Looper (2012) - Movie Review
- Red
- Jan 23, 2023
- 3 min read
Directed by Rian Johnson
Looper, directed by Rian Johnson (Knives Out, The Last Jedi) is a brilliantly crafted mind bending, twist-ending spectacle that explores a fascinating and imaginative concept.
The thrilling action film takes place in a distant future where time travel exists, and is used by criminals in the year 2074. In order to kill and dispose of bodies without a trace, the crime syndicate send bodies back 30 years (to 2044) to a "looper" - a hit man who finishes the job.
In this movie, we witness Joe, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, being sent the body of his older self, played by veteran actor Bruce Willis. The film follows both versions of Joe interacting with each other, and young Joe's desperate attempts to kill his older self in order to prevent him from killing a child, who old Joe believes to be the "Rainmaker", the mob boss who killed his wife. Its feel is reminiscent of that of The Terminator, which Johnson cited as one of his influences. Although the plot sounds complex, and the time travel concept doesn't fully add up if you ponder it too much, the film is very fun and isn't designed to be analysed in that way. It is gripping and the action is balanced brilliantly with emotion and heart, which is more important than unnesseccary justification of time travel - a concept that rarely makes complete sense.
The movie received critical acclaim upon its September 2012 release, and was a box office success, grossing $176 million worldwide on a budget of $30 million. Here's my take...
The film is entertaining, without a doubt. There are stakes and the tension feels high, partially as a result of the violence we witness during the first act. There's urgency, which keeps the audience at the edge of their seats. It doesn't go overboard with its sci-fi aesthetic; it feels grounded and leans more into the thriller genre. It's clear that this film isn't as easily recognisable as one directed by Rian Johnson compared to some of his later films, such as Knives Out and The Last Jedi. His style is more subtle which reinforces the realistic, serious tone of the film. The cinematography (by Steve Yedlin) is well done and the film isn't afraid to slow the pace down a little to deliver exposition or explore the characters; editor Bob Duscay did a great job. We get to know the characters and understand their motivations, and the futuristic world is believable.
The writing is well accomplished, with dialogue that gives us a chance to learn more about the characters, without it feeling wordy or unnatural. As the plot progresses, the audience goes from sympathising for Old Joe to supporting Joseph Gordon-Levitt's younger Joe, while still understanding the other's point of view. Neither of them are a true villain, and therefore the movie excellently shows the characters' perspectives and subverts expectations - a trademark of Johnson's. My only gripe with the writing and the plot is the transition from the first half of the movie which primarily had a focus on both Joes' conflict, to the sudden shift in tone once younger Joe meets farmer Sara (played convincingly by Emily Blunt) and her son Cid. This change in direction is fresh and keeps the movie interesting, however the sudden shift is jarring and could have been made more gradually. Sara & Cid's addition adds a lot of emotion and heart to the movie, which certainly makes the characters more relatable.
Blunt and Gordon-Levitt have good on-screen chemistry, and the child actor, Pierce Gagnon does a great job as the future "Rainmaker". Paul Dano's performance emphasises the peril our lead character faces, and Jeff Daniels makes for an intimidating villain.
The decision for Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis to play the same character was bold. After undergoing 3 hours of makeup before each day of shooting, Joseph-Gordon Levitt manages to pull off both looking and acting like young Willis. It's an impressive feat, but is done impeccably.
As the climax of the film comes to a close, the twist ending works well for me, and Johnson leaves the future of these characters up to the viewer to decide, It's thought-provoking and intelligently written, although slightly rushed. The characters' decisions feel true to their actions in the prior acts, and the conclusion is satisfying, with the film ending after a decent runtime.
Looper is a fresh and massively entertaining film that excellently follows the beats of a traditional thriller, but adds a futuristic twist and subverts expectations from time to time to keep the audience engaged. The concept is clever, and its engaging characters add suspense and emotion. It's well written and features impressive filmmaking. Although it's slightly held back by its loopholes and sudden shifts in tone, it is still one of my favourite films of the 2010s.
Watch Looper on Prime Video or Apple TV
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