Okay, let's say you've watched the trailers and commercials for Looper. So, you're aware that it's a shoot-em-up actioner with an odd but interesting sci-fi premise. You know that it involves a group of hit-men assigned to kill targets transported back in time from a future wherein time travel has been invented. And, you know that the protagonist is assigned to kill his future self.
Sorry, you don't know anything about this movie. Not of the most interesting parts anyway.
There is a rich, detailed world created for this movie that's only hinted at in the trailers. There are twists and wrinkles to the story that aren't even alluded to in the commercials. Even if the movie wasn't very good -- and it is, believe me -- the studio could claim credit for outstanding marketing that managed to pull viewers in without giving everything away.
It's a triumph all-around.
Joseph Gordon-Leavitt plays Joe, one of the aforementioned hit-men that methodically kill and dispose of bodies sent back from 30 years in the future. His job has made him relatively well off in the impoverished world of 2044 (damn that Obama).
There's only one catch.
He knows that, at some point, he'll have to kill his future self. This process is referred to as "closing the loop." Early in the film we learn that, when a looper's loop is closed, they are given huge stash of gold and told to make the most of their remaining 30 years, after which they will be sent back in time to complete the cycle.
Time travel allows for the killing of the loopers targets to be disposed of without any evidence that a crime has been committed. The process of eliminating loopers ensures that the killers themselves won't be around to make things more difficult.
The story gets complicated when Future Joe, played by Bruce, is sent back with his hands untied and without his requisite hood. He's able to escape and pursue an agenda known only to him. Young Joe has seen what happens to loopers who fail to close their loops -- trust me, it ain't pretty -- so he has no choice but to go after Future Joe.
Everyone getting this so far?
At this point, I'm going to stop talking about specific plot points. There is so much that goes on story-wise after this point and I don't want to ruin it for anyone. Just know that, when Emily Blunt shows up, the movie is about to get crazy.
Looper is the third feature from writer-director Rian Johnson. His previous works include the brilliant Brick, which also starred Gordon-Leavitt and was one of the best movies of 2006, and the not-brilliant-but-fine Brothers Bloom.
Though the premises are a bit different, Looper is not all that dissimilar from Brick. Both exist in sort of an alternative noir reality where people talk a little faster and wittier than they do in ours (my favorite line from Looper: "I'm from the future, trust me, go to China"). But, while Brick was mostly a stylized version of the real world, the world of Looper many more layers and details. And, it helps that it has what is probably the most original action movie plot in years.
Johnson is almost Joss Whedon-esque when it comes to wordsmithing and and world-builidng. One can only wonder what he'd be able to do with a huge franchise like The Avengers. After Looper, I have a feeling we're going to find out.
Joseph Gordon-Leavitt is great in this film. Between Looper, The Dark Knight Rises, and Lincoln, he's in the middle of a star-making movie year. Long overdue, in my opinion. Go watch Brick and you'll know that he should have been a huge star about six or seven years ago.
Bruce Willis also deserves some praise. He doesn't have as much meat to bite into, but, unlike a number of his more recent performances, you can tell he's not just phoning it in. His character takes such disturbing turns, and Willis is more than able to pull it off.
Long story short, this is a great film. It may very well be my favorite of the year so far.
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