Too Many Holes

Rating: 6/10 (26 September 2012)

It's rare to see a movie nowadays without its trailer spoiling all the plot points and action but Looper certainly scored points for allowing me some genuine surprises throughout the movie.
Let's start with the film did well before I get to my gripes. Willis and Gordon-Levitt put in their usual good, albeit stoic, performances and the other characters add some colour to the proceedings.
It's a good looking film too with subtle FX work and great change of lighting styles between the city and the countryside. The premise, which I'm sure I don't have to explain, is very nice also with plenty of scope to explore.
That said, I had some serious issues with this movie, specifically the plot. The more I think about this film the more it dawns on me how completely flawed it is. I understand that time travel is always going to offer certain challenges but Looper offers no consistency with the way it handles action and consequence. Rules established at the start of the film are conveniently ignored by the end. It's fair to say no-one knows how time travel works and how actions changed in the past would manifest themselves but I am certain Johnson has got it wrong. It's the same with motivations of the characters, which are not just shortsighted but verging on the ridiculous.
And don't get me started on the 'TK' sub-plot which was included for no other reason than lack of imagination from the director. Just because it was introduced at the start of the film doesn't mean it not a deus ex machina.
I feel this was a wasted opportunity by a talented director who gave us a great idea and then destroyed it.