Looper

[Lencho01]

http://badassdigest.com/2012/09/21/the-badass-video-interview-rian-johnson-of-looper/

Published September 21, 2012 by Devin Faraci
The Badass Video Interview: Rian Johnson Of LOOPER

It's Badass Digest With Devin Faraci episode 2 already! This time I'm talking with Rian Johnson about LOOPER, and we're chatting in front of the actual George Pal Time Machine.

[YT]wEpYrXjaXCI[/YT]

I just unloaded episode 1 of Badass Digest With Devin Faraci and now we already have a second episode. Last time it was me and Amy Nicholson and Jeremy Smith drinking and arguing but the second episode is a little different. Hopefully every episode will change it up a little bit.

This time I'm taking with Rian Johnson, director of Looper. Our location? Bob Burns' legendary basement in Burbank, California, where he has the original Time Machine from the 1960 The Time Machine. What better place to talk about time travel movies?

If you like this please share it around on Twitter and Facebook so we can keep making more.

 

[terry78]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=95141

New animated trailer.

 

[Lencho01]

That was pretty cool. I found it on YouTube...

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And here's the poster...

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/exc...er-with-bruce-willis-and-joseph-gordon-levitt

 

[Fenrir]

Just got back from an advanced screening. Overall, it was a very good and entertaining sci-fi film - not exactly 'classic' material but still great nonetheless. I think what will ultimately hold the film back is its lack of any distinctive atmosphere or setting that classic sci-fi films are known for. Looper's reality simply looks like our own with a handful of futuristic gizmos to make you think it is 30 years in the future or something, but it doesn't really work. There aren't that many 'mind-bending' moments either but it isn't that kind of film anyway. The premise is cool and I really liked how the film constantly keeps shifting its primary antagonist, one of which in particular, I would've loved to see more of.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's work truly shows that he had been working overtime to get all of Bruce Willis' now-iconic mannerisms just right - the muted mumbling, that wry smirk, the cool and composed attitude, the way he tilts his head and expresses through his eyes...occasionally it comes off as rather artificial but there are quite a few moments where it does seem uncanny. Bruce Willis on the other hand is his usual self, with not as much screentime as I was expecting either. The story has some interesting twists and turns after slowing down a bit in the middle, and the action is relatively sparse and abrupt throughout. The whole film is a sort of bastard lovechild of 12 Monkeys and The Terminator, which can be both a good and a bad thing depending on how much you love the two aforementioned films and how much you're expecting to be surprised. Watch it with tempered expectations and it'll delight you. Just don't go in hoping for a 'Moon' or 'The Matrix'.

7.5/10

 

[gohei_]

Bought my tickets for this like 5 minutes ago, friday night can't come any sooner.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Seeing Looper tomorrow. Quite looking forward to it.

 

[Master Chief]

Just got back from an advanced screening. Overall, it was a very good and entertaining sci-fi film - not exactly 'classic' material but still great nonetheless. I think what will ultimately hold the film back is its lack of any distinctive atmosphere or setting that classic sci-fi films are known for. Looper's reality simply looks like our own with a handful of futuristic gizmos to make you think it is 30 years in the future or something, but it doesn't really work. There aren't that many 'mind-bending' moments either but it isn't that kind of film anyway. The premise is cool and I really liked how the film constantly keeps shifting its primary antagonist, one of which in particular, I would've loved to see more of.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's work truly shows that he had been working overtime to get all of Bruce Willis' now-iconic mannerisms just right - the muted mumbling, that wry smirk, the cool and composed attitude, the way he tilts his head and expresses through his eyes...occasionally it comes off as rather artificial but there are quite a few moments where it does seem uncanny. Bruce Willis on the other hand is his usual self, with not as much screentime as I was expecting either. The story has some interesting twists and turns after slowing down a bit in the middle, and the action is relatively sparse and abrupt throughout. The whole film is a sort of bastard lovechild of 12 Monkeys and The Terminator, which can be both a good and a bad thing depending on how much you love the two aforementioned films and how much you're expecting to be surprised. Watch it with tempered expectations and it'll delight you. Just don't go in hoping for a 'Moon' or 'The Matrix'.

7.5/10

Just a quick question, biggish spoilers I guess.

Spoiler

How graphic is the scene where old Seth is on the run and they're torturing young Seth?

 

[Fenrir]

Just a quick question, biggish spoilers I guess.

Spoiler

How graphic is the scene where old Seth is on the run and they're torturing young Seth?

Spoiler

Not overly graphic. It's still implied more than it is shown, but it is disturbing nonetheless.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Finally saw it.

A great time travel film.
Really well done. I do have things in the film that I would've done differently but that's just me.

For example:

Spoiler

They go into detail showing what Old Joe's life was like in his continuity but it felt sort of forced and left little to the imagination for my liking. I thought we would slowly learn about where his life went in his time to gain more interest on who he is (much more mysterious and interesting) but instead we're shown just about everything. It seemed unneeded but oh well.

Also, the Gatmen seemed to suffer from Stormtrooper Syndrome.

 

[terry78]

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120926/REVIEWS/120929993

Ebert loved it, as I suspected.

One thing I am looking forward to is

Spoiler

Piper Perabo going full naked.

Bring it.

 

[Alexei Belyakov]

Watching this in 5 hours.

Rian Johnson is yet to let me down.

 

[scifiwolf]

Saw an advance screening as well. Loved it. I will say that the end was a bit of a letdown for me. Partly, that's my own fault, as I had some theories built up over the course of the film that didn't pan out. Though, I thought one in particular was better than what actually happened. JGL nailed his part. He played a young Bruce without doing an impression of the young Bruce we already know, but it was still recognizable. That's a testament to his preparation and skill as an actor. One thing I found interesting is that you're not really rooting for anyone in the movie, but rather the movie itself. Everyone has a valid perspective, which is nicely portrayed in the script. What that leaves the audience with is the freedom to just sit back and enjoy what's unfolding in front of them. And what unfolds is such a wonderful blend of so many wonderful scifi classics, as well as a touch of horror. The whole movie, I felt I was watching Twelve Monkees, Blade Runner, Terminator, and The Omen all rolled up into one film. I have some Fandango passes that expire this weekend, and if my wife and I end up using them on Looper, I certainly won't complain.

 

[Alexei Belyakov]

Great movie.

Stylish and filled with noir (like all of Johnson's films) it does a great job painting the evolution of this man (Levitt/Willis), specifically his existential decay.

Levitt is as usual brilliant and Willis is decent enough to keep the film intelligent.

The film reminded me a bit of Kathryn Bigelow's STRANGE DAYS and Heavy Metal comics. I actually think they shoulda played with the color palette a bit and given it a more vibrant soundtrack.

8/10

 

[Hush]

Saw the midnight, this was awesome. Best Scifi behind Prometheus this year.

 

[Octoberist]

http://badassdigest.com/2012/09/21/the-badass-video-interview-rian-johnson-of-looper/

So amazing Devin seems so nice and approachable when it comes to seeing him on video, verses his infamous snarky persona through his writing.

 

[redhawk23]

Back in July, Entertainment Weekly sent FilmCritHulk to be a kind of embedded reporter to cover the promotion of Looper at Comicon. Rather than just write a mere article, FCHUlk decided to spend two months writing a 27,000 word epic, covering his time with Johnson, Joseph Gordon Levitt and others involved with the film, his thoughts on the film industry and the comicon experience, oh and then a little bit about the film itself.

its a solid read but kind of insane.
http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/09/26/looper-rian-johnson-film-crit-hulk/

 

[Octoberist]

FilmCritHulk is possibly the best writer at Badass Digest.

 

[Gianakin_]

Seconded.

 

[#1Batmanfan]

biggest letdown I've had for a movie in a long time

 

[redhawk23]

Care to elaborate?

 

[CapedCrusader14]

biggest letdown I've had for a movie in a long time

What didn't you like?

 

[#1Batmanfan]

Spoiler

when they introduced the telekinesis it turned into some xmen type of movie with some super crazy kid i didnt dig that at all, also why did the mob send the loopers back to kill themselves why not send someone else to kill yourself then theres no chance of you not killing yourself? I didnt undestand why didnt bruce willis just didnt kill himself instead of going back to the past. There was no way he was going to be back with his wife was he just going to plan on living in the past for the rest of his life? I know some people will say to save his wife but that wouldnt matter any ways since he would never going to be with her. also can anyone explain this to me how did sara know about loopers since in 2044 no one knew about them???

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Spoiler

I dug the TK and the kid. That kid seemed to act really damn good for his age. I thought the TK added a whole other layer to the story.

Maybe there was no other way to kill their future selves? I don't know, didn't really think about it even though it was never really explained why they were being sent back.

I thought the point was that when Old Joe killed the Rainmaker, he'd end up back in the future again.

I was wondering the same thing about how she knew about Loopers.

 

[scifiwolf]

I was hoping that Cid would

Spoiler

either be Joe or his son somehow. It seemed to me to be more twisty than the predictable loop that we got. I was also hoping that Joe would somehow be doomed to be stuck in an infinite loop forever, and be conscious of it. Some of that might also explain how Sarah knew of loopers.

I can't figure out how any of that might have been pulled off, but it would have been cool to see. The only thing I think that's really bugging me is that, even within the movie's rules of time travel, the movie can't happen. I think Back to the Future and Prizoner of Azkaban remain two of the best time travel stories so far as following rules and not breaking them.

 

[Marvin]

I wonder how Rian will get around time travel(backwards at least) considering it's impossible. Hope he makes a good attempt. Fans these days love plot holes.