Looper

In 2044 time travel has not yet been invented. However, organised crime doesn't respect chronological boundaries.

Looper takes us to a grimy world full of damaged people who will do whatever it takes to hang onto what little they have. We are shown the desperate underbelly of society where new technology is only available to the few who have the power to profit. It seems a doomed scenario, as all the future delivers is its trash to be disposed of. Yet there is no such thing as certainty.

This is a powerful and cleverly told story which tests your mind without twisting it into knots. It is also a very beautiful film, with delicate visual cues which balance the confronting brutality we witness. However, what appears to be gratuitous violence serves to explain important concepts, because when you are playing with the fabric of time it helps to understand what the consequences might be. Like all good science fiction, Looper establishes the rules and adheres to them.

And there are many loops. From the recycled fashions to the gerry-rigged fuel systems of old cars, endless cycles subtly underscore the theme. The cast is perfect, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis are brilliant playing opposite ends of one violent life. However, child actor Pierce Gagnon steals the show with a preternatural performance. The special effects are superb, with one exception - but I am happy to forgive them one scene, as it is so well considered overall.

For the cerebral sci-fi fan, Looper is a real treat. It is thought provoking and visceral, and it heads towards the conceptual brilliance of Gattaca and Blade Runner but is just shy of their overall perfection. However, fans of the Xmen movies will be very happy, as will the devotees of Terminator and Sarah Connor Chronicles.

And while Looper delves into the complexities of time travel and its paradoxical consequences, the overarching theme is a timeless one. At its heart, Looper is really about the power of maternal love to heal and the fundamental damage that is done when it is missing or withdrawn; the result of which will always affect the future.

In the words of Sarah Connor, "There is no fate but that we make for ourselves".

Looper is now amongst my favourite movies. I give it 4.5 stars.