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2017 marked a significant milestone in pop culture when Rian Johnson assumed the directorial role for the eighth “Star Wars” movie. The buzz surrounding this decision stemmed primarily from the anticipation about the film itself. Titled “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi,” it’s likely to be remembered as one of the most contentious and polarizing films in the franchise’s history. Yet, Disney and Lucasfilm had ample reasons for their confidence in Johnson’s abilities to handle such a challenging project. From the outset of his career, Johnson has consistently demonstrated ambition through his filmmaking, be it his deep understanding of genre, his meticulous approach to storytelling, or his unique cinematic style. Consequently, he stands as one of the top filmmakers of the 21st century.

Before taking on the job, many fans might want to familiarize themselves with Rian Johnson’s work in the science fiction genre, given his past projects. However, these days, Johnson is primarily recognized for his mystery-themed films like the Knives Out series and Poker Face TV show. It appears that mystery thrillers are Johnson’s preferred genre, but he has ventured into other types of thrillers in the past, such as noir and even science fiction thrillers. One of his most notable works is a film set against a unique and grim backdrop; it was released more than a decade ago, yet Looper remains a standout piece.

Looper Remains a Classic Sci-Fi Epic With Gangster Movie Undertones

The effectiveness of a movie like Looper lies not only in its ability to captivate an audience through intriguing questions and compelling characters, but also in its timeless relevance as a sci-fi thriller. Despite being thirteen years old, it continues to resonate with new and repeat viewers due to its exploration of central themes related to humanity and personal evolution, regardless of the duration of time experienced by the characters or viewers.

The primary lens through which audiences delve into these themes is the character of Joe, specifically a future version of him, namely Joe from 2074. Although they may be the same individual, their life experiences and decisions create distinct variations of each other. A pivotal event in the film, “Old Joe” altering history, significantly influences “Young Joe.” As a result, “Young Joe” matures rapidly over just a few days, contrasting with “Old Joe’s” development spanning twenty to thirty years. This idea permeates the narrative across various characters.

Notable Rian Johnson ProjectsRelease Year
Brick2005
Looper2012
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi2017
Knives Out2019
Glass Onion2022
Poker Face2023

The movie “Looper” skillfully combines elements of science fiction with a gangster-thriller plot centered around a hired gun for the mob. It delves deep into the story of a hitman who must transform from his selfish self to grow beyond his past. Many criminal mindsets can be traced back to this theme of personal growth, which is often lacking among criminals. Criminality is often seen as a deeply ingrained trait in humans, stemming from adverse circumstances that lead to poor choices with ever-worsening outcomes. The audience will appreciate these themes, particularly when the fate and future of a young boy become paramount, and the nature vs nurture debate comes to the forefront as well.

In essence, every aspect of the movie resonates profoundly with viewers through impactful scenes, sequences, and character moments. Joe’s choice stands out as one of the most significant decisions made by a protagonist in recent cinema history. To top it all off, Looper is an edge-of-your-seat thriller from beginning to end, boasting gripping performances, unforeseen twists, and action sequences that are both epic and well-timed. The gangster themes are fresh, while the Western elements are also captivating, not going unappreciated by ardent followers of genre cinema. At its heart, Looper encourages thoughtful consideration, ensuring that even after multiple viewings, there’s always something new and thought-provoking to ponder upon.

Two Characters in Looper Might Be More Connected Than Fans Realized

Even in the movie, the intricate plotline not only provides thrilling surprises but also adds an element of uncertainty to each character’s arc. The film’s strength often lies in the skillfully assembled cast that Johnson has brought together on-screen, a trait that has been consistent throughout his films, as evidenced by the star-studded ensembles in his recent projects. Interestingly, this wasn’t a new approach for Johnson, as his 2012 blockbuster boasted a talented cast including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt, Paul Dano, and Jeff Daniels. None of these characters played by these famous actors were mere fillers in Looper, and some even had a significant impact on the storyline that might have gone unnoticed by fans.

In the movie, we encounter two main adversaries: Abe, portrayed by Jeff Daniels, who oversees Joe’s organization in 2044 and was sent from the future to manage the loopers. On the other hand, Kid Blue, played by Noah Segan, is one of Abe’s subordinates responsible for eliminating enemies, escaping loopers, and runaways. His character reflects an Old West gunfighter persona due to his demeanor, appearance, and aura, even though he struggles with his job’s demands.

The film presents two significant antagonists: Abe (played by Jeff Daniels) is the leader of Joe’s 2044 team who was sent back from 2074 to control the loopers. Meanwhile, Kid Blue (portrayed by Noah Segan) is one of Abe’s troops, typically assigned to eliminate enemies and runaway loopers. His character embodies a classic Old West gunfighter persona, despite his inefficiency on the job.

Both versions aim to convey the same information but with different word choices and sentence structures for variety and readability.

Looper CastCharacter
Joseph Gordon-LevittYoung Joe
Bruce WillisOld Joe
Emily BluntSara
Paul DanoSeth
Jeff DanielsAbe
Noah SeganKid Blue

In the movie Looper, the character Kid Blue is often depicted as a struggling individual with much to prove, who frequently grapples with his insecurities. Throughout the film, he seeks validation from Abe on various occasions, despite Abe’s superior attitude towards him. Interestingly, Abe serves as both a critic and a mentor for Kid Blue, providing guidance, discipline, and chances for redemption. However, one of Looper’s most intriguing plot twists could be that Abe and Kid Blue might actually be the same character in disguise.

In the story, it’s evident that Abe hails from a future era. Whether or not Abe had ties with the same organization during his youth remains unclear. Given the recurring motif of characters choosing wrongfully and being ensnared in a repeated pattern, it’s plausible to infer that Abe has always been associated with criminal activities. This would mean that Abe was a juvenile delinquent in 2044, given his old age in the year 2074, when he serves as a looper.

It’s possible that Abe, who established his own team and aimed to control the city in 2044, might have also enlisted a younger version of himself during this process. The character known as Kid Blue, who relentlessly pursues Joe throughout the film, seems to be an ambitious soldier with ambitions similar to Joe’s. It could be that Kid Blue represents a young Abe being prepared by his older self to eventually rise above Abe’s current position and become a merciless leader.

There’s a Lot of Evidence That Kid Blue and Abe Are the Same Person

In my viewpoint, when Abe took on Kid Blue as an ally, he might have shared all his plans with him right off the bat, and perhaps even imposed a considerable weight of expectation for these ambitious objectives he envisioned. The viewers don’t get a clear picture of what life is like in 2074, but it appears far from blissful, which is quite telling considering that 2044 doesn’t seem overly joyous either. Yet, there’s a chance Abe may have drawn the raw end of the deal when he was assigned to time-travel and manage the loopers’ operations.

It’s possible that among all the future bosses, Abe might be the one who is least respected, as evidenced by Joe’s comment, “Even with him running the entire city, that would still be an achievement in any other city.” It seems that Abe could be secretly plotting his rise to power, grooming his younger self for greater accomplishments, and aiming for a grand takeover in 2074.

The significance of this entire theory is underpinned by a pivotal scene between Abe and Kid Blue, where Abe disciplines Kid Blue harshly by hammering his hand. In this scene, Kid Blue apologizes for not meeting Abe’s expectations after failing to capture Joe. He expresses his determination to try again and succeed, but Abe refutes this, stating “I’m sorry, kid, but I’ve invested too much in you.” This suggests that Kid Blue plays a crucial role in Abe’s covert operations within the film. The theory gains credibility primarily from the order of their deaths in the movie.

In essence, whatever additional ideas Abe may have harbored were destroyed by Joe and his schemes. Yet, due to Abe’s demise before Kid Blue, those plans stayed intact. This is supported by Joe taking his own life at the film’s end, implying that his older self never would have materialized and consequently ceased to exist. If Kid Blue had died prior to Abe, the puzzle of the twist might still be unresolved, but since Abe perished first, the enigma lingers. The intriguing plot twist in Looper, a blend of science fiction and gangster elements, continues to captivate audiences thirteen years after its release, leaving much room for debate as to its authenticity.

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2025-05-30 01:26