In 2074, killing and getting away with it has become almost impossible, so the criminal underworld uses time travel to eliminate their rivals, sending them to the past. In 2044, we find the "loopers", killers who kill people from the future, making their bodies disappear and allowing the mafia's business to continue. The only downside for the loopers is that when a loop is closed, the killers have thirty years to enjoy all the money they've accumulated, but then they are eliminated in the same way, sent to the past where a specialized killer must take them out. One day, the looper Joe finds himself face to face with his older self whom he is supposed to kill, but if he lets him escape, he not only has to chase his double but also flee from the local mafia. Although the sci-fi genre has always been fascinated by time travel, it had been a while since a film on this subject was proposed; the last one might be the excellent "Source Code" by Duncan Jones. But Rian Johnson arrives with "Looper" to remedy this lack. The film in question immediately presents us with a distant future and then brings us to a distant present, where the possibility of traveling through time is reality. The future of people in "Looper" is already written, already lived, and destined to repeat itself endlessly in a continuous loop from which one should never escape. Let's start by specifying that "Looper" is indeed a true action film, but the psychological character and the reflection that follows are undoubtedly more relevant than the inevitable and spectacular shootouts and chases. What the film puts on stage is a true reflection on the desire (or the need?) to break free from predefined schemes, to have control over one's existence even at the expense of others, overturning society's rules even if this is certainly not simple. In this film, the sense of time is completely lost; some characters experience flashbacks while others experience flashforwards in a complex but functional labyrinth from which it seems impossible to escape. The film in this sense does not spare even children; indeed, the mission of the character played by Bruce Willis – who, to save his own future (but not only), must find in the past the one who will become the boss of crime in "child version" and kill him – is something we rarely see in a Hollywood film. During the film, we follow and cheer for every character who has a strong motivation to act, but only up to a certain point; then the concept of "what is right," of good and bad, is lost, and a whirlwind of emotions, conflicting feelings, and disorientation overtakes us until a perhaps predictable but not forced ending. Despite this, "Looper" is not a perfect film, and although it does not lack elegance, during its duration, we encounter some small stylistic missteps, such as the "Die Hard"-style shootout with Willis or the excessive (almost unnecessary) displays of paranormal powers that are too reminiscent of Marvel comics. There are also some small inconsistencies, such as the gratuitous killing of Willis's Asian wife when we are told from the beginning how impossible it is to eliminate someone in the future or the poorly constructed romantic relationship between the protagonist and the mother of the child he protects. The cast, on the other hand, fits perfectly, starting with Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("50/50", "Hesher Was Here") who, since "Inception", has appeared in an endless series of films almost always convincing, moving on to Bruce Willis who plays his role somewhat reminiscent of the protagonist of "Twelve Monkeys" and ending with an excellent Paul Dano ("A Gentleman") in the role of the first fugitive looper and a Jeff Daniels ("Dumb and Dumber") in the role of the villain who avoids stereotypes and who unsettles and convinces thanks to his calm and professionalism. Emily Blunt ("The Adjustment Bureau") is perhaps the one who seems a bit out of place compared to the others, sometimes appearing forced but still delivering a dignified performance. In essence, the "psychological-sci-fi" thread that seems to have taken hold recently, where science fiction is more focused on an analysis of society and human psychology than on a purely action and "shoot 'em up" purpose, continues with this excellent "Looper". Recommended.
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