Oblivion
Science-fiction films with blockbuster budgets have a tendency to fall short of expectations. In a world of innumerable lists and rankings, lists of the best sci-fi films don’t change much (if at all) after any given year. For some reason this genre is easy to screw up. However, when trailers for Oblivion first came out there was a lot to be excited about. For one, instead of just another iteration of spaceships and lasers it actually looked pretty original. Secondly, watching Tom Cruise in the trailer was more reminiscent of Minority Report rather than jumping on Oprah’s couch. So, can Oblivion find a home in prestigious rankings or will it bite the dust?
Directed by Joseph Kosinski of Tron: Legacy and also starring Morgan Freeman, Oblivion pits Tom Cruise as a drone repairman in the not too distant future. The world has been ravaged by a long war against a hostile alien species. The planet has been destroyed so badly that humanity’s only hope for survival is to leave Earth and build a new home elsewhere. However, before the war’s survivors are able to leave Earth, they need to build up large reserves of energy for their long journey.
While most survivors wait in a large space station, Cruise is one of the few who remain on Earth to maintain the drones that ensure the massive power plants continue to run. The plan is that as soon as enough energy has been generated by the power plants, the few technicians remaining on Earth will join up with the space station which will then set off to greener pastures.
The film is split into three main phases. Though nothing terribly exciting happens in the first phase, the overall setting and stage are presented very well. You really get drawn in to the state of the world and what has happened. The next phase is where things get very interesting. Different pieces of different puzzles are slowly brought together in a way which slowly builds the excitement for a thrilling experience. This is where the film shines. There is so much going on that is almost pure genius. The final phase consists of the last 10 minutes or so of the film. This is where all the buildup and excitement that’s been so good comes crashing down (along with our hopes and dreams).
The acting by everyone is great. There is no question that Tom Cruise is back on his A-game. The ideas and setting presented in Oblivion are original and thought-provoking. The visual imagery is incredible. If it wasn’t for the last 10 minutes, this film could have been something that people would talk about for years to come. Unfortunately, the movie felt more like a potential inside-the-park home run where the batter misses the plate and gets tagged out. The journey is still enjoyable and the film merits praise, it just should have been more thought out.
