OUT OF THE LOOP

Movie throws audience for a loop

By Suzie Setzler and Krysti Peacock

What prompted our initial interest with this film was simply a matter of casting. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing a younger version of Bruce Willis, we were intrigued and hopeful the crime-drama that involved the always-complicated paradigm of time travel and the idea of a hitman faced with the situation, of essentially, having to eradicate his future self. Not surprisingly, the movie was action- packed and filled with enough twists that you are literally sitting on the edge of your seat for the entirety of the film. Writer and director, Rian Johnson, brilliantly and intelligently brings a feast for the eyes. To say that we loved this film is an understatement. Try, our favorite film of the year, thus far!

“Looper” opens aggressively and straight to the point. The year is 2044 and 30 years into the future, time travel will have been discovered, then outlawed, and essentially only used by gangsters to send their victims back to the present time, where special hitmen, called ‘loopers’, execute them and dispose of the body. When a ‘looper’ is no longer needed for his services, his older version, anonymously, will be sent back to the present time for execution. It’s a strange concept, but pretty ruthless if you are unaware of who you just extinguished or, as the film refers to it, necessary in “closing the loop.”

However, what if you did realize who your victim was? What if you knew? Could you do what was asked of you even if you are rewarded with a handsome bounty and 30 years of freedom? And even more terrifying, what if your older version warned you of something?  That moment of hesitation could ultimately change the course of the future, and without giving away important plot points, the premise behind the film.
It’s not just the clever writing that makes this film so good; it’s the manner in which it is accomplished. For starters, the makeup in the movie is astounding. Gordon-Levitt truly resembles Willis, so much so that we couldn’t stop marveling at his appearance. In addition, he does a great job of capturing Willis’ mannerisms flawlessly. Willis is great, but Gordon-Levitt carries the film and he is really able to shine through most of this movie, with vignettes of narrative, delicately placed to add a reflective quality to his performance.

Then there are other characters in the movie who we don’t want to reveal, but let’s just say their acting and their importance was notably felt. We are simply in awe of all the assembled puzzle pieces, which make this film so skillfully crafted. Johnson truly takes what could be a complicated concept, such as time travel, and makes it easily palatable for the masses. Never did we feel confused or lost, and never did we find ourselves astray. “Looper” is really one of those great films that leaves you wondering about its ending, and will surely prompt many of its fans into heated discussions about the many possibilities. Without hesitation, we say go see “Looper” because you will not be disappointed.