“The Looper” Will Make Your Head Spin

The Looper is about the United States going through an economic collapse in 2044, causing many things to happen, including the advancement of organized crime. Also, people are starting to develop some small telekinetic powers, but most are very weak.

Fast forward 30 years and time travel is invented, but it is made illegal, meaning that only the bad guys use it. They send enemies back 30 years to be killed by hit men, called “loopers.” When the hit men are done being bad, they send them back to their younger selves to be killed. This is called “closing the loop.” Confused? Well, we are just getting started.

There is also a mob boss that is extra bad and he’s the main enemy, but his hired men are everywhere. Joseph “Joe” Simmons is played in the future-present by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and played in the future-future by Bruce Willis. They are both great playing the same guy, but both annoyed by the other not quite understanding him.

Old Joe has had a beautiful life with a great woman and wants to keep those memories. If young Joe doesn’t follow those steps, then all that life and memory will be gone. Young Joe is looking to destroy the super bad guy and thinks this is a better cause then meeting a nice girl.

They are trying to kill each other and protect each other at the same time. Also, Emily Blunt comes in as a modern farm girl with a young gifted son. She plays a good part and adds some humanity to this crazy film.

This is a confusing plot that bends time and I don’t know, even now, if I actually get it. There is a lot of blood and movement. There are some funny moments and it is no way predictable, yet there are also some dark themes that I would rather not get into ever again, such as the whole cast trying to kill children. No thanks.

I like the ideas shown about what the future holds, for a city, for society, and even the cars are so well done. The gun in the future was a real firearm made to look like ones used in the 1800s. There were a lot of great props.

Old Joe, young Joe, talk about the anti-hero…there’s barely a reason to like either of these guys. There were a lot of good ideas packed into this plot, but a little too “Memento” for my liking. To be able to meet, they have to make a scar that lasts 30 years, kind of gross.

Also there is this scene where Blunt is using an axe on a tree stump, and there is just no reason for it. Even if she’s frustrated, that’s just odd. Her sitting on the porch with the “cigarettes” is really clever, though.

Overall, I think that Old Joe did well and it’s nice to see him in a softer role, doing the worst things you can think of, just for the memory of love and happiness.

Young Joe does well, too, with his angst. His face is distracting, but I like him as this tough young kid trying to do what is right. It’s a nice role for him after the ever-sappy “500 Days of Summer.”

Bottom line: wait for Netflix.