
Rian Johnson’s direction is superb. He really knows how to show a lot of characterization with little dialogue. Example: there’s a scene where the woman young Joe develops a romance with is sitting on her porch, smoking a cigarette. She holds it in between her two fingers, inhales the smoke and blows it back out with a look of contentment. Only there is no cigarette and there is no smoke. She pretends to smoke.
It may seem like an odd scene when you first watch it, but as you start to understand her character more, it makes perfect sense. She wishes to indulge in certain pleasures, but her responsibility as a mother overpowers those urges. There are little scenes like this for all of the main characters, giving us more insight into their lives and personalities. The little details are everything.
“Looper” is a must-see. It’s probably not going to be remembered as a highly important film ten years from now, and it’s got a few Hollywood conventions weighing it down a bit, but none of these things really detract from the overall experience. It’s an immensely enjoyable ride with a big brain, and I loved every minute of it.