LOOPER - archive from 4th October 2012.

Saw 'LOOPER' tonite as Directed and Written by Rian Johnson. 

Now, here's a rarity - a science fiction time travel movie with heart, intelligence, is thought provoking, well scripted, and with just the right dose of action to keep it moving along. But, be warned because this is a complex story with time travel goings-on, sub-plots, twists and turns, and story arcs that will require your attention - otherwise you might just exclaim WTF at the end!

Bruce Willis stars as the older Joe and an almost unrecognisable Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the 30 year junior Joe needing to dispense with his older self! Confused? Hang on and stick with it because it's worth the ride! A 'looper' BTW is a an assassin who kills and disposes of victims that are sent back in time - they are paid in silver bars that are strapped to the legs of the incoming victims from the future.

Emily Blunt and Jeff Daniels also star as does Paul Dano. Set in 2074, when someone needs to be dispensed with they are sent back into the past (time travel at this point has been invented, but is illegal, yet used by the criminal underworld for their sinister intentions) and at their point of arrival are promptly taken out usually by an awaiting gunman. And so it is with Joe (senior, played by Willis) who is sent back to 2044 to be taken out by Joe (junior, played by Gordon-Levitt). At the point of arrival in 2044 the younger Joe hesitates to take out his older self, allowing Joe Senior to get away and thwart that plan. But of course, it doesn't end there. Along the way the two Joe's are forced to collaborate to overcome crime bosses, a mysterious figure known as The Rainmaker, and deal with telekinetic powers that about 10% of the population hold in the future, as well as trying to change the future in the process.

At times the pace slows right down to enable you to fully digest the story and take it all in, and at others it's bloody, relentless and powerful. The two lead actors playing the same character separated by 30 years is pulled of well by Willis and Gordon-Levitt. 

This film had a US$30M production budget and has a huge opening weekend Stateside at US$21M and garnered much critical praise along the way. It received 12 award wins and 28 other nominations from around the world, and was described as the best Sci-Fi Time Travel film since '12 Monkey's' by one enthusiastic critic.

I enjoyed this, and think you will too if you give it a chance, but you'll need to concentrate . . . and that's what in part, makes this film the success it is! 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-