Super satisfying action/sci-fi combo

Rating: 8/10 (2 November 2012)

Well, 2012 certainly provided a breath of fresh air when it came to sci-fi actioners. First, Dredd 3D, and now, Looper.
Wonderfully directed, acted and written, Looper, to me, did what Inception achieved a few years back : combine exhilarating action, engaging sci-fi (and at times, it almost becomes "horror", in some regards), and a solid script.
The structure of the film is definitely one of its strong points, allowing a complex and multifaceted story to unfold without getting too confusing at any point. From the vintage intro/title sequence to the slick montage where you see several decades in Joe's life go by in a few minutes, you know you're in for a appealing ride. Juggling with several stories, subplots, and characters, Looper always comes up with something unexpected, whether it's a plot twist, a bloody action sequence or an intense confrontation between two protagonists...who happen to be the same person.
Another interesting aspect, which is subtle but is brought through a few key moments, is the clash of generations. Joe (Joseph Gordon-Lewitt) and old Joe (Bruce Willis) each have respective back stories (or future stories) and values that they try to preserve, despite being the same character.
In terms of visuals, Steve Yedlin's photography is polished yet has a certain vintage edge to it. While the city is depicted as chaotic and dangerous, they opted for flamboyant, nineties' style colors rather than the usual, gritty "blueish filter" with reduced color saturation. And it serves it well...the sequences in the cornfields and the surrounding area look gorgeous and, at the end of the day, serve the ever-evolving script very well in avoiding an overly-gritty or dramatic visual tone that would differ from the real intentions of this film. The direction is stellar as well, thanks to Rian Johnson and Bob Ducsay (editing) for making the whole experience so dynamic and fluid, given the complexity of the story they had to tell.. Performances from Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Lewitt, Emily Blunt and Pierce Gagnon are absolutely flawless.
The film's pace does slow down a tad bit at the mid-point. However, it doesn't last very long and it gives the viewer the chance to better understand some of the subplots. When the pace shifts back, it's quite frantic. I thought the ending was really satisfying and avoided all possible clichés.
In an immersive depiction of a near future, Looper is a slick blend of classic confrontation and sci-fi movie elements, deployed through the puzzling time mechanics of its refreshing script.
Must-see for any action and sci-fi fan.
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