Looper is very intelligent, superbly original, and boasts a thoughtful portrayal on time travel

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2016)

Over the past several decades, time travel has proved to be a tough subgenre to tackle to the science-fiction realm. When putting elements of time travel into the mix, some directors to this day struggle to effectively formulate a a compelling narrative heft without turning their plots into unnecessarily convoluted messes through the use of time travel as a backdrop. That is certainly not to say there are some films that achieved this feat in the past like 'Terminator' for example. Rian Johnson on the other hand, offer a smart, thoughtful, and arguably one of the most original portrayals of time travel ever put to the screen; and it all comes together in a shiny execution in this neo-noir sci-fi thriller. The film is set in the distant future of 2044 when time travel has finally been manufactured, but also made illegal to where it can only be performed secretively. Joseph-Gordon Levitt plays Joe, an expert contract killer what people refer to as a "Looper" who spends his days executing criminals as they appear face-concealed in a field through the use of time travel by crime syndicates, and disposes of their bodies. Somewhere along the way, Joe comes face-to-face with an old man (played by Bruce Willis) from the future who happens to be an older version of him, and his on his way to pursue a mysterious figure known as the "Rainmaker" responsible for the death of his wife in the future. Hiding out an old farmhouse owned by a young woman named Sara (played by Emily Blunt), Joe must protect her telekinetic 5-year old Cid (played by Pierce Gagnon) from being killed by the older Joe who believes he is the future Rainmaker.
This neo-noir science-fiction piece could have easily another one of your average action-packed shoot-em-up a wide plethora of car chases and explosions (which could work if done with plenty of substance), but director Rian Johnson has something more captivating in mind and it all results in a highly indigenous execution of plot following a man vs. man conflict. Time travel plays a central role in the plot as it sprawls on the lead character's journey to confront an elderly version of himself who places him on a blood-stained timeline, and the plot unfolds in a complex and thoroughly unpredictable series of twists and turns as Joseph-Gordon Levitt's Joe fights for answers behind his older self's sinister motives including the explanation behind the telekinetic powers acquired by Emily Blunt's young son which never the plot never quite dives into firmly. But thankfully, the plot offers plenty of tension from the two main leads meeting face-to-face for the first time, to the occasional sudden shootout sequences, to the startling climax leads to a plot revelation, with the inconsistency in the pacing serving as a moderate frustration for some. Lastly, the cast manages to satisfy in the performance department with Joseph-Gordon Levitt and Bruce Willis both delivering a sincere portrayal as their characters clash, though the prosthetic nose used on Levitt to veer a passable resemblance of Willis can be somewhat distracting. Emily Blunt as the likable actress she is, also comes off committed and humane in her role along with Pierce Gagnon as her mysterious son.
Looper is an intelligent, thoughtful science-fiction thriller that breathes life into a superbly original idea with the hands of Rian Johnson working behind the camera. For many sci-fi fans looking for something original, this one doesn't just deliver it packs quite a punch. All in all, it is easily one of the most recent and profound examples of original ideas brought to life.