If you've been to a multiplex this year, chances are, you probably saw a Joseph Gorden-Levitt film. That's what the MVP is all about, someone who has made a huge contribution to the year in film. I couldn't think of anyone other than Gorden-Levitt who showed up in starring vehicles for himself, as well as supporting roles in a couple of substantial roles. But what's he's shown, and what I like about seeing actors such as him, is his very solid good work. Joseph Gorden-Levitt has been on the radar for a number of years, growing up on television with "3rd Rock from the Sun", then making a name for himself in indies such as "Brick" and "The Lookout", it was only a matter of time before this guy was going to be star.
His name grew more substantially as the films he was in became more high profile such as the anti-romantic comedy "500 (Days) of Summer", and the dramedy "50/50" where he played a young man diagnosed with cancer. He was also in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster "Inception", and by that time, he was difficult to ignore.
This year I'd like to think of this as Joseph Gorden-Levitt's coming out party, this is where he has finally been accepted as not just a rising star, but a full fledged one. His first appearance this year came with one of the biggest blockbusters of the year in Christophe Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises", playing a rookie cop in Gotham City under siege. The film proved to be a worthy finale to the Batman trilogy, and Gorden-Levitt's character became pivotal in the arc of Bruce Wayne.
His next film the same summer was a starring vehicle but was probably his least publicized. "Premium Rush", the story about a bicycle delivery boy who must deliver a package to its destination all the while evading a crooked cop (Michael Shannon), was a pure chase movie. It ran just a little over a lean ninety minutes, with hardly any computer generated special effects, and real intense stunt work throughout, yet it passed a lot of people by. What they missed was a completely charismatic performance by Gorden-Levitt who shows off his charm, and sense of humour which is very often hidden in his character work. This to me was his most relaxed performance of the year, and perhaps his best.
But he wasn't done yet, next he teamed up with his "Brick" director Rian Johnson and came out with one of the most inventive science fiction film in years. In Looper, he plays a hitman who kills people for the mob, when they send people from the future back to his time. Things get complicated when his future self (Bruce Willis) is sent back but escapes being assassinated.
Time travel can often get muddled up, but in "Looper", it's handled the right way. It's a dark noirish tale with a theme about breaking the cycle of evil. Again Gorden-Levitt is the star and he shows that he's able to carry such an inventive film, add to that "Preminum Rush", and you got two very clever and unique starring vehicles.
But that wasn't enough, he was finally seen playing Daniel Day Lewis' son in "Lincoln", where he was part of a huge ensemble. He seems perfectly satisfied just to be part of the large cast in a role which truthfully could've been given to a no name. Usually when an actor or star is seen this many times in one year, they may be in danger of over exposure, but with Joseph Gorden-Levitt, you just can't wait to see what he has in store next.
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