Bruce Willis has five movies due in theaters between now and the end of the year. The parade of films starts with Wes Anderson’s ‘Moonrise Kingdom’ and ends with ‘Looper,’ Rian Johnson’s time-traveling thriller. In between, he’ll co-star in a few massive summer blockbusters and continue filming a fifth ‘Die Hard’ movie. But he has little interest in talking about those efforts in this fascinating new interview, though he does reveal which of his films is his favorite. (You won’t be able to guess which one it is.)

The candid conversation is with Esquire magazine, who spends five hours with an introspective Willis covering his career and current status in life. They discuss his personal and professional lives – at least, as much as the protective Willis is willing to reveal – and only circle around to Willis’ high-profile features when the cagey actor allows it.

Of 'The Expendables 2’ sequel, Willis admits, “This kind of thing is inordinately difficult, fun in an inexplicable way." He calls ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’ a “mixture of genres,” but pretty much stops there.

But this quote caught our eye. When asked about another of his upcoming movies - 'Looper' - Willis couldn't stop singing its praises. Of the experience, Willis claims:

It's better than anything I've ever done. … [director] Rian [Johnson] did an amazing thing. He conceived an original story. He wrote it, sold it, stuck with it, directed it, and finished it. That's just tough to do in this town. Someone always weasels into the process. That didn't happen here. And if he never did anything else except that Herculean effort, he'd have made it in the business. Amazing...

It's more than an original story. It's a story people are going to talk about, and see twice. And argue about. I was arguing with myself about the story when I read it the first time. That's all Rian Johnson, beginning to end. Great, great director.

From Willis – who gives up very little – that is high, high praise.

Oh, and when asked which of his past movies ranks as his favorite. Willis doesn’t defer to ‘Die Hard,’ ‘Pulp Fiction’ or ’Nobody’s Fool’ with the great Paul Newman. He points to ‘Mortal Thoughts,’ a crime thriller he made in 1991 with director Alan Rudolph that made headlines because it paired him with then-wife Demi Moore.

"The part was hardly written, but I learned a lot making it," Willis admits. "No one remembers it."

We do. And it's not good. But the interview is revealing, particularly for the way Willis avoids revealing much. He’s a tough interview, but a fascinating movie star. And this could be a productive stretch for him, capping with 'A Good Day to Die Hard' in February. Give the article a read. And if it helps you figure Willis out, let us know.

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