Looper

The cleverness here comes from a conscious decision not to be clever. Writer and director Rian Johnson declares early on (through the Bruce Willis character) that he’s not interested in getting bogged down in time travel paradox puzzles (although the film’s denouement arguably does rely on just such a puzzle). The key decision allows both the filmmakers and the audience to focus on the business at hand: a well-made, stylish thriller that keeps you entertained all the way to its mobius knot ending. The only sour note: Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s distractingly bad makeup job; suspension of disbelief could have been achieved without the odd look. Otherwise, this flick’s a good one, and worth a look.

The Prestige

Magic movies always have some appeal; there's built-in intrigue, you might say. Add to that a director as good as Christopher Nolan, and a fine cast led by Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, and you've got a very likable movie, filled with strong performances, clever (but not too clever) twists, and just a dollop of humbug. It isn't quite as good as the contemporaneous, vaguely similar film The Illusionist, but it's worth it in its own right.