Looper
2012119 minutes
rated R
by Scott Mendelson
Rian Johnson's Looper is less an out-and-out original work as a hodgepodge made up from bits and pieces from other iconic science fiction stories stirred into a relatively tasty stew. It has an admirable courage, both in content and structure. It is unafraid to go to some very dark places and it establishes a perfectly clever initial premise but uses it merely as a springboard for a whole different kind of tale. Its first half is relentlessly entertaining, clever, and unpredictable. But once Johnson settles into his story of choice, the film becomes somewhat of a waiting game while we merely attempt to guess if Johnson has any more tricks up his sleeve and what they might be if he does. But make no mistake, Looper is a strongly conceived and character-driven character drama wrapped up in a science-fiction thriller. It is well-acted and expertly constructed, and I appreciated its eventual intentions.
