Director Rian Johnson is exactly what movies need. Perhaps the best way to break Hollywood out of cliche land is to play into the most typical of genre conventions and then turn them completely on their heads.
"Looper" must be the work of someone who doesn't finish until every little detail is drawn out, and every possible subplot comes full circle. There's a lot to get through and a lot to sort out, but the fact that the ending pulls it off in an unpredictable way makes it work all the better.
No, I have not seen "The West Wing" yet. I also have not seen "Sports Night" or "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." The first two are on my to-watch list. However, I have seen "The Social Network," and I still tune in to it every time it is on TV, and I know that Aaron Sorkin is a writer like no other. Sorkin is back, with an upcoming drama for HBO called "The Newsroom." It looks like a Sorkin drama in every way, crackling with fast, whip-smart dialogue. And maybe it will bring HBO, the original purveyor of quality drama on cable, the new hit show that they have not had in years. The premiere is on June 24 and you can watch the trailer below. Let's see how many episodes it takes for Jeff Daniels to scream, "I am mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!":
