Looper

Camile Betances, Adviser • Oct 7, 2012

Release Date: September 28, 2012

Rated: R

Directors: Rian Johnson

Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt

Rating: B+

The premise of Looper is one that pervades human thought and incites debates amongst even the most learned of scholars: time travel.

Set in the year 2044, Looper follows the story of Joe (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young man hired to be a hit-man for the future. In Joe’s world, time travel doesn’t exist yet, but Joe’s bosses are criminals from 30 years in the future, and his job is to kill the people that they send back in time, no questions asked.

Fortunately, Rian Johnson doesn’t focus on time travel as the point of this film. Instead, he uses it as the back drop for an extremely compelling tale, full of developed characters and plenty of emotion. It’s a sci-fi, action, drama, gangster movie, all rolled into one.

The first part of the movie follows Joe’s rather repetitive life; which includes killing, partying, and living for the moment; but we soon realize there is more at stake when Joe’s future self comes back with a plan to prevent the future from happening.

This film was high action much of the time, but a surprisingly complex plot emerges about halfway through, when it becomes clear that the story is far more complicated than present day Joe is prepared for. Mid-way through the film, Joe also meets Sara (Emily Blunt) and their on screen chemistry and skillful acting take over.

The movie was indicative of almost all of Gordon-Levitt’s films, even down to the “Inception-esque” plot twist at the very end. Were there parts of the movie that were predictable? Sure, but the foreshadowing nature of the film was not overdone and the audience was left surprised.

Those 17 years of age or older (or those that have parental permission) should go and see Looper, if only for the fact that it offers such a respite from the plotless dramas that tend to saturate the current box office.

About the Contributor

Camile Betances, Adviser

Camile Betances moved to Coral Gables to attend the University of Miami in 2003, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education and Creative Writing with a minor in Spanish. In 2010, she also earned a Master's of Science degree from Florida International University in Curriculum and Instruction in English. Betances is a successful high school English and Creative Writing teacher. She happily spends her days working with her students at Coral Gables Senior High School and has done so since 2007. She is the adviser for Catharsis, the literary & art magazine (a program which she began), and CavsConnect. Ms. Betances also works in her growing freelance photography business, Camile Teresa Photography. She loves to write, read, dance, attend Zumba, and is a member of the PARK Project Action Team. In her limited free time, you can usually find her snuggling with her cat and a good book.

Donate to CavsConnect

Your donation will support the student journalists of Coral Gables Senior High School. Your contribution will help us cover our annual website hosting costs.