.

Time travel hasn’t been invented yet, but in 30 years it will be. It will be immediately outlawed, used only by the most underground of criminal operations. A person the organization in the future wants “disappeared” is sent back in time to be killed and disposed of by a group of assassins called “loopers”. Because this practice is so illegal, there will come a point in the future when the organization wants to sever all ties and remove all evidence of their relationship with the looper, sending the older looper back in time to be killed by their younger selves. When one of the older looper marks gets away, the chase is on to find him before too much damage is done.

True science fiction uses fantastical ideas as a backdrop to everyday circumstances in order to bring into sharp relief that the ordinary is actually extraordinary. In the case of Looper, this is rendered in the effect that time has on a person. When life turns this way instead of that, what could be the outcome?

It is important to note that the devices used here are so far from the clichéd time travel paradoxes as to be almost unrecognizable as the same genre. Director Rian Johnson, the man responsible for Brick, has crafted a world so real and immersive you’ll want to see this film again immediately.

Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon Levitt are both stellar actors and do an excellent job of being on opposite sides of the same coin ““ but that’s to be expected. More surprising is the supporting cast that includes Jeff Daniels, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Dano, Piper Perabo and Emily Blunt.

Is Looper Essential TIFF Viewing?

To be perfectly honest, despite the fact that this film opens theatrically on September 28, you should fight people in the rush line to make sure you get to see this film as soon as possible. Yes, this is totally essential TIFF viewing. (Please note: Toronto Film Scene does not condone violence in ticket lines, we just wanted to send home that you should see this if you possibly can.)

Looper Screening Times

• Thursday, September 6 at 6:30 pm at the Visa Screening Room (Elgin), and
• Thursday, September 6 at 8:00 pm at Roy Thomson Hall

More About This Movie

Looper Trailer

Looper Production Gallery

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Trista DeVries

Like most people who write for the web, I’ve been obsessed with movies since I was very young. My favourite movies are The Social Network, Easy A and Garden State, but I try to spend my time broadening my film horizons. I’m the Publisher of Toronto Film Scene and I Heart Movies, and in my “spare” time, I’m a web designer and strategist. (Gotta support my movie habit somehow…)

Latest posts by Trista DeVries (see all)

• From “sissy” to Brokeback Mountain: a brief history of queer cinema – May 13, 2013
• Review: Blackbird – May 10, 2013
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