We will go loopy (no time travel needed)

In the not too distant future, things haven’t changed much. People wear ties. Certain sections of society have developed largely useless telekinetic skills.

Some ride around on hover-cycles − provided they can get them started. Many are addicted to a drug that you put in your eyes. And time travel exists − but only certain criminal syndicates have access to it. One of the highest paid occupations you can have is called ‘Looping’: mob men, from 30 years further in the future, send their hits, bound and gagged, back through time to a designated spot where the ‘Looper’ is waiting. The Looper executes the hit and incinerates the body. Clean. No trace. For his trouble, the Looper lives like a king. That is, until one day the hit they’re facing is … their future self.

Time travel can be a tricky business, but most of the semantics are deftly addressed in voiceover during the opening minutes. Keep your ears open and strap yourself in because the film barely slows for the following hour. When it does change pace, you’ll be treated to some of the most confident, well thought-out drama this side of an Oscar. If there’s a film to finally propel sci-fi into industry respectability it should be this one. Of course statuettes are unlikely, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Emily Blunt deserve recognition for truly luminous performances. Gordon-Levitt plays our lead, a Looper named Joe whose future self (Willis) escapes execution. Even before his future self shows up, it’s possible to recognise Levitt channelling Willis with such subtlety and precision as to be almost chilling.

Willis’ presence serves to highlight the film’s undeniable resemblance to Twelve Monkeys, while the legendary anime Akira is also brought to mind. In his minimalist approach to crafting a recogni0sable future, writer/director Rian Johnson also recalls the likes of Andrew Nichols’ directorial debut Gattaca.

Ultimately, Looper belongs to that cerebral sub-genre of sci-fi that remembers to give equal consideration to both the quiet reflections and the whizz-bang thrills. It’s refreshing to see something this good not adapted from a bestseller, but rather forged from a singular vision. A classic is born.

Looper (15)

 

Dir: Rian Johnson; US action/drama, 2012, 118 mins; Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Piper Perabo, Jeff Daniels
Premieres October 4
Playing nationwid

 

TOP STORIES

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

  • Jacob Mark had it all coming in rising SF party – now he quits

    Jacob Mark had it all coming in rising SF party – now he quits

    SF became Denmark’s largest party in the EP elections in June. In polls, the left-wing party is breathing down Socialdemokratiet’s neck. It is a tremendous place to be next in line in Danish politics. But today, 33-year-old Jacob Mark announced he is quitting politics at the threshold of the door of power.

  • EU leaders toughen stance on return of irregular migrants

    EU leaders toughen stance on return of irregular migrants

    EU leaders agreed last week to speed up returns of migrants irregularly entering the bloc. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is pleased, describing Denmark’s previous attempts to pitch a stricter asylum and migration policy to the EU as “like shouting into an empty handball hall in Jutland”. But not all leaders are enthusiastic.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs