Here comes “Oblivion” finally an original science-fiction
film that isn’t a sequel or based on anything. Well it’s based on a comic book,
but that hasn’t been published so you nor I have had an opportunity to have
read it. Of course my use of “original” might be skewered depending on how well
versed you are in the science-fiction genre. As I sat in awe at the wonderful
visuals being projected onto the screen I couldn’t help but not think of one
other past science-fiction film that Oblivion attempted to reference or borrow
from. I’ve seen plenty of science fiction films, but for some reason I got
so lost in the film that I failed to realize just how much it’s been influenced by
previous works. That is something that could either make or break the experience
for you. That, and whether Tom Cruise’s nearly bat-shit crazy off screen antics
over the last decade have made you dismiss the megawatt star.
“Obvlivion” as you’ve most likely seen from the trailers is
set in a post-apoalyptic future in which aliens have decimated the planet. The
humans have won the war, but the planet is no longer livable. Instead, the
surviving humans are living on one of Saturn’s moon’s and Jack (Tom Cruise) and
Victoria (Andrea
Riseborough) are tasked with gathering Earth’s last remaining resources before
joining the rest of humanity. Robotic drones help search and seek any leftover
“alien” life forms remaining.
Of course that’s really just the premise, but what’s really the story
here? Well, Jack seems to have flashes of his previous life. He sees a woman
who appears to be his girlfriend or wife. During one of his scouting missions
he’s sees what appears to be a part of a damaged spacecraft land and when he
investigates the woman appears to be familiar. This begins the setup for the film’s
second, and admittedly weaker, half in which not everything is as it appears to
be. And that’s usually the case in movies like this. To say anymore would
either ruin the fun or if you’re one who finds this all familiar, may even
deter you from even paying money to see the film.
The film was worth the admission price for several reasons, however. The
film has such stunning production value you wonder why this isn’t being
distributed as a midsummer tent pole release. Of course, there’s no brand
recognition here, so that most likely limits its mass appeal, which is a shame
because director Joseph Kosinski has created such a fascinating world –with
both practical and well-done visual effects. This isn’t the first
post-apocalyptic film ever made at all, but the look and feel are simply
wondrous. Too often we movies about aliens invading and attacking, and here we
finally get to see a movie that takes place in the aftermath. The “now what?”
scenario. The terrific music score from M83, a French electronic brand, is
equal parts bombastic and subtle. I totally dug it.