Brilliantly entertaining and original

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2017)

Rian Johnson's Looper is one of the most stylish, smart and entertaining sci-fi films of recent memory. An interesting dynamic between Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon- Levitt also work in part to make the film darkly comic at times, while never forgetting the rather serious tone and high stakes.
The cinematography is simply spectacular. Long one-take shots right in the action add gripping layers of tension, as well as look pretty damn good. Technically, the film is razor-sharp, with excellent use of colours, brilliant camera work and a realistically gritty dystopian setting, giving the film a Children of Men kind of feel. The action is electrifying and spaced perfectly, giving time to develop story and characters between explosive spurts of endlessly satisfying action.
The story is very original and thought-provoking, but also provides my only issue with the film. The inclusion of telekinesis just felt like a gimmick to explain the film's rather quick ending. Looper's plot hinges on a cheap and unexplained gimmick that makes the film's otherwise heartfelt ending feel rushed and somewhat fixed.
Overall, Looper is one of the most electrifying, entertaining and clever sci-fi films of the 2010s. The story was well written and easy to follow, despite the prominence of time travel. The result is a truly impressive and riveting experience, even if the ending is, sadly, about as satisfying as Levitt's make-up job