Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Looper’: Director Rian Johnson’s Sci-Fi Masterpiece

Michael Clark
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A crackling and hypnotic concoction of sci-fi, thriller, action-adventure, black comedy, and romantic and family drama, “Looper” temporarily dislodged “Little Big Man” as my favorite movie of all-time 10 years ago.

“Favorite” doesn’t necessarily equate to what I or others think is “best” and there are many other movies that are better on individual levels than “Looper,” but few are as collectively smart, fun, funny, thought provoking, and emotionally engaging. It also has one of the most moving final scenes in the history of film. It’s what you value and what you choose to see.

Illogical

Some critics chided “Looper” for not making sense, which is technically true but, based on that logic, NO science-fiction movie ever made can make sense. If you infuse the logic of sci-fi into the real world, sci-fi will lose every time.

“Looper” succeeds where virtually all others fail because it establishes its own set of rules early on and sticks with them for the duration. Never is there an 11th hour tweak in the script to wedge in a wrinkle that wouldn’t otherwise fit. The plot is air-tight for the entirety; every word, knowing glance, blink, silent passage, and visual deftly propels the narrative. Any serious aspiring screenwriter should watch this movie as many times as possible.

“Looper” is the third feature from writer-director Rian Johnson and is closer to his first effort (“Brick”) than his second (the vastly underappreciated “The Brothers Bloom”). Following “Looper,” Johnson hit a stone wall as a hired gun for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” but returned to sure footing with “Knives Out” and its just-released follow-up “Glass Onion.”

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (L) and director Rian Johnson on the set of "Loopers." (Tri-Star Pictures)
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (L) and director Rian Johnson on the set of "Loopers." Tri-Star Pictures

Young and Old Joe

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis play younger and older versions of the same character. The young Joe is a mob hit man living in 2044 Kansas and the old Joe resides in 2072 Shanghai. From what we can gather, time travel was invented or discovered around 2060 and immediately outlawed so as to prevent any possible tinkering with the past.

As is often the case, the law doesn’t apply to organized crime, and they use a bootlegged version of the technology to toss their current problems back in time. The loopers, or hit men, stand at the ready, usually in a desolate field, and blow the victims of the criminals discards away the second they arrive. The looper’s paycheck (in the form of silver and sometimes gold bars) is taped to the victims’ backs when they come back in time , and all they need to do afterwards is burn the bodies. Providing you don’t have conscience, it’s a relatively easy gig.

The big problem is that young Joe does have a conscience. Every day after work, he heads off to a bar in his retro garb in his retro car where the his drug of choice is applied via eye drops, and we learn Joe is a serious addict, as is his fellow looper and best friend Seth (Paul Dano). After a significant on-the-job screw-up committed by Seth, Joe’s career effectively comes to an end.

Not Too Much

If you feel you’ve been given too much plot, trust me, you haven’t. Everything above takes place within the first 15 minutes, and you’ll still have to wait another 15 before old Joe makes his first appearance. Even at the half-hour mark, Johnson’s story is still in its birthing stage and there are at least four more major characters that have yet to be seen.
Old Joe (Bruce Willis, L) and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meet in time at a diner in the time-travel film, "Looper." (Tri-Star Pictures)
Old Joe (Bruce Willis, L) and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) meet in time at a diner in the time-travel film, "Looper." Tri-Star Pictures
Surprisingly, the back and forth between 2044 and 2072 isn’t all that difficult to follow. Johnson uses a minimum of on-screen graphics to keep us acclimated, and he has a veritable field day messing with the time structure. Some scenes are repeated from different perspectives and, in what feels like an homage to “Citizen Kane,” decades pass by in mere seconds.

Influencers

As brilliant and innovative as Johnson’s screenplay is, seasoned movie fans will note more than a few similarities to other filmmakers and authors. There’s some Stephen King, a lot of Philip K. Dick, the afore-alluded to Orson Welles, David Fincher, Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick, James Cameron, and Terrence Malick. Johnson doesn’t pinch or pilfer as much as he filters and derives inspiration.

There’s nothing new under the sun, but with “Looper” Johnson paints that star with a slightly different shade of yellow and he has crafted one of the grandest examples of storytelling this medium has ever produced.

Old Joe (Bruce Willis, L) and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) play the same character in the time-travel film, "Looper." (Tri-Star Pictures)
Old Joe (Bruce Willis, L) and Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) play the same character in the time-travel film, "Looper." Tri-Star Pictures
‘Looper’ Director: Rian Johnson Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels, Paul Dano Running Time: 1 hour, 58 minutes MPAA Rating: R Release Date: Sept. 28, 2012 Rating: 5 out of 5
Michael Clark
Michael Clark
Author
Originally from the nation's capital, Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Mr. Clark has written over 5,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
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