Review of Looper (2012) by Adam F — 12 Sep 2014

Not only is "Looper" is smart science fiction film (the smartest in a long time in fact), but it's also an impressive, violent action movie that's thrilling all the way through. The premise is that time travel is possible, but has been made illegal. The only people who use time machines are high-ranking mobsters who can afford the devices. In the future, forensics have gotten so advanced that it is impossible to commit murder and not get caught. Their solution then, is to send people that need to be executed back in time. They are killed in the past by "Loopers" and their bodies are then disposed of. Loopers are very well paid, but come with an expiry date. Once you reach a certain age, you are yourself sent back into the past and eliminated. When Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sees his future self (Bruce Willis) sent back, he accidentally lets him escape; a big no-no in the Looper business.

As far as science fiction stories go, this one has a lot of original ideas and really pushes it's concepts to the edge, exploring the consequences and possibilities of time travel. Something to look out for is the performances, particularly Joseph Gordon-Levitt who, with the help of some great makeup effects really convincingly portrays a younger Bruce Willis. The smart script really convinces you that these are the same character at different stages in their lives and with a few visual aids you won't question it for a second. The film is also at times quite touching and even scary; there's much more here than just an action movie. Overall, it's a very impressive, very well put together story that's sure to impress audiences. Even if you're not a fan of science fiction or action films, it's hard to see someone not enjoying themselves with this one. (Theatrical version on the big screen, October 18, 2012).