This sci-fi thriller is directed by Rian Johnson and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, and Emily Blunt. Set in the not-too-distant and not-too-different (apart from time travel, of course) future of 2044, Looper tells the complicated story of Joe (Gordon-Levitt), an assassin called a "Looper" who kills mob targets sent from thirty years into the future, the mob's goal being to dispose of their vicitms rather cleanly and with no bearing to their future world. A vital part of a Looper's job is to "close his loop," or killing the older version of yourself when the mob wants to retire you. However, Old Joe (Willis) has a different plan, so when he is sent back so Young Joe can kill him, he knocks Young Joe unconscious and escapes. Because the only rule that Loopers must follow is "don't ever let your target escape," Young Joe recognizes the immense consequences of his failure, and sets off on a wild goose chase to find his older self and kill him before the mafia finds his present self. Without spoiling the film for those who haven't seen it yet, Old Joe's mission involves the Rainmaker, a mysterious dictator from the future who directly impacts Old Joe's life. During his quest to find Old Joe, Young Joe seeks refuge on a Kansas farm owned by Sara (Emily Blunt), a single mother with an exceedingly intelligent young son. As with almost any time-travel film, the plot is incredibly mind-bending, and it doesn't all make sense after one sitting. Be prepared to wait for it to come out on DVD so you can attempt to comprehend some of the points you missed the first time around. But fear not, because Looper is decidedly less confusing that Gordon-Levitt's other sci-fi mind-bender, Inception. That being said, there is a lot to appreciate in this film, as long as you are able to overlook the plot points that escape even the director's logic (which you most probably will). And why will you? Because the film is superbly paced -- it grabs onto your attention from the first minute and doesn't let go of it until the end credits start rolling. It's also decently intelligent, a rarity in the post-summer/pre-Oscar box-office, and also an incredible feat for a film about a subject as complicated as time-travel. Look also for the underlying (or are they?) themes of nature vs. nurture and the importance of parenting. Looper is superb and very satisfying entertainment, and well worth the money to be seen in theatres.
Should you see it: Yes
Grade: A-
