Looper

Imagine having the opportunity to travel back in time and encounter your younger self—a chance many people would find intriguing. However, Rian Johnson's Looper takes this concept and injects it with a dark twist. In this gripping time travel thriller, Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays a hitman who discovers that his latest target is none other than his future self, played by Bruce Willis. This encounter, known as "closing the loop," propels the narrative into a high-stakes pursuit that jeopardizes the lives of an ever-expanding circle of individuals.

Looper is a film that masterfully balances tension, humor, and genuine emotion. While it may share some of the scientific storytelling flaws common to time travel movies, it transcends those limitations by delivering an uncommonly affecting and thought-provoking sci-fi drama. The intricacies of the time travel mechanics are cleverly woven into the narrative, challenging viewers to contemplate the moral implications and consequences of altering one's own timeline.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a compelling performance as the conflicted hitman, capturing the essence of a character torn between self-preservation and the unraveling of a complex web of events. His transformation throughout the film is both captivating and relatable, as he grapples with his identity and confronts his own future. Bruce Willis brings his trademark intensity and gravitas to the role of the older version of the hitman, infusing the film with an additional layer of depth and intrigue.

Despite its futuristic setting, Looper manages to create a world that feels eerily familiar yet distinctly unsettling. Rian Johnson's direction immerses the audience in a dystopian vision where the boundaries of morality and human connection are blurred. The film's cinematography and visual effects contribute to this chilling atmosphere, enhancing the sense of unease and suspense that permeates the story. As such, it deserves to be lauded as one of the best movies about time travel.

Release: 2012

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

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%