Looper - Review

It's not often a time travel movie comes along, that is not really about time travel. Looper is such a movie. From the mind of Rian Johnson, Looper is a story about characters and how love can control people. While the premise will invite science fiction buffs, the story will keep the rest. Looper is an intriguing mix of drama and science, it stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Joe and Bruce Willis, as Joe. Just older.

Set in 2044, Looper introduces Joe (Gordon-Levitt) as a 'looper', an assassin who kills enemies sent back in time by mob bosses 30 years in the future. Now if you are still interested, Joe lives a wild life, a drug addict by night and assissin by day. Until he is told by his friend and fellow looper Seth (Paul Dano) that a mysterious 'holy terror' has taken over the future and is sending the future versions of loopers back in time, so they are killed by themselves. Joe encounters his Old Self (Willis) and faces a dilemma of whether to break the cardinal rule in looping: don't let your enemy escape.

Looper takes you through many twists and turns through it's two hours, including the introduction of Emily Blunt in a major role, but I don't want to spoil the plot too much. If you can wrap your head around the terms and customs of 2044, and what the plot all means enough to catch up on the real action it will be an enjoyable experience. Some will scoff at the plot and the futuristic nature of Looper, but overall if it is stuck with and trusted it reveals an interesting love story. If you are to see one science fiction movie, or one heart felt drama, or one action movie in the latter part of 2012, make it Looper. It is a winner on all levels.

Four and a half out of Five.