Time travel. Assassins. And a whole lot of mind-bending twists. If that sounds like your kind of sci-fi, then you need to watch Rian Johnson’s Looper on Prime Video. This isn’t your typical time travel movie; Looper delves into the moral complexities of fate and the consequences of our actions, leaving you questioning reality long after the credits roll.
In 2044, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a “looper,” an assassin who eliminates targets sent back from the future by the mob. These “loops” are a brutal but necessary part of the criminal underworld, where disposing of bodies in the future is nearly impossible. Joe is a skilled looper, enjoying the easy money and the thrill of the job. However, his life takes a dramatic turn when his future self, an older, hardened version of himself played by Bruce Willis, arrives for elimination. Faced with the impossible task of killing himself, Joe must confront the consequences of his past actions and the terrifying reality of his future.
Looper is far different from typical time travel tropes like paradoxes or historical interference. Instead, the concept of the movie is based on assassins eliminating targets sent back from the future. Plus, it beautifully explores how our past choices can shape our future and how difficult it is to break free from predetermined destinies. Gordon-Levitt and Willis deliver compelling performances as the younger and older versions of Joe, respectively.
Rian Johnson does one hell of a job in this movie! If we take away the hate he still receives for Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, he is a pretty good and solid filmmaker with a distinct visual style. He perfectly maintains a gritty, near-future aesthetic throughout the movie.
“Looper” is a smart, stylish, and thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that deserves more recognition for its originality, strong performances, and exploration of complex themes. It was a decent box office success, earning over $176 million globally. However, its critical reception is more solid, with a 93% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Stream it now on Prime Video.