"keeps to its narrative smartly, without going off on a tangent"

Time travel can be a fascinating plot device - but only when handled correctly - and thankfully Rian Johnson has done just that with his upcoming feature Looper.

Set in the not too distant future, the film opens with a narration by Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Joe, explaining exactly what a Looper is before proceeding to portray his day-to-day life in the job. Essentially he's a hitman of the present day and he is contracted to dispose of the worst of the worst that are sent back to him from the future.

I won't divulge too much information so as not to ruin anything - but rest assured Looper does not over complicate matters at all. Time travel is a potentially confusing narrative, and Johnson has done a fine job in making this film entirely watchable and uncomplicated.

That's not to say that it is overly simplified either, because it isn't. Simply put, it's very clever in its execution, and credit must go to Rian Johnson for crafting an exceptional slice of cinema.

And so to the cast, who, in short, are all brilliant. Paul Dano shines as Seth - even if he is criminally underused, while similarly Jeff Daniels turns out an impressive performance as the 'from the future' mob boss, whom he portrays with a degree of joviality as well as menace, almost as if he is channelling a certain Jeff Bridges.

I must also tip my hat to Gordon-Levitt for not only turning out a very impressive performance as the young Joe, but he also masterfully channels the gruff Bruce Willis who is also on top form as the older version of Joe. As for Emily Blunt, well she is a revelation - completely transforming herself to embody the character of Sarah - very different to what we have become accustomed to seeing her tackle, yet she rises to the challenge.

I just can't fault Looper, it keeps to its narrative smartly, without going off on a tangent with other plot threads, in that respect it is quite linear, but its accessible and keeps you riveted from start to finish.