Looper (2012)

Looper (2012)

Directed by: Rian Johnson
Screenplay by: Rian Johnson

Genre: Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller
Running Time: 118 Minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Viewed: Theater

Hunted by your future. Haunted by your past.

[IMDb]

Comments: I was a huge fan of Rian Johnson's debut film Brick. I thought it was an outstanding piece of work that took an odd gimmick (a film noir where characters talk like it's 1940, even though it's the twentieth century) and made it work completely. His follow-up film, The Brothers Bloom, didn't make the same impression on me. It was well-acted and well-written, but I never was able to fully invest myself in the film. Unfortunately, I felt the same about Looper. It's a really good film, but it just left me cold after it was over. I love Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and especially Emily Blunt (goddamn you John Krasinski!), but I could never get into any of their characters. I didn't feel the burning and drive that set each individual on their course of action. And while I never thought Levitt's facial prosthetics would bother me, I do wonder if they made me less invested in his character, simply because I knew it was fake. Either way, the fact that was I thinking about them proved to be a distraction regardless.

From a distance, I appreciated what Rian Johnson created. But up close, I felt the entire film was a little cold to the touch. I really like and respect Johnson, as his occasional guest spots on Filmspotting have made me realize his passion for filmmaking. However, there's something about his movies that just don't resonate with me. This could be entirely a "me" thing, but I do wonder if others feel the same. Despite this, I heartily recommend checking out Looper. Cold or not, it's a damn fine film.