Loopy

Rating: 7/10 (26 April 2013)

Looper is set in a mob controlled society in the not too distant future. The mob use 'loopers' to carry out death sentences by transporting the victims back in time to a pre-arranged time and place. When their usefulness is over, loopers themselves are transported back in time to be terminated by their younger selves (closing the loop). If a looper fails to complete the termination, the looper then becomes a target. A new mob leader takes over all 5 mob syndicates and orders all loopers to be terminated. This leads to an attempt by one looper to use time travel to prevent the mob leader taking over.
Overall the movie is good. There is action, suspense and good acting.
The time travel used in the movie leaves a few people scratching their heads. When a looper fails to close the loop, they change their own history. If they kill their older selves, they get paid out and retire, whereas if they fail, they are tracked down and killed. The movie is confusing in the way it shows both possibilities taking place at the same time. Also, no one knows if the paradox of changing your own history (grandfather paradox) is even allowed in our universe. This includes meeting yourself (to close the loop).
Another issue is Joseph Gordon-Levitt is supposed to be a young Bruce Willis. Everyone knows what Bruce Willis looked like 30 years ago from Die Hard (well 25 years ago). Gordon-Levitt looks nothing like him - this failed for me.
And what is it with Bruce Willis and aspirin.
Some of the story elements are far fetched. The time transportation devices used in the film can transport in space and time. It would be easier to transport someone a few kilometres underground than elaborately transporting them back in time to be killed.
So what score to give it? Has a few deficiencies but Bruce Willis is in it - 7/10.