Friday, September 28, 2012
Film Turning back time: Looper and the best time travel films
Posted by Gabe Wardell on Fri, Sep 28, 2012 at 11:03 AM
Rian Johson's Looper is one of the most intriguing time travel films in recent memory. Rather than rely on timeworn clichés the film mashes-up a number of movie, television and pop-culture influences and delivers a satisfying experience that—despite opening one-too-many worm-filled plot holes—remains full of surprises, and brims with emotional truth.
With the film opening today, let's first take a look at the best time travel films of all time, then tip our hats to some of Looper's unlikely influences.
The best:
...and the Hollywood remake (also featuring Bruce Willis)
Few films come close to this in popularity, entertainment value and popular impact:
The funniest time travel film:
The most complex and scientifically perfect time travel film, you really need to see this one two or three times to catch all the subtlety:
SPOILER ALERTS BELOW:
Now the films that most influenced Looper, including one of the most perfect time travel films, whose symmetry was ruined by big budget sequels:
There's a recurring image of cream swirling in coffee, reminiscent of Godard, but director Rian Johnson tells me he'd not seen the film before shooing Looper:
2 or 3 Things I Know About Her - Coffee Scene from j-l-g on Vimeo.
The third act shifts from urban to pastoral, and themes from following feature prominently:
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