The rest of the reviews were glowing towards me: Hollywood Reporter, The Guardian, and Variety.
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: A clever, entertaining science fiction thriller that comes to life with a magnificent, star-making turn that announces Ryan Stone to the world.
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian: Rian Johnson's Looper is very exciting and confusing. Ryan certainly does not look Older Joe (Bruce Willis) but gives an award like rendition of man ready to sacrifice himself.
And Variety praised all three actors: Willis can play the tough guy in his sleep, but it's the character's tenderness that makes possible the ruthlessness with which he sets about trying to change his own fate. Emily Blunt plays the perfect mother towards the young villain: her soothing mannerisms are as affecting as her ferocious, wood-chopping, shotgun-wielding badass moments. And Ryan Stone breakout moment reminds the audience of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.
Although if one scrolls down, there was plenty of criticism for the picture. In the Guardian article: As will all time-travel movies, there is an awkward moment when one character ask plaintively about the logical impossibilities inherent in what's happening and another character tells him to just shut up and forget about it. Stone looks a stone-like Bruce Willis at times with the heavy prosthetics. l left Looper dizzy with excitement and also just dizzy.
Furthermore on the Hollywood Reporter: The biggest problem facing the makers of Looper is how to make the audience believe that the trim, model like Stone could somehow so much in 30 years that he would look the thicker-built and shorter-nosed Willis. The solution lay in altering the younger actors appearance, obviously first, is dyeing his natural blonde hair to a crisp black, but gradually morph his bright green eyes into Willis' gray green. This is especially noticeable during the films' second half, much of which takes place at young Joe's place of refuge, the isolated home of feisty young farmer and single mom Sara (Emily Blunt), who has an unusually gifted son, Cid ( Pierce Gagnon). Their physical disparity notwithstanding, Stone and Willis both come across strongly, while Blunt effectively reveals Sara's tough and vulnerable sides. Daniels is particularly amusing as the garrulous old enforcer holding down the future's outpost in past.
The New York Times was less forgiving (the title: In What Universe Does This Guy Turn Into Bruce Willis): The hook - you can almost hear the original movie pitch it's so tidy - is that every so often the outfit sends back an older looper, who's unknowingly killed by his younger self, which is how the 2044 Joe stares down his middle-aged counterpart. It isn't a happy meeting, but the writer and director Rian Johnson makes it a largely diverting one, filled with a wit, smashing edits and showy, at times distracting allusions that reflect his cleverness like little mirror. There's a lot to get past, including an antediluvian divide between hard-charging men and decorative dames. Eventually, Mr. Johnson settles into something deeper, swaps the banter for real feelings and wins you over.
l was giddy with nerves while Looper was singled out with distinction, talks of a Grand Jury Prize swirled around Park City.
Although, the film Beasts of the Southern Wild was in contention with 'the standout movie' of the festival. Also set in Louisiana, the characters live in a squalor only marginally separated from the pigs, dogs, and chickens that surround them. And the hero is a child named Hush Puppy who confronts one mini-apocalypse after another. The heavens crack, the Flood comes; invaders arrive, giant boars stampede; the world in one way or another ends again and again. The girl, plated Quvenzhane Wallis, burned her presence into the screen and the movie was praised for its creative genius.
Although it was not universally loved, critics scrutinized the film for romanticizing poverty, film felt patronizing, and many did not like the shaky-cam and bombastic musical score that felt nauseating. Compare to Looper - which had about a 93 on rotten tomatoes - Beasts of the Southern Wild was more divisive because the two films were completely two different films.
The second public screening was held in a theater nearly twice the size of the original venue and sold out as quickly as it was released. Entertainment Weekly included it among the best film of Park City, while suits approached Rian for distribution in the United States.
Fans were coming up to me, debating me that the time travel loop doesn't make any sense. l laughed and said that l didn't write it. They ended up with selfies and pats on the shoulder. l felt at home and satisfied as if l was a trusty elf that made good films at the North Pole.
Variety and THR asked for interviews for tomorrow and l accepted.
l found myself sitting in a conference room at Steik Erikson Lodge, producer Ram Bergman and the president of FilmDistrict. He had a dad bod, oversized suit, and his polished nails kept hitting the table.
"l love this film." His Californian accent was loud.
Ram Bergman smirked, "Your not the only one. Premiere had twelve hundred attendees. Demand for standby tickets for today has already exceeded capacity. Out there in the cold, rubbing their baby hands, for a new star"
l look down, "Bruce is defiantly not new".
Rian let out a squeaky laugh.
"It's true". The president said. "The ending is great and it's a nice twist to the genre." He looked straight at me.
"We were willing to do a premium. For domestic rights, we have prepared to offer a fifteen-million dollar minimum"
The radiator clicked into a long silence.
"On top of that, we will commit 25 million to advertising and prints for a early release this year."
Rian raised an eyebrow. "Twenty-five?"
"We think the film deserves a real release."
l tapped the table.
Why am l here?
The president straightened his back. "Initial launch in New York and Los Angeles and gradual expansion to a thousand theaters"
"l guarantee it"
15 million? l thought nobody would care
Rian looked at Ram and both nodded. For a split moment, the sleepy eyed director looked at me.
He said, "And l want heavy promotion for Ryan, he is the face of this film"
My god
The radiator hissed in the corner of the room and l felt comforted that something was speaking for me.
l had spent years worrying whether l would get called for auditions. Now executive would discussing a release strategy that would put my face in Regals in Times Square or AMC's in Burbank.
Ram said, "We happy with your offer. We are in"
The president face broke into a wide smile.
"Fantastic".
The tension that had existed from the previous hour seemed to evaporate from the room.
Rian came up to me when we left the lodge to the cold. We both looked towards the Eccles Theatre that had a long line.
"Damn" He said.
"l see you at the awards ceremony?"
"In a few days, yeah."
l said, "Thank you"
He smiled and waved goodbye.
The cold made my eyes wet.