The director and screenwriter Rian Johnson surprised us in a moment with Brick, not so much for his plot, but especially for the staging of the film. Then The Brothers Bloom arrived, and later what caught my attention the most, was that he directed three episodes of the incredible Breaking Bad series, two of which are among the most memorable, the famous and controversial "Fly" and the Unsurpassed "Ozymandias". So, also one of his work has been Looper, starring Bruce Willis and Josep Gordon-Levitt. Today I will talk about it.
>>Source <<
Year: 2012
Category: Science Fiction, Thriller.
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels.
Plot
In 2072 the murders are strictly forbidden, so some people are sent through a time machine to the past, to the year 2042, where there is a network of assassins, known as Loopers, who are responsible for ending them and get rid quickly of the bodies. One of the best Loopers is Joe for whom this profession is just a very well paid job. Until he receives a new goal from the future: himself.
Opinion
The film tells the story of a high-profile hitman responsible for executing victims from the future. In Joe's timeline, such people do not exist and it is easier to get rid of them. The professional cycle of assassins like him ends with one last victim: his future self. In exchange for a moment of coldness to put an end to such an uncomfortable situation, they are given a large sum of money, enough to enjoy until the moment of his death, that is, when he himself is murdered.
Upon seeing the film we will witness the dispute between several characters with opposite objectives. Some objectives are closely linked to other people, to the feeling we have about them, and to the attempt to keep them by our side in a desperate way. It is a selfish and understandable dispute, where everyone demonstrates their capacity to love, but also to put that feeling before anything else, carrying out actions of a moral value that is more than questionable. Moral dilemmas, ambiguous characters, action, spectacle, and some too forced coincidences define a movie that is at least interesting.
The always-charismatic performance of Bruce Willis against a Joseph Gordon-Levitt who imitates his expression and gestures in a natural replica of Willis is quite convincing. Willis has a secondary presence, but that is not an impediment for him to take over the role, also demonstrating his dramatic skills at various times.
The dynamic between the two Joe is the most important element of the film and Johnson here makes a very intelligent thing: he never tries to convince us too much that they are the same person, beyond an exceptional use of makeup in Gordon-Levitt and certain characteristics common. Old Joe is a changed man, different, and if we add the particular conditions of their relationship, the result is really quite memorable.
It is preferable not to know anything about the character of Emily Blunt before watching the movie, so I will limit myself to saying that it maintains the level of the two male protagonists, being she who even raises the level a little more.
Looper, however, is a film with a big problem: the rhythm. There are twenty minutes in which the film stops and it seems that it does not advance. Fortunately, for the sake of the characters, the film, and ours, the film recovers the rhythm reaching the end thanks to the director's commitment to address the viewer's heart, and not so much to his head, trying to surprise with emotions and not with intricate plots.
While it is true that the film may have some flaws, or many, in the premise that is behind the whole plot, once as a spectator we put aside that type of analysis, we can enjoy good entertainment.
Trailer
Score
7/10
The film is excellent as entertainment, it is not perfect, and it slows down at a certain moment to later recover it, however, it is easily recommended.