Joseph Gordon-Levitt Conquers Summer: Premium Rush Maintains Actors' Momentum

On the wake of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's recent role in The Dark Knight Rises, this weekend hosts the release of the actor's latest film, Premium Rush.

Levitt, who got his start on CBS's TV series 3^rd Rock from the Sun, has built an impressive resume over the past several years. With roles in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi epic Inception, the understated drama 50-50, and the cult-classic 500 Days of Summer, the actor has established a respectable reputation among his audience. Premium Rush has garnered a largely positive reception, receiving an average of 6.5/10 from critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Moving forward, Levitt fans can expect to see the actor in the sci-fi film Looper and in Spielberg's anticipated Lincoln.

Reviews

The consensus on Premium Rush seems to be that the film is an enjoyable thriller if you choose not to question the logic that drives it.  

The Wrap writes, "It's a good thing that adrenaline tends to short-circuit logical thinking; the plot is mostly nonsensical, but you'll be too thrilled by the literal twists and turns to care much."

"Throwing 'premium' into the title may be overselling such a trifling entertainment. But for the cinematically discounted days of late summer, it's a perfectly diverting little ride," says The Atlantic

Not all the reviews are so kind, however. Cinemalogue writes, "As a tribute to an unheralded profession, the movie has some potential. As a thriller, it hits the skids pretty quickly.

The New York Post agrees, stating that "This is supposed to be a life-and-death chase movie, not two friends messing around."

Looper

On the Horizon, Director Rian Johnson's Looper looks to shake up the sci-fi genre with a truly intriguing premise. In 2072, mob hit man Joe (Levitt) kills targets that are sent 30 years into the past. When you found out that his next target turns out to be his future self, you're left with a reason to eagerly anticipate the film's September 28^th release date.

In order to add authenticity to the concept, make-up designer Kazuhiro Tsuji spent three hours every day changing the actor's face to more closely match that of Bruce Willis.

In an interview with About.com, Levitt expressed how much of a "trip" it was to not see his own face in the mirror after the work was done.

A word of warning: If you have a phobia of spoilers, don't watch the trailers. Writer and Director Rian Johnson wrote in a tweet, "If you're already set on seeing Looper, I'd avoid any trailers from here on out. They don't ruin the movie, but they tip a few little things that are fun to discover in the context of the movie."