Looper Throws Audience for a Loop

 Joseph Gordon Levitt (JGL) is everywhere you look in movies. In 2012 alone, he starred in Dark Knight Rises, Looper, Premium Rush and the just released Lincoln. He is a talented actor that showcases many different personas and characters. So when Looper came to TIFF, I really wanted to see it. Even though the director is relatively new, I trusted JGL. He is one of the few actors I trust to pick interesting scripts.  

Bruce Willis (BW) is also an actor who on occasion picks interesting scripts. Willis is known for his action but he also is very talented at showing love and vulnerability. His character can be seen as the villain yet he cannot be hated. Willis is genius in his portrayal. The audience is forced to empathize with his pain yet are torn about how they feel about his actions. 

 I was fascinated by duality of the character. Joe is both protagonist and antagonist, hero and villain. The movie showed how choices can define a person. One scene in particular stands out in mind - at the diner where both Joes converse. JGL Joe could not recognize BW Joe. He didn't seem to understand how he became the man in front of him and he doesn't want that future. It's an important scene that gives much insight to both versions of Joe. 

That scene also seems to show the infamous struggle between fate and free will. While the choices are shown to clearly define the character, when looking at the larger picture, there is a sense that there was someone behind the scenes pulling the strings. The fact that JGL Joe manages to gain the part of the map which contains the true rainmaker is more then just luck as his existence in the kid's life so early defines the boy for either evil (as BW Joe will believe) or good (as his mom believes). He is a pivotal existence for the boy in more ways then he can imagine. 

Despite the fact that there is time-travel, the movie's focus is not on the sci-fi portion. Instead, the director chooses to focus on the characters, which is why the actors' portrayals were so important. It can make or break the film. Luckily, the actors rise to the occasion. Looper is a brilliant hybrid of action and adventure, science fiction,romance and brilliant story overall. It appeals to the heart while it gets adrenaline pumping. There's also a moral hidden within the film that you just have to look for. Either way, it is a good movie to enjoy. 

Rating: 4/5

Terra Nova's Redeeming Villain

 Like most, I was intrigued by Terra Nova. The concept was interesting and it had Steven Spielberg's name attached to it. Plus, who didn't love Jurassic Park? When crime shows and sitcoms rule the television screen, sci-fi shows are a rare few. Off the top of my head, the few shows that come to mind is Doctor Who and Fringe. Terra Nova had potential pouring from its fingertips.

But the first episode left me lacking. The characters that were introduced were very one-dimensional and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't connect with them. So I didn't watch the show consistently. Instead, I'd watch it whenever I had time, because let's face it - there are so many amazing shows on currently. I thought the show would be cancelled like Firefly. But then I saw him.

Lucas Taylor. I fell in love with his character.

I read this article (click me!) and agreed with it completely.

Ashley Zukerman plays Lucas perfectly because he could have come off as a very fake, cartoonish character/villain. Instead Lucas comes off as a brilliant genius struggling with his demons. He feels real because some of the viewers can relate to his problems. Every child has had some sort of unresolved issue with their parents. Granted, most children don't want to kill them regardless of what Freud may think. But even then, it seems that a part of Lucas just wants to be accepted by his father. This complexity is believable in part due to Zukerman and in part due to his character's profile ("There is no great genius without a mixture of madness" - Aristotle).

Almost every other character in Terra Nova could be easily replaced by another actor because their characters are that boring. Somewhere along the line, somebody dropped the ball. Either way, Lucas comes off as the most interesting and resonating character in the series.

Frankly, even as creepy as it is, I really enjoy Lucas and Skye together, more then Josh and Skye. Josh and Skye, despite being the obvious cannon pairing, are BORING together. THEY feel more like brother and sister to me personally unlike (ironically) Lucas and Skye. Besides the major UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension) there, Lucas and Skye challenge each other. He threatens her and her loved ones, she lies and shoots him. Their interactions are complex and much more interesting then the adorably sweet but one dimensional couple of Maddy and Mark.

Skye is another good character (though Lucas still tops them all) because of the conflicts she had to face like betraying Terra Nova for her mother. Her character grew better as the episodes came because I remember in the first episode, I was not impressed. In the first episode, her character was very cliche.

If this show gets renewed for a second season, I hope they make their characters and conflicts more interesting and make Ashley Zukerman main cast instead of a recurring characters because I know he's one of the biggest reasons my friends and I watch Terra Nova.

Make Time for "In Time"

Time is money. Money is power. Thus, time is money.

It is such a simple concept yet it is a powerful one. The idea of using time, whether it is minutes or centuries, as a currency is amazing. I cannot imagine living a life like that where I am losing five minutes of my life just to buy a cup of coffee.

This concept also allows for a very young and good looking cast. Justin Timberlake, Amanada Seyfield, Olivia Wilde and Alex Pettyfer to name a few.

The storyline greatly reminds me of Robin Hood. Both Will Salas and Robin stole from the rich to give to the poor and thus were wanted by the authorities. Both of their fathers were murdered for their beliefs. Though, Robin Hood had his band of merry men to back him up while Will had Sylvia Weis to help him. Personally, I think Will got the better deal out of it. Not only does Sylvia have personal knowledge about the banks but she is very hot.

The storyline itself is nothing super original but the idea behind it is interesting enough. Like some of the great heroes, Will's turning point comes when his mother (played by the beautiful Olivia Wilde) died, flying into his arms. He chooses to fight the system that denied him his mother and along the way, finds and convinces the girl to abandon her world for him. Together those two change the world for all others. Quite cliche but well executed nonetheless.

This movie is honestly a breathe of fresh air compared to the movies that are coming through the cinema. It is (as far as I am aware) not based from a novel nor is it based off of a game or comic. It's an original concept.

This is a good movie to see, especially if on a date. There is romance that she will appreciate and action that he will enjoy.

Rating: 3.5/5