Script issues aside, there is always going to be a debate on the topic of time travel and how it plays out in the film. In this realm, Johnson tosses the logic and technology of it out the window with pleasant abandon, even having Willis yell out in a critical scene, “It doesn’t matter!” For me it was a nice touch and should be heeded by future filmmakers who dare to use time travel as a plot device. Don’t get bogged down in the details of how it works (because in the end, it doesn’t).
The performances are also worth mentioning here with a special nod to the makeup department. Levitt underwent a truly amazing and subtle transformation into a younger version of Willis, and it definitely had an effect on not only how he played the character, but how the audience reacts to him. Levitt is reaching a level of star status that will soon overcome his on-screen characters because we will all know exactly who he is (currently known as the Tom Cruise effect), but with the slight manipulation of Levitt’s face, it was almost hard to remember it was actually him on screen. He delivered the same quality and intensity we have become accustomed to, and that helps buoy the film during the slower portions. Also, Pierce Gagnon is incredibly intense for such a young kid. Keep an eye on him if they ever do another sequel to the Children of the Corn franchise. He’d be a shoe-in.
In an overall look back, there is a moral question that pervades the film and strains to link the two stories, but both weren’t necessary to answer it and a strong choice as to what the film was really about would have simplified it and delivered a much stronger final product.
Article comments
1 - jos
Looper horrible movie do not waste time and money on this one!
2 - Luke Goldstein
Hi Jos, care to elaborate on what you didn't like? There are definitely a lot of options to choose from, I'm just curious.
3 - Sotos
Why oh why would the Mafia of the future kidnaping people and send them to the past to kill them. There must be an easier way of killing them and leave no trace , lets say put them in a incinerator instead in a travel machine !!!
4 - Luke Goldstein
Sotos,
My guess is that sending them back in time to be killed and dropped in incinerators back then leaves no trace of killing them in the present time. At least, that was the reasoning for it in the movie. Sure enough, if you look at the logic of the story long enough in any flick involving time travel, the whole thing will start to unravel, so best not to poke it too hard.