This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 194! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey, friends!
Today we’re chatting about yet another sci-fi flick! This time we’re warping through time with the mind-bending thriller “Looper” by the awesome Rian Johnson (who also brought us the epic “The Last Jedi” ). Full disclosure, I’m totally on a sci-fi kick lately – there’s just something about those stories that mess with your head in the best way possible. Plus, this movie stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and come on, who doesn’t love that guy?
So picture this: it’s 2044, and the world is a bit of a dystopian mess. Time travel exists, but it’s super expensive and illegal for anyone but the rich folks. The mob, however, has figured out a loophole (pun intended!): they send people they want whacked 30 years back in time, where a hitman called a “looper” is waiting to do the dirty deed. These loopers are assassins who wait at an appointed time and place to “close the loop” by killing and disposing of the person sent back from the future.
Enter our protagonist, Joe (played by the ever-charming JGL). He’s a young looper who’s pretty good at his job, living a life of luxury off his ill-gotten gains. But things get messy when one day, Joe’s target turns out to be his older self (played by a grizzled and awesome Bruce Willis) Talk about an existential crisis!
This is where things go haywire. Joe’s future self escapes, and young Joe has to hunt him down or face dire consequences from his ruthless boss, played by Jeff Daniels. The interplay between the two Joes is fascinating, and it made me wonder, like, what would I do if I faced my future self? 🤔
Then the movie gets REALLY trippy. Turns out, Old Joe has come back to stop a terrifying future event set in motion by a mysterious figure known only as the Rainmaker. Young Joe, naturally, wants nothing to do with it – he’s happy with his present life, messed up morals and all.
But as they dig deeper, they realize they’re intertwined in a crazy chain of cause and effect, where their actions keep shaping each other’s destinies. It’s like a mind-blowing game of chess, only the stakes are way higher – think getting erased from existence .
Johnson does an amazing job of building suspense throughout the film. The fight scenes are intense, the special effects are slick without being overwhelming, and the story keeps you guessing. There’s also a ton of moral ambiguity at play.
You kind of root for Joe, even though he’s a killer. And Old Joe, despite his gruff exterior, is clearly haunted by his past and determined to protect the future. It makes you wonder: what would you do if you had a chance to change your past, even if it meant messing with the timeline?
You can really see the effort Gordon-Levitt put into resembling Bruce Willis, from the makeup to his mannerisms. It’s uncanny and adds so much to the film’s believability. Oh, and Emily Blunt is in it too, playing Sara, a fierce mother trying to protect her child, who might just be the key to this whole time-travel mess. Her portrayal is intense and emotional, and it adds depth to the story.
Speaking of the timeline, “Looper” does play fast and loose with some time travel concepts, which might leave some viewers scratching their heads. But hey, that’s part of the fun, right? It’s a movie that rewards repeat viewings as you pick up on new details and ponder the complexities of time travel.
As for the plot, boy, does it twist and turn. There’s a whole lot going on, from Joe’s inner conflict to the overarching idea of fate versus free will. The story is gripping, and the world-building is top-notch. The scenes are gritty and dark, and you can practically feel the tension. You know, the kind of movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering what’s going to happen next.
Overall, if you’re into movies that make you think and keep you entertained, you should totally check out “Looper.” It’s like a mix of “The Butterfly Effect” and “Frequency,” both which, by the way, I absolutely loved. It’s quirky, it’s intense, and it’s definitely one for the watchlist.
Until tomorrow, happy movie watching!
Roger
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