In recent years, the sci-fi genre has expanded itself with bold, innovative films which explore new worlds and original ideas through such examples including The Matrix (1999) and Inception (2010). That looks set to continue with the new thriller Looper (helmed by Brick director Rian Johnson), which decides to focus on an old concept in sci-fi cinema in the shape of time-travel. That method has been somewhat flawed on the big-screen even through treasured classics like Back to the Future (1985). However there is still a place for this original concept to work in a film like this especially when you are still able to attract a trio of talented actors with eighteen projects between them this year to star in it….

Set in the year 2042, Joe (Gordon-Levitt) is part of a group of assassins known as ‘loopers’ who kill off their targets through the use of time-travel. However when one of the targets turns out to be his future self (played by Willis), Joe faces the awkward dilemma of either killing him or learning more about his later life. Upon letting him go, Young Joe manages to escape from his fellow loopers and ends up staying at a farmhouse owned by feisty single-mother Sarah (Blunt) who lives there with her son Cid who holds a dark secret. Old Joe’s aim is to track down this boy and kill him thus preventing the child from causing heartache for him thirty years from now but it is left up to Young Joe to stop his future self from his mission which leads to a showdown between the duo.

Having focused on smaller, independent films like Brick and The Brothers Bloom, writer/director Johnson manages to go one better by making a bigger and broader film which does rely on well-known stars and CGI but is set out in a crisp manner. He is able to deal with a complex script that doesn’t shy away from its time-travel paradox which surprisingly isn’t bogged down by plot-holes. Everything is laid out with precision in the first hour as Joe goes through his harsh lifestyle without much showing much emotion in the twisted environment he lives in. These days, most films set in the future tend to show a dark reality which Johnson creates with visionary execution as we see the streets filled with dossers and the corrupted taking control. Though it isn’t all about the flying cars and holographic characters, there is enough in the film to make it feel as though it is our near future and that the technology is starting to unfold as time goes by. Even the possible future of the world economy is teased at by Jeff Daniels’s character Abe who gets some laughs when he insists to Joe that it is better to go to China than France thirty years from now. Although things slow down in the second act, the film eventually picks up in its gripping finale as the two Joe’s battle it out for the sake of personal sacrifice which is well-executed by Johnson’s character developments and his terrific ending. Gordon-Levitt, fresh from his crucial role in the recent superhero blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, gives a compelling performance as the hollow assassin who isn’t quite as heroic as John Blake but tries to amend his ways throughout the story especially when helping his new companions in the final act. Willis is equally effective as the future version of Joe who despite his intimidating presence is actually haunted by the tragic turn of events which leads to him trying to change the past. Rather surprisingly though, it is Blunt who goes against-type with an edgy role as the foul-mouthed, gun-welding woman who battles to protect her son whilst sharing some subtle chemistry with Gordon-Levitt. A special mention should also go to youngster Pierce Gagnon who shines as the troubled boy whose dark secret could change the future and is able to stand his ground when working with his two maturer co-stars.

However after things take off in the film’s impressive first act, the change of scenery for the second act does slow things down especially as action-fans don’t expect these kind of films to take a breather. Put that down to some misleading advertising! It is during this segment that we discover young Cid’s dark secret in rather spectacular fashion, but it’s something we have all seen before as we can’t help but wonder whether we should root for this child or hope that Old Joe terminates him during his ‘Damien’ act. As for the supporting characters, Jeff Daniels, fresh from his sublime performance in the HBO series The Newsroom, is a little unconvincing as the film’s villain who never quite shows his nasty side and is ultimately given a rather rushed exit along with many of his henchmen toward’s the film’s climax. Just as underused is the lovely Piper Perabo who is only reduced to a couple of scenes which involve some nudity though teenage boys won’t complain despite the pointlessness of it all!

VERDICT: Although its middle act slows things down, Looper becomes the latest in its genre to continue this current trend of original and intelligent sci-fi with its grim vision of our future and bad-ass performances from its lead acting trio. 2012’s effortless loop of film-making continues….