94% Looper

There ain't any kind of sci-fi movie out there like this.Time-travel films -- we've seen them all: "Terminator 2", "Back to the Future", and many more. They're always interesting in the way it challenges audiences to think and piece together the causes and effects if certain things happen. Almost all the time, audiences spot gaping plot-holes, but it's just too interesting to completely criticize such a premise. Such is the same here for "Looper", and for the most part, "Looper" doesn't change the game in the time-travelling premise, but there is one key element that makes "Looper" stick out like a sore thumb: Direction styleWhat's up with trailers these days? Quick cuts and frames of face-crunching, bullets whizzing by, and explosions illuminating the screen was 80% of the trailer for "Looper". Yet, this film was nothing like it shown to be. This is a surprisingly and refreshingly slower paced, dialogue-driven thriller with such an unequivocal knack for art-house style, and I loved every bit of it. We've seen the time-travel plotline rehashed in numerous different ways, but its the direction style that makes "Looper" such a distinctly different and entertaining film. The action choreography may be elementary, but it's the way the camera is utilized during these sequences that makes it highly engaging: The action scenes are delivered with one stationary shot that pans from the shooter to the victim in quick fashion; and as more targets and threats come into the lines of the shooter, the camera zips to them and back. It makes for impeccable and highly engaging action set-pieces. As goes for the rest of the movie, the cinematography remains consistent with the same level of quality that draws many similarities with art-house style. Unfortunately, "Looper" isn't an art-house film and its mainly due to slim thematic storytelling and a narrative centered around things occurring at face value. Nevertheless, there are highly commendable scenes, especially the one where Bruce Willis and Gordon Levitt sit down at a diner for a talk.But that doesn't mean "Looper"'s perfect. There are considerable pacing issues and a difficulty understanding who the director wants the audience to root for. By the near end of the 3rd act, that's when the audience understands who the director has decidedly stood next to -- that's a little too late to the party. But most unfortunate of all is that though "Looper" is an innovative blockbuster bolstered with commendable direction, it was just that. The themes and morals are insufficient to be something that lingers in audience's minds for days to come."Looper" is a great blockbuster thriller because it's so distinctly different from the rest. Give it a try and see what you think of it.

October 4, 2012

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/looper/

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