The 4-in-1 Movie Review by Bright Eyes Long Lashes

For a change from my normal reviews, I asked one of my Twitter friends Leah to let me post some of her film review vLogs. She's a fun reviewer who speaks her mind and is "challenging herself to review every movie released theatrically in 2012". Below she talks about some of the most anticipated movies of the year...

PROMETHEUS

LOOPER & PREMIUM RUSH

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Bright Eyes Long Lashes is a YouTube channel that focuses on movie reviews. As Leah is currently on a mission to view all films released theatrically in 2012, you can subscribe to her channel at www.youtube.com/Brighteyeslonglashes and visit her website at www.LeahHather.com

Review: Looper (2012)

Willis and Gordon-Levitt are both Joe.

Directed by Rian Johnson 
Produced by Ram Bergman and James D. Stern 
Written by Rian Johnson 
Starring Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, Noah Segan, Piper Perabo, and Jeff Daniels


***

"Close the loop, Joe." That's all he has to do, but that, of course, goes wrong. It is 2044, and the future holds the discovery of time travel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Joe, a looper, meaning he kills people from the future as soon as they appear in the past. When he must kill his future self (Willis), he fails to "close the loop", which is an insurance policy for his bosses that comes with being a looper. So, the younger Joe must chase down his older self, while his older self is bent on eliminating a child who will grow up to be "The Rainmaker" and bring about the destruction of their world as they know it. This chase leads the younger Joe to a farm where a woman's (Blunt) child is one of the potential targets for the older Joe. With the child's life at stake, the younger Joe must stay and prepare for the onslaught coming from his bosses and the older Joe.

This film will, no doubt, be a delight for hardcore science fiction fans. For movie fans, it is also a worthwhile trip to the cinema. Rian Johnson follows Brick and The Brothers Bloom with another unique film that will leave some viewers enchanted and others passive. The screenplay does a tremendous job of "closing the loop", making sure that the essential details are explained and that the intricacies of this plot and world are addressed and fully developed. Though, the film eventually settles down. It is quiet in moments, reflective in others, and, unfortunately, even flat in some parts. Gordon-Levitt and Willis do a terrific job portraying a young man with selfish motivations and an older man with the world and his past deeds weighing heavily on his shoulders. They depict Joe's changes perfectly, and Dano and Daniels also do well in the small roles they're given. The film feels like a mixed bag, but comes through with an interesting story and an intriguing construction. Again, it's a unique film, which is wonderful. It does struggle to find a balance for all of the parts contained though. While it's a solid, different kind of movie, it does have some missteps that keep it from sheer greatness.

Oscar Potential: Best Original Screenplay, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects

LOOPER

LOOPER
Written and Directed by Rian Johnson
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt, Jeff Daniels and Bruce Willis

Abe: It’s the little ones that get you.

In 2005, a little movie called BRICK boldly announced the arrival of writer/director, Rian Johnson, as a crisp, witty new voice in cinema. It also solidified its star, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as the it indie boy of the day. Seven years later, the twosome have finally reunited and their new collaboration, LOOPER, showcases their maturity and growth, demonstrating just how far each of them have truly come.

As they are quick to explain in the narrative, time travel does not exist in 2044, the year in which LOOPER takes place. It does however exist 30 years past that point. Apparently, it is near impossible to get away with murder in the last quarter of this century, so the mob sends people back in time to be shot and disposed of the moment they arrive by what are known as loopers. Gordon-Levitt plays one of these loopers and a successful one at that. Successful that is, until the day his future self is sent back to be killed but runs away before his present day version can do the job. For those of you not already in the loop, this is called closing your loop.

LOOPER relies heavily on this intricately woven timeline, which is only further complicated when you consider why the older version of himself (played by Bruce Willis) runs in the first place. Johnson easily handles the twists and turns he himself crafted in his near airtight screenplay and Gordon-Levitt is leading his charge. LOOPER is an exciting and ambitious project that Johnson pulls off effortlessly and with the style of master in the making.