"Looper"

Written & Directed by:Rian Johnson

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Genius!

     As a fan of psychological thrillers, this movie comes in as the newest of my top three (in chronological order): Sixth Sense, Inception, and Looper. It is also worth mentioning that Bruce Willis is in two of these.

Rian Johnson wrote and directed this fast-paced, creative, and meaningful film that stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe Simmons—a future hit-man  or looper, for criminals 30 years into his future. Bruce Willis is Joe’s future self, and Jeff Daniels is Abe, Joe’s boss sent from the future to oversee the loopers’ operation who also takes over the city. It is strange watching the former “Dumb and Dumber” star do a gangster role, but he pulls it off well. His character would seem to be the antagonist, yet he mainly serves to move the story forward. As all good thrillers do, this film explores human emotions, motivations, and choices. The shifts from protagonist to antagonist zig-zag quickly as characters make choices to go after what they want. And okay, without getting into the actual story and ruining it for those who haven’t seen it yet, I’d like to look mainly at the story’s purpose and construction. Looper does what all films should do (with the exception of horror movies), and that is teach a lesson. Johnson has well-developed characters. Joe loves coffee, has a soft spot for children, and loves the fast life. Cid is super smart and tech savvy. Sara chops wood to relieve stress and is trying to make up for giving up her son and losing her sister.

     I've heard it said that scripts are tossed if something doesn't happen within the first 5-10 pages. I’d like to see this script, because something happens on page one in the opening of the film. A man appears from nowhere and is executed by a corn field. So you’re like, “What happened? Who’s that? How did he appear outta nowhere?” Already you know to suspend belief during this film.

I absolutely appreciate the fact that Johnson does not over-do CGI in Looper. With time-travel and futuristic settings he had plenty of room to play yet he keeps the special effects minimal. This also helps viewers to relate to the film’s setting, because it looks a lot like our own. Old pick-up trucks have gadgets attached to the exhaust that connects to the gas tank. Great job recycling! TK testing was a genius way to foreshadow and prepare you for the super-powered Rainmaker. The drab scenery and shadowy sets contrast the sky’s backdrop of the farm where Joe finds himself (in more ways than one).

     Cheats expectations. My favorite part of a film (a good one) that cheats expectations is how it makes you watch it a second time to make sure you follow the story. Looper definitely had me extend my Redbox rental several days. When future Joe returns, the chronology shifts so quickly I had to jump the scene back several times. The B story, or love story, is a complete disruption of your expectation. First, it’s going to be the prostitute, oh, wait—it’s the future wife, or will it be Sara?

     Motifs and foreshadowing. OMG! The main motif is the Joe’s pocketwatch. It was used sparingly and wisely, and in the end the pocketwatch leaves you thinking, as the film should. There is much foreshadowing, but it is not overbearing as it is in some films. Johnson uses foreshadowing to explain future events (in the viewing time, not film’s future). When the “Gat Man” tries intimidating Joe with his revolver, he explains how unreliable its shot is from a distance—which comes in handy to understand the final scene. Throughout the film, young boys are used to make this drug-addicted hitman loveable enough to believe he sacrifices for anyone other than himself. After all, giving up his best friend for his precious silver (sound familiar?) and getting blood on his hands is enough to make the viewer hate him versus when he offers to share his silver with a prostitute and her child, showing that he is capable of caring for someone other than himself. So, when future Joe returns to escape it seems he is driven to save his wife. Yet old Joe is offered a choice by young Joe to avoid his wife in the present to save her life in the future (confused yet?), he chooses to make himself happy and keep his wife. Blue filters create night lighting, but usually there is a blue glare across the screen. Joe also is offered a blue Sippy cup by Cid while going through withdrawals. I’m interested to know Johnson’s intent with the recurring blue if it’s other than creating the film’s feel.

     This brings us to the morality of the film’s overall theme: self-sacrifice. After all, Joe is not battling Abe and the Gat Men, he is battling himself.

If you haven’t seen it, do so. You won’t be disappointed…

Film website:

www.loopermovie.com/site/

Photo source: www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/