Film review: Looper (4 out of 5 stars)

For instance, on paper Twelve Monkeys and Unbreakable weren’t sure fire hits, but Bruce gave it his all and made these movies worth seeing.

Looper has been given the Hollywood hype but don’t expect a straightforward thriller.

You need to concentrate to follow the twists and turns and time changes.

However, if you do you’ll be rewarded with a satisfying film that is full of good performances and a cracking storyline.

It’s difficult to say too much about the plot without opening up a can of spoilers.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Joe who, in the year 2042, is a killer for the mob who are based in the year 2072.

They send people they want killed back in time for people like Joe (Loopers).

However, he gets a big surprise when his older self is sent back and fails to despatch ‘old’ Joe (Willis).

Having two Joes running round in one timeline isn’t a good option so everyone is out to kill both versions.

That’s the crux of the story but there is so much more.

For a start there’s the plot strand that involves Emily Blunt’s character, plus a remarkable performance by the very young Kamden Beauchamp that is vital to the film.

Sensibly, writer and director Rian Johnson doesn’t get bogged down with the science behind time travel but leaves us to just accept that in 2072 it will exist and be banned by the authorities.

This just leaves us to get our head round the twists and turns that are served up.

The only real grumble I had was the prosthetics Gordon-Levett wore in order to look as much like a younger Willis as possible.

It wasn’t really necessary and just left me staring at his face trying to detect the joins.

Overall, a brilliant movie that actually lives up to its promise.

It may be just shy of two hours long but, perhaps not surprisingly, time flew by.

Details: Looper (15) 118mins

Director: Rian Johnson

Starring: Bruce Willis, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emily Blunt

Steve Payne

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley