I don't want to talk about time travel.
September 26, 2012 11:45 PM Subscribe
Looper, a time travel thriller from Rian Johnson, comes out this Friday. It is being hailed as an "uncommonly smart, bravely original blend of futuristic sci-fi and good old-fashioned action."
Director Rian Johnson of Brick (prev), Brothers Bloom, and Breaking Bad (episodes 'Fly' and '51') subverts expectations and builds a better time machine.
His AMA from a couple of days ago.
See also:
70s style Mondo posters
The time-travel secrets of Looper
10 of sci-fi's most depressing futuristic retirement scenarios
Director Rian Johnson of Brick (prev), Brothers Bloom, and Breaking Bad (episodes 'Fly' and '51') subverts expectations and builds a better time machine.
His AMA from a couple of days ago.
See also:
70s style Mondo posters
The time-travel secrets of Looper
10 of sci-fi's most depressing futuristic retirement scenarios
Brothers Bloom is a lot of fun! It's a great romantic comedy and a wonderful con movie (which sort of deconstructs the idea of a con). It wasn't received as well as it should have been, and I think it was because of its length and the sometimes deadpan nature of some of the more important parts of the movie.
However, it is well worth the price of admission for these two scenes alone.
Opening
Penelope and Bloom
posted by mysticreferee at 12:04 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
However, it is well worth the price of admission for these two scenes alone.
Opening
Penelope and Bloom
posted by mysticreferee at 12:04 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
Yeah, Johnson is really talented and I'm really looking forward to this. Though I have to say, before having seen it of course, that the eyebrows and fake nose on Joseph Gordon-Leavitt looks really, really weird. I guess it's not the first time an actor wore a prosthetic for the entire movie, but still. That's why we have suspension of disbelief.
Brick was fantastic, and JGL was fantastic in it, which contrasted with the other actors, who were all pretty lousy. The Brothers Bloom was a lot of fun but didn't quite gel, and the ending became incongruously dark. But I still liked it. Didn't it leave the story open for a sequel?
posted by zardoz at 12:15 AM on September 27, 2012
Brick was fantastic, and JGL was fantastic in it, which contrasted with the other actors, who were all pretty lousy. The Brothers Bloom was a lot of fun but didn't quite gel, and the ending became incongruously dark. But I still liked it. Didn't it leave the story open for a sequel?
posted by zardoz at 12:15 AM on September 27, 2012
It's also got a neat soundtrack! Previously on Metafilter
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:36 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:36 AM on September 27, 2012
Film Crit Hulk, he of the caps lock, wrote an uncommonly good 27000 word essay -- yes, you read that right -- about Looper and Rian and cinema for EW. You should read it -- or at least see how far you get.
posted by incessant at 1:05 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by incessant at 1:05 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
(When I said "you read that right," I meant the 27000 part, not the essay part.)
posted by incessant at 1:06 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by incessant at 1:06 AM on September 27, 2012
The Brothers Bloom is great. I feel like it has some Wes Anderson-y vibes, only less twee and much more interesting (to me). Definitely worth watching.
I am also not convinced that JGL's fake face in Looper is necessary, but I'm willing to withhold final judgment until I see the movie. At which point I will probably still hate it.
posted by dogwalker at 1:08 AM on September 27, 2012
I am also not convinced that JGL's fake face in Looper is necessary, but I'm willing to withhold final judgment until I see the movie. At which point I will probably still hate it.
posted by dogwalker at 1:08 AM on September 27, 2012
I'm really excited about this movie. I feel like the last 3 times I went to the cinema, I was extremely disappointed. (Prometheus, Dark Knight, Savages)
Something about Looper is giving me really high hopes. Can't wait to see what kind of discussion it creates.
Also, I'm so glad someone like JGL has finally emerged as a decent young-looking actor. Finally we have someone who isn't Shia Labeouf, but could conceivably be cast in the same roles. Go ahead and do Y: The Last Man or whatever you need to do at this point.
posted by Telf at 2:18 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Something about Looper is giving me really high hopes. Can't wait to see what kind of discussion it creates.
Also, I'm so glad someone like JGL has finally emerged as a decent young-looking actor. Finally we have someone who isn't Shia Labeouf, but could conceivably be cast in the same roles. Go ahead and do Y: The Last Man or whatever you need to do at this point.
posted by Telf at 2:18 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
I don't know if I am in a minority about this, but once I saw the trailer and it revealed the actual premise, it seemed so mind-bogglingly insipid to me that I was shocked the film got a greenlight and high-profile actors. I mean, the mob in the future using time travel to kill people? Sure, it may work as a setup for a high-octane explosion movie but how the hell is it being talked up as a "smart" sci-fi flick? Honestly, I'd like to know why people are so excited by it.
posted by graymouser at 2:34 AM on September 27, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by graymouser at 2:34 AM on September 27, 2012 [5 favorites]
I saw it on Monday and it's really really good.
Although I thought the main plot was pretty clichéd time-travel/sci-fi tropes, I just loved the way they did it, and the universe building was amazing. It has great dystopic background scenery that really sold it to me - so incredibly detailed and thought out.
So go see it. It's sharp and remarkably well done.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:50 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Although I thought the main plot was pretty clichéd time-travel/sci-fi tropes, I just loved the way they did it, and the universe building was amazing. It has great dystopic background scenery that really sold it to me - so incredibly detailed and thought out.
So go see it. It's sharp and remarkably well done.
posted by Katemonkey at 2:50 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Oh god, I am so excited about this film. I am not seeing it until next Wednesday. It is going to take a will of iron to not return to this thread until after that point.
posted by ominous_paws at 2:59 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by ominous_paws at 2:59 AM on September 27, 2012
I mean, the mob in the future using time travel to kill people? Sure, it may work as a setup for a high-octane explosion movie but how the hell is it being talked up as a "smart" sci-fi flick?
Quite. I can't figure out why people are being time-travelled to the middle of a field and not the middle of the Pacific. Maybe that'll get explained though...
posted by edd at 3:27 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Quite. I can't figure out why people are being time-travelled to the middle of a field and not the middle of the Pacific. Maybe that'll get explained though...
posted by edd at 3:27 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hell, time travel needs to correct for the motion of the Earth normally, so why not just forget that part and leave your mans IN SPACE??
posted by LogicalDash at 3:46 AM on September 27, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by LogicalDash at 3:46 AM on September 27, 2012 [7 favorites]
(not sure if it's much of an improvement but i've gathered that huge hulk essay on a single page and downcased it for marginally easier reading.)
posted by ver at 3:49 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by ver at 3:49 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
...The filmmaker ran his time travel scenario by the guy who did PRIMER.
Oh, now I'm seeing it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:00 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Oh, now I'm seeing it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:00 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
The Pepsi Blue of cinema...
posted by caddis at 4:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by caddis at 4:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
EmpressCallipygos: "...The filmmaker ran his time travel scenario by the guy who did PRIMER.
Oh, now I'm seeing it."
Shane Carruth gets a Special Thanks credit in Looper. Now if he could just get Upstream Color finished and released.
posted by octothorpe at 5:11 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh, now I'm seeing it."
Shane Carruth gets a Special Thanks credit in Looper. Now if he could just get Upstream Color finished and released.
posted by octothorpe at 5:11 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Just got back from seeing it.
All other things aside (hello there, sex frog) I still can't see the point of making up JGL to look like Bruce Willis. They look enough alike as it is without weird eye brows. This isn't Tom Hardy/Patrick Stewart territory.
It was a distraction, like Batman's voice. The rest of the film was great.
posted by dumbland at 5:31 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
All other things aside (hello there, sex frog) I still can't see the point of making up JGL to look like Bruce Willis. They look enough alike as it is without weird eye brows. This isn't Tom Hardy/Patrick Stewart territory.
It was a distraction, like Batman's voice. The rest of the film was great.
posted by dumbland at 5:31 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Of course, Bruce Willis + time travel = inevitably comparing it to 12 MonkeysSure, ruin the ending of 12 Monkeys why don't you. Next I'm gonna guess that he's not actually alive in 6th Sense either.
/jeez man, how about a spoiler alert?!?
/seriously, I haven't seen 12 Monkeys. Should I?
posted by Blue_Villain at 6:02 AM on September 27, 2012
I adore Brothers Bloom. It is very unlike Brick, however, in mood and theme. But I think they both fit katemonkey's comment of universe building.
posted by maryr at 6:12 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by maryr at 6:12 AM on September 27, 2012
If there are no spoilers involved in the answer to this question, why is Joseph Gordon-Levitt made up to look like Edward Furlong?
posted by headnsouth at 6:18 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by headnsouth at 6:18 AM on September 27, 2012
I saw this film next week. It was pretty good.
posted by panboi at 6:28 AM on September 27, 2012 [27 favorites]
posted by panboi at 6:28 AM on September 27, 2012 [27 favorites]
Man, I loved Brick. But the youtube campaign for Looper has been so unrelenting that I've grown to resent its very title.
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:35 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:35 AM on September 27, 2012
Wait, the movie whose trailer begins "In 30 years the mob will control time travel" is something other than abjectly awful? Color me surprised.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:43 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 6:43 AM on September 27, 2012
Blue_Villain: /seriously, I haven't seen 12 Monkeys. Should I?
Oh hells yes. The fact that there is time travel in it really isn't a spoiler, by the way. It's pretty clearly about time travel from the get go.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:05 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh hells yes. The fact that there is time travel in it really isn't a spoiler, by the way. It's pretty clearly about time travel from the get go.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:05 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
/seriously, I haven't seen 12 Monkeys. Should I?
Heck yes. Brad Pitt's acting is as annoying as it usually is, but since his character is supposed to be annoying it actually works this time. The rest of 12 Monkeys is really enjoyable and well worth your time. The fact that there's time travel involved is not a huge spoiler for the movie, really.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Heck yes. Brad Pitt's acting is as annoying as it usually is, but since his character is supposed to be annoying it actually works this time. The rest of 12 Monkeys is really enjoyable and well worth your time. The fact that there's time travel involved is not a huge spoiler for the movie, really.
posted by longdaysjourney at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
panboi: I saw this film next week. It was pretty good.
I think you mean "It willan on-be pretty good." Check your Streetmentioner's.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
I think you mean "It willan on-be pretty good." Check your Streetmentioner's.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
It's OK, longdaysjourney. In another timeline, your comment came first.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 7:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Rian Johnson directed that subtly awesome music video for the Mountain Goats' Woke Up New; this looks... less subtly awesome.
posted by progosk at 7:13 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by progosk at 7:13 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Rian Johnson directed that subtly awesome music video for the Mountain Goats' Woke Up New; this looks... less subtly awesome.
Every time I see a Mountain Goats video it seems like something that shouldn't exist. They're usually pretty good, but it always feels wrong. I also think John Darnielle agrees with me, since he always seems to be doing his best to sabotage the videos by adopting uncomfortably weird expressions, but he's also just kind of like that so who knows.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:22 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Every time I see a Mountain Goats video it seems like something that shouldn't exist. They're usually pretty good, but it always feels wrong. I also think John Darnielle agrees with me, since he always seems to be doing his best to sabotage the videos by adopting uncomfortably weird expressions, but he's also just kind of like that so who knows.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:22 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Looks fun. Given that no time travel plot I've ever seen, with the exception of 12 Monkeys, has made any sense, I just hope that pseudo-intellectual self-congratulation is kept to a minimum and the apparent juicy sci-fi goodness is allowed to do its work.
posted by howfar at 7:26 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by howfar at 7:26 AM on September 27, 2012
Brothers Bloom felt very Wes Anderson, and also kind of ham-handed, to me.
posted by kenko at 7:29 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kenko at 7:29 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
I remember being especially annoyed at the boat scene in BB. Why are they traveling by boat at all? When does this movie take place? It seemed as if it was there because boats are cool!
posted by kenko at 7:31 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by kenko at 7:31 AM on September 27, 2012
Every time I see a Mountain Goats video it seems like something that shouldn't exist. They're usually pretty good, but it always feels wrong. I also think John Darnielle agrees with me, since he always seems to be doing his best to sabotage the videos by adopting uncomfortably weird expressions, but he's also just kind of like that so who knows.
Based on the MG concerts I've been to, I believe that's his version of "rocking out."
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
Based on the MG concerts I've been to, I believe that's his version of "rocking out."
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 7:32 AM on September 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
I wish that Film Crit Hulk essay would stop with the journalistic blather and talk about the friggin' movie. Doesn't help that apparently each section ends with some cutesy tag.
posted by kenko at 7:38 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kenko at 7:38 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nothing os good enough for me!
posted by kenko at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kenko at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh balls.
posted by kenko at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by kenko at 7:39 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
So this is more about Brick than it is about Looper but I posted this on Google+ a while ago and no one bit, so I'm still curious:
I saw Brick this weekend and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Fifteen minutes in, I was thinking "where the hell are these kids' parents?!" After hearing the dialog between Brendan and Brain I realized that this was not a high school movie with a noir window dressing but a noir movie with a high school window dressing. So it's sort of a genre cut-and-shut with no pretense towards naturalism, fair enough, but what I'm still trying to figure out is what that pairing accomplishes. On the one hand, yeah, the over-the-top emotional intensity typical of noir characters is actually pretty appropriate in the context of high school, but that seems like too feeble of a congruence to justify the mixture. I keep waiting for a really good reason to jump out at me, but it hasn't yet.posted by invitapriore at 7:44 AM on September 27, 2012
the youtube campaign for Looper has been so unrelenting that I've grown to resent its very title.
And every time I hear it, I also hear Will Lee's New York accented voice correcting it:
"Hooper, Hooper!"
posted by LEGO Damashii at 7:47 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
And every time I hear it, I also hear Will Lee's New York accented voice correcting it:
"Hooper, Hooper!"
posted by LEGO Damashii at 7:47 AM on September 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
@kenko They were travelling by boat in BB because (almost?) everything that happens in the movie is setup by Stephen to play into the fantasies of the other characters. It is not really at all like a wes anderson movie (except very simplistically in the visual style of the introduction).
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 8:19 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 8:19 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sure, ruin the ending of 12 Monkeys why don't you.
I think that once a movie is over 15 years from release date, spoiler etiquette no longer attaches. And as a previous commenter mentioned, the fact that 12 Monkeys involves time travel is explicit from the word go. There is no twist at the end where you realize, "oh, so he was in the future/past all along!". I think the first time travel in 12 Monkeys appears earlier in the movie than in Back to the Future. (sorry for that spoiler)
posted by Tanizaki at 8:22 AM on September 27, 2012
I think that once a movie is over 15 years from release date, spoiler etiquette no longer attaches. And as a previous commenter mentioned, the fact that 12 Monkeys involves time travel is explicit from the word go. There is no twist at the end where you realize, "oh, so he was in the future/past all along!". I think the first time travel in 12 Monkeys appears earlier in the movie than in Back to the Future. (sorry for that spoiler)
posted by Tanizaki at 8:22 AM on September 27, 2012
They were travelling by boat in BB because (almost?) everything that happens in the movie is setup by Stephen to play into the fantasies of the other characters
And yet none of the other characters seems to think it's odd to cross the Atlantic by boat, or even a boat like that. (And presumably not all the passengers on the boat were hired by Stephen.)
posted by kenko at 8:32 AM on September 27, 2012
And yet none of the other characters seems to think it's odd to cross the Atlantic by boat, or even a boat like that. (And presumably not all the passengers on the boat were hired by Stephen.)
posted by kenko at 8:32 AM on September 27, 2012
FWIW, stating that 12 Monkeys involves time travel in no way ruins the ending to 12 Monkeys.
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:34 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:34 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, I'm so glad someone like JGL has finally emerged as a decent young-looking actor. Finally we have someone who isn't Shia Labeouf, but could conceivably be cast in the same roles. Go ahead and do Y: The Last Man or whatever you need to do at this point.
Me, I'm holding out for Looper to do such ridicu-huge business that Rian Johnson gets his pick of whatever he wants to do as the follow-up. He could even step in to save something that had been languishing in production hell...
Think about this: A Johnson-directed live-action Cowboy Bebop movie, starring JGL as Spike Spiegel, and (sure, why the hell not?) Willis as Jet Black. Johnson freely admits that CB was a huge influence on the writing and direction of Brick, and it'd be at least 100 times better than whatever Keanu's people were planning. /fanboyrant
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:38 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Me, I'm holding out for Looper to do such ridicu-huge business that Rian Johnson gets his pick of whatever he wants to do as the follow-up. He could even step in to save something that had been languishing in production hell...
Think about this: A Johnson-directed live-action Cowboy Bebop movie, starring JGL as Spike Spiegel, and (sure, why the hell not?) Willis as Jet Black. Johnson freely admits that CB was a huge influence on the writing and direction of Brick, and it'd be at least 100 times better than whatever Keanu's people were planning. /fanboyrant
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:38 AM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
Huge Rian Johnson fan here, I have a thing about writer-directors. The dialog in Brick was so much fun to listen to and I agree that JGL was pretty great. The Brothers Bloom is EASILY in my top 10, mostly because I have a crush on Adrian Brody but also because of the wacky, lost-in-time feeling that I get watching it. (JGL even has a tiny cameo in the beginning!!) All of this to say: will be seeing Looper, will be peeing-pants-excited.
posted by polly_dactyl at 8:58 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by polly_dactyl at 8:58 AM on September 27, 2012
I don't have time to read 27000 words to try and figure out why Time Travel Controlled By Mob isn't insufferably dumb. Can anyone here who's seen it give a little bit of why this doesn't suck?
posted by klangklangston at 9:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 9:07 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
mcstayinskool: FWIW, stating that 12 Monkeys involves time travel in no way ruins the ending to 12 Monkeys.
I can't believe you told him about the monkeys.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2012
I can't believe you told him about the monkeys.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:09 AM on September 27, 2012
Has anyone else noticed that JGL kind of sounds like Keanu, inflections and all? I can hear it in the Looper trailers, but I noticed it while watching Inception a couple of weeks ago as well. It's really quite a bummer for me.
posted by anoirmarie at 9:14 AM on September 27, 2012
posted by anoirmarie at 9:14 AM on September 27, 2012
Think about this: A Johnson-directed live-action Cowboy Bebop movie, starring JGL as Spike Spiegel, and (sure, why the hell not?) Willis as Jet Black. Johnson freely admits that CB was a huge influence on the writing and direction of Brick, and it'd be at least 100 times better than whatever Keanu's people were planning.
I can see why you might think that... but no. Simply put, no. I don't think any live action Bebop would work and I don't want anyone to try and prove me wrong /fanboyrant_take2
posted by ewan at 9:21 AM on September 27, 2012
I can see why you might think that... but no. Simply put, no. I don't think any live action Bebop would work and I don't want anyone to try and prove me wrong /fanboyrant_take2
posted by ewan at 9:21 AM on September 27, 2012
Oh, this movie. My first thought, when coming across it on IMDB: "What, they send people into the past to be killed by a hitman there? Why not send the hitman into the past to kill them when they won't see it coming? Paradox? What?"
Anyway.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:29 AM on September 27, 2012
Anyway.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:29 AM on September 27, 2012
I assumed the sending people into the past was about avoiding leaving evidence in a world with unbeatable forensic analysis. Though that doesn't explain not shooting them and then sending them to the past...
posted by Karmakaze at 9:42 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Karmakaze at 9:42 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
JGL still looks 12.
posted by stormpooper at 9:53 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by stormpooper at 9:53 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
the fact that 12 Monkeys involves time travel is explicit from the word go.
Well, it involves someone who thinks he's a time traveler from the word go.
posted by straight at 10:36 AM on September 27, 2012
Well, it involves someone who thinks he's a time traveler from the word go.
posted by straight at 10:36 AM on September 27, 2012
It's like I've always said: when time machines are criminalized only criminals will have time machines!
These colors don't run!
posted by chaff at 1:08 PM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
These colors don't run!
posted by chaff at 1:08 PM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Only vaguely related: Every GIF Of Joseph Gordon Levitt Doing “Magic Mike” That You Could Ever Possibly Need
posted by kmz at 1:21 PM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by kmz at 1:21 PM on September 27, 2012 [3 favorites]
I thought that Looper did a great job of disposing of all the inevitable questions about time travel pretty quickly. Yeah, it's handwavium, but it worked in the context of the story and the characters.
posted by mediocre at 1:41 PM on September 27, 2012
posted by mediocre at 1:41 PM on September 27, 2012
FWIW and if you haven't seen it: Brick is streaming.
I really, really loved the "51" episode of Breaking Bad, which--along with Shane Carruth's incredibly-minor-possible-involvement--is pretty much fueling my interest in Looper.
posted by mwachs at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2012
I really, really loved the "51" episode of Breaking Bad, which--along with Shane Carruth's incredibly-minor-possible-involvement--is pretty much fueling my interest in Looper.
posted by mwachs at 2:22 PM on September 27, 2012
Penelope and Bloom yt
Warning: Buttocks.
Brothers Bloom is a fun film. I didn't realize Looper is directed by the same guy, now I'm more intrigued.
posted by homunculus at 6:54 PM on September 27, 2012
Warning: Buttocks.
Brothers Bloom is a fun film. I didn't realize Looper is directed by the same guy, now I'm more intrigued.
posted by homunculus at 6:54 PM on September 27, 2012
Brick was insufferable
I think in between all that looking up of rotten tomatoes scores, you got confused and what you actually meant to say is that Brick is the best.
posted by juv3nal at 8:05 PM on September 27, 2012
I think in between all that looking up of rotten tomatoes scores, you got confused and what you actually meant to say is that Brick is the best.
posted by juv3nal at 8:05 PM on September 27, 2012
Midnight arclight showing of Looper, and Rian Johnson finally gets to live the dream.
posted by zabuni at 11:07 AM on September 28, 2012
posted by zabuni at 11:07 AM on September 28, 2012
I liked Looper a great deal. I dunno if it is a spoiler to mention something that does not happen, but maybe I can steer others away from a blind alley that I spent half the movie trying to fit into the scheme of things. I thought it was a very subtle clue but it seems to have been a mere oversight.
There is some gunplay in this movie. Based on how various people shoot: Bruce Willis is left-handed. JGL is right-handed. Another crucial character in JGL's time frame is apparently also left-handed. Pay that no heed: he does not somehow grow old to be Bruce Willis.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:44 PM on September 28, 2012
There is some gunplay in this movie. Based on how various people shoot: Bruce Willis is left-handed. JGL is right-handed. Another crucial character in JGL's time frame is apparently also left-handed. Pay that no heed: he does not somehow grow old to be Bruce Willis.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:44 PM on September 28, 2012
I really want to talk about a specific choice that a specific character makes at the end of the film and whether or not it makes any sense for that character in terms of the information we've been given by way of that character's actions.
But I won't
posted by the theory of revolution at 11:15 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
But I won't
posted by the theory of revolution at 11:15 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
also here's a question - as I understand it we move freely through 3 spatial dimensions and on a linear path through a fourth, which is time. This is probably a naive interpretation of spacetime but it's all I have. The earth is rotating around the sun and the solar system is rotating around the galactic center, the total speed of which comes out to something on the order of 450,000 miles per hour. In that model, the earth is never in the same physical location ever - in fact, if you travel backwards in time you would die instantly in the darkness of deep space. But then again you wouldn't have fun movies like back to the future and bill and ted, so I guess I am willing to deal with it
posted by the theory of revolution at 11:48 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by the theory of revolution at 11:48 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
A time wizard did it.
posted by adamdschneider at 4:34 PM on September 29, 2012
posted by adamdschneider at 4:34 PM on September 29, 2012
heh, eponistarical. But they use the traveler to warp people to specific locations: Some people out to the sugar fields, some people to the empty lot, etc. I'd like to know why they don't just warp people into outer space - it seems like that would be much simpler.
Loved this movie, btw!
posted by rebent at 9:50 PM on September 29, 2012
Loved this movie, btw!
posted by rebent at 9:50 PM on September 29, 2012
Can anyone here who's seen it give a little bit of why this doesn't suck?Brick and Brothers Bloom are fantastic so I was excited to go see this.
I think Levitt is a first rate actor and he makes very smart choices for films. His performance in this film is once again great, but if you really need something of his to watch, then check out Hesher instead.
Willis is once again Willis and as long as he has some decent dialogue to chew on, he delivers. He comes through.
Now, I haven't really said why this movie sucks and that's because it doesn't. It's just, idk, underwhelming. Maybe I expected too much, but there are some things that could've been better.
As someone who doesn't care about Batman's voice, I will admit Levitt's prosthetic makeup is a bit annoying. I can see why it was done, but when it came time for it to really be useful it falls flat and pointless. It just looks like Levitt is constantly trying to do a really bad DeNiro impression.
The time travel stuff is pretty straightforward, especially since it's basically explained away as "possibilities".
Personally, I was let down because of plot structure and I think Johnson could've made some smarter choices. There is always going to be questionable character choices in time travel movies and so that really did not bother me as much as some of the missed opportunities in structure
There are quite a few references to Cowboy Bebop and I think is as close to the series as any film can hope to be
If you haven't seen 12 Monkeys, then you should and then go ahead and also watch La Jetée . Neither is like Looper and Pitt was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe. Plus it's Gilliam!
posted by P.o.B. at 12:53 PM on September 30, 2012
I think Levitt is a first rate actor and he makes very smart choices for films. His performance in this film is once again great, but if you really need something of his to watch, then check out Hesher instead.
Willis is once again Willis and as long as he has some decent dialogue to chew on, he delivers. He comes through.
Now, I haven't really said why this movie sucks and that's because it doesn't. It's just, idk, underwhelming. Maybe I expected too much, but there are some things that could've been better.
As someone who doesn't care about Batman's voice, I will admit Levitt's prosthetic makeup is a bit annoying. I can see why it was done, but when it came time for it to really be useful it falls flat and pointless. It just looks like Levitt is constantly trying to do a really bad DeNiro impression.
The time travel stuff is pretty straightforward, especially since it's basically explained away as "possibilities".
Personally, I was let down because of plot structure and I think Johnson could've made some smarter choices. There is always going to be questionable character choices in time travel movies and so that really did not bother me as much as some of the missed opportunities in structure
There are quite a few references to Cowboy Bebop and I think is as close to the series as any film can hope to be
If you haven't seen 12 Monkeys, then you should and then go ahead and also watch La Jetée . Neither is like Looper and Pitt was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe. Plus it's Gilliam!
posted by P.o.B. at 12:53 PM on September 30, 2012
Why I even try to make comments with a mobile device, I don't know. The first part of my comment should rea :
"Because it doesn't suck but save your money for the DVD rental or just catch a matinee. I say that as someone who thinks..."
posted by P.o.B. at 12:58 PM on September 30, 2012
"Because it doesn't suck but save your money for the DVD rental or just catch a matinee. I say that as someone who thinks..."
posted by P.o.B. at 12:58 PM on September 30, 2012
Just saw this, largely because of this MeFi thread and the trailer. Basically it's a pretty mediocre film all around. The movie is not really about what's in the trailer. I mean, it is about that, but it's got this whole other plot too which is pretty hackneyed. Also lots of characters and bits of stories not well explained, like the film was butchered to meet the running time.
posted by Nelson at 2:43 PM on October 3, 2012
posted by Nelson at 2:43 PM on October 3, 2012
...The filmmaker ran his time travel scenario by the guy who did PRIMER.
Hmmm. Hope it's more fathomable than Primer, as that was not a good date movie. (Though, as it turned out in my personal history of disastrous date movie selection, better than both Oldboy and Battle Royale)
posted by Wordshore at 3:03 PM on October 5, 2012
Hmmm. Hope it's more fathomable than Primer, as that was not a good date movie. (Though, as it turned out in my personal history of disastrous date movie selection, better than both Oldboy and Battle Royale)
posted by Wordshore at 3:03 PM on October 5, 2012
Can it be that I was just in the bathroom thinking about Oldboy, just to find someone has made a MeFi comment mentioning it?
Apparently, it can.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:14 PM on October 5, 2012
Apparently, it can.
posted by adamdschneider at 9:14 PM on October 5, 2012
You know, I was really behind the times and kept seeing references to Oldboy around here and then I finally watched it. It never really had the impact with me because when I got to the end I just thought "Oh, it's a remake of Angel Heart, but way more fun before the downer ending.
So, the thing is, all time travel movies are going to be problematic after the fact. Primer basically keeps you in the "future" and makes you a bit dizzy by the end. Timecrimes is really fun, but is really linear and so it's obviously predictable. Looper plays with possibilities and therefore falls in the category of "well, the character could've done THIS and everything woulda been cool". Really, you just gotta accept the movie as is and go from there "or else we'll be here all day playing with straws trying to figure this out".
posted by P.o.B. at 7:47 AM on October 6, 2012
So, the thing is, all time travel movies are going to be problematic after the fact. Primer basically keeps you in the "future" and makes you a bit dizzy by the end. Timecrimes is really fun, but is really linear and so it's obviously predictable. Looper plays with possibilities and therefore falls in the category of "well, the character could've done THIS and everything woulda been cool". Really, you just gotta accept the movie as is and go from there "or else we'll be here all day playing with straws trying to figure this out".
posted by P.o.B. at 7:47 AM on October 6, 2012
I don't have time to read 27000 words to try and figure out why Time Travel Controlled By Mob isn't insufferably dumb. Can anyone here who's seen it give a little bit of why this doesn't suck?
Because it's not about Time Travel Controlled by the Mob, it's about the choices one makes and how they shape you, whether one can every really change, does free will exist and to what extent and the importance of good parenting.
Looper, and the film Brave, did something very smart with their trailers. They give you a hint of a single story within the trailer, but the actual films have a much deeper story about human relationships.
For those who have seen the film, the director answers a few questions which shed light on some of the chronal dynamics.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:04 AM on October 7, 2012
Because it's not about Time Travel Controlled by the Mob, it's about the choices one makes and how they shape you, whether one can every really change, does free will exist and to what extent and the importance of good parenting.
Looper, and the film Brave, did something very smart with their trailers. They give you a hint of a single story within the trailer, but the actual films have a much deeper story about human relationships.
For those who have seen the film, the director answers a few questions which shed light on some of the chronal dynamics.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:04 AM on October 7, 2012
Looper: The Ending Explained
No, I haven't seen it yet, so I didn't read this.
Looper is not Inception, so Why Does The Trailer Make It Seem Like It Is?
Looper is kind of silly
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:36 AM on October 7, 2012
No, I haven't seen it yet, so I didn't read this.
Looper is not Inception, so Why Does The Trailer Make It Seem Like It Is?
When you look at a movie trailer or a political ad, you should see it as an attempt to mobilize the core audience. It isn’t convincing you you will like it; it is for you because they know you would already like it. Quoting Andrew Stanton, director of John Carter: “The truth is, [audiences] don’t know what they want; they only know what they last wanted.” Substitute “hate” for “want” and then the same is true for voters.People who consider themselves 'smart SF' moviegoers will already have heard of and want to see it, the trailer is to get 'action movie' people to show up.
Looper is kind of silly
This past week, the new science fiction action/thriller Looper opened in theaters to overwhelmingly positive reviews and solid box office numbers. I can see why: It’s a visually engaging movie with great performances from everyone involved, with good pacing and several gripping plot concepts driving it along. But, it’s also a muddled mess of a film that barely approaches being intelligent and instead relies on a lot of emotional clichés and overused tropes.mightygodking Single-sentence review of Looper
If anybody starts complaining to you that this movie is bad because of [insert complaint about movie's use of time travel here] it is your moral duty to punch them in their stupid face.The Feel-Good Movie Of The Summer: Disney's Looper
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:36 AM on October 7, 2012
I enjoyed it. Awesome world building, great characterizations, a lack of focus on the mechanics of time travel. Primer did this as well (the mechanics bit), and I think looper was well done in that regard.
HOWEVER. The underlying themes and message, I am not sure I can get behind. This io9 article covers one of the issues (spoilers for both looper and dr. who). The second issue is making a time travel movie about self sacrifice, and freewill / predetermination feels well trod. Primer managed to escape this I think.
Good god the world was amazing though. I loved the shitty ev panels on everything. The strange car makeup. The fact that it was both cyberpunk and dust bowl cowboy depression era was great. (emily blunt was this lady, right?). The TK stuff felt a bit anime standard, but fuck it, I can enjoy some fantasy in my scifi. I mean, this combo worked well in both cowboy bebop and Trigun. I like how cheap some of the effects were too, that night shot of the city matte painting was the polar opposite of the helicopter shot of gotham budget wise, but equally awesome.
TMOTAT: You missed this review, also from TOR, and the opposite of the first one.
posted by jonbro at 9:41 AM on October 7, 2012
HOWEVER. The underlying themes and message, I am not sure I can get behind. This io9 article covers one of the issues (spoilers for both looper and dr. who). The second issue is making a time travel movie about self sacrifice, and freewill / predetermination feels well trod. Primer managed to escape this I think.
Good god the world was amazing though. I loved the shitty ev panels on everything. The strange car makeup. The fact that it was both cyberpunk and dust bowl cowboy depression era was great. (emily blunt was this lady, right?). The TK stuff felt a bit anime standard, but fuck it, I can enjoy some fantasy in my scifi. I mean, this combo worked well in both cowboy bebop and Trigun. I like how cheap some of the effects were too, that night shot of the city matte painting was the polar opposite of the helicopter shot of gotham budget wise, but equally awesome.
TMOTAT: You missed this review, also from TOR, and the opposite of the first one.
posted by jonbro at 9:41 AM on October 7, 2012
Looper director releases downloadable theatrical commentary to be played in-theater.
Wow. That is some evil genius right there. I can't believe no one has thought to do this before, or some other incentive for getting people to back into the theater a 2nd or 3rd time.
posted by straight at 10:22 AM on October 10, 2012
Wow. That is some evil genius right there. I can't believe no one has thought to do this before, or some other incentive for getting people to back into the theater a 2nd or 3rd time.
posted by straight at 10:22 AM on October 10, 2012
Overthinking It: Taken 2, Looper, and the Cycle of Violence
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:45 PM on October 11, 2012
posted by the man of twists and turns at 12:45 PM on October 11, 2012
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This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Of course, Bruce Willis + time travel = inevitably comparing it to 12 Monkeys, and those are some big shoes to fill, but the trailer and early reviews are looking promising.
Never heard of Brothers Bloom, anyone seen it?
posted by mannequito at 11:59 PM on September 26, 2012 [1 favorite]