Looper (***1/2 out of ****)

"Do something new." The crime boss character played by Jeff Daniels sits in his sleezy personal throne and says this to lead character. This some what meta wink is both a wonderful statement of the type of film that is being watched and part of a well executed story. Looper feels new, it's not a film made to simply enjoy the ride, but something to keep you guessing and involved with what will happen next. This is one of best science fiction movies in years, a top five candidate for best since Children of Men.

The lead character here has a unique situation. Joseph Gordon Levitt plays Joe, a Looper. His job is a special kind of hit-man that waits at a location to kill somebody from the future. Thirty years into the future time travel is perfected but illegal, crime syndicates use it to dispose of problem people, Loopers clean up the problem in a different time, where the problem doesn't exist yet. Joe lives a hard and fast lifestyle. Drowning himself in drugs and chasing after a stripper/prostitute doesn't make Joe seem like a such a good person (the whole hit-man thing adds to that). However him learning french in his spare time suggests there's more that meets the surface. Joe's life is changed when one day the man he is meant to kill is his future self (played by Bruce Willis)

Looper is unforgiving in nature and is not afraid of the whole coherent time travel ramblings. What's wonderful is the details here. Emily Blunt's character in introduced in a moment of calm, she sits on a her porch and makes motions of blowing an imaginary cigarette, I was won over immediately with such a simple action. Looper is well constructed and thought out to give something to the audience to ponder the meaning of some scenes as the film progresses. Building upon its story and characters make the action scenes much more rewarding. It makes even sitting on a farm for much of its climax utterly cool. Looper is not one to miss. 

***1/2 out of ****