687. Looper (2012)

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt

Director: Rian Johnson

Running Time: 119 mins

Looper is an American film about a dystopian future, set in 2044, where agents named ‘loopers’ are paid to execute future criminals sent back, however when one looper realises his older self has been sent from the future, he must choose in a dilemma with world-changing consequences.

Well, this is an impressively unique modern sci-fi film, with an absolutely engrossing story, complex and intriguing plot lines, and some stunning performances that really help to keep you engaged in this hugely exciting movie.

What I was most impressed by in this film was the story. Yes, you could say it’s at times a little predictable, but it seems to foreshadow its twists in such a way that it knows you know what’s coming up, in a similarly paradoxical nature to the story itself, but it’s quite an original concept that was hugely intriguing from start to finish, even though the plot does change tack halfway through.

But that didn’t bother me. The first stages of the film are just an interesting look at the future situation, and then when it all gets down to the story involving Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, it becomes a lot more focussed on smaller elements, however it links them well with the overall context to make it a very fluid change in the middle of the film.

Meanwhile, the incredibly complicated and consistently paradoxical atmosphere of this film gives off is massively intriguing. To be honest, it feels a lot like a more action-packed version of Inception, as its plot, while confusing you so much on a constant basis, is unbelievably fascinating to follow along right up to the last vital moment.

The performances in this film are also stunning. Bruce Willis does a great job of maintaining his action persona while becoming a much more ruthless and negative character, while Joseph Gordon-Levitt, being Bruce Willis, is a great protagonist contrasted by his more evil future self, which makes him a particularly interesting one to watch throughout.

Emily Blunt does very well in the supporting role, making a character that largely seems not so important feel completely vital, while the young boy, Pierce Gagnon, playing the disturbed child, is amazing. He’s not only a convincing ‘creepy kid’, but genuinely terrifying, which I was really impressed to see.

Overall, then, this gets an 8.3, due to its fantastically unique and intriguing story, strong performances and consistently engrossing feel.