Movie Podcast Weekly Ep. 001: Looper (2012)

Welcome to Episode 001 of Movie Podcast Weekly, a new show where we review a brand new film that was just barely released in theaters. For this first episode, we review Rian Johnson’s “Looper,” which was just released this past Friday on September 28.

SHOW NOTES:
I. Intro
II. Mini Reviews
Steve: Star Trek: Enterprise (TV series 2001-2005)
Karl: Trouble With the Curve (2012), The Master (2012)
Jason: Bullhead (2011)
Andy: Breaking Bad, Season 4 (TV series), Shadowboxer (2005)
Guilty Pleasure Recommendations (by Karl): The Expendables 2 (2012), Dark Shadows (2012) Continue reading

Written Review: Looper (2012)

by Jason Pyles
Movie Podcast Weekly.com

Premise: In the year 2044, hitmen called “loopers” are hired to execute any unwanted individuals who cross the criminal organizations of 30 years into the future. Time travel exists circa 2074, so victims are sent back in time to present-day 2044, to be disposed of by loopers.

Review: I have known about (and have been mildly anticipating) “Looper” since writer-director Rian Johnson described it during a guest appearance on The /Filmcast a couple of years ago. “Looper” is Johnson’s third feature film — and though I’m in the minority of people who didn’t love “Brick” (2005) or “The Brothers Bloom” (2008), I appreciated the craft evident in those movies. I suspected this talented filmmaker would one day make a film that dazzled me, and I’m happy to report that the day has come. Continue reading

Written Review: End of Watch (2012)

by Jason Pyles
Movie Podcast Weekly.com

Premise: While going about their daily duties, two LAPD officers keep stumbling onto a ferocious drug cartel with zero tolerance for ambitious cops.

Review: “End of Watch” may be the first found footage, shaky-cam, docu-drama, pseudo-documentary cop movie that also doubles as a feature-length PR commercial for the Los Angeles Police Department. (Seriously, this whole movie could be an advertisement for the LAPD. Perhaps it is.)

Actually, “End of Watch” is quite a number of things: It’s also a love story between two men played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña, not too far off from Gyllenhaal’s most famous role in “Brokeback Mountain” (2005). Continue reading