Film Review: Oblivion

In space no one dares to dream as slick sci-fi gives way to deja vu.

Genre: Science Fiction

Rated: M
Out: Now

What’s it all about? In the desolate wastelands of future earth a drone repairman discovers his very existence is not at all what it seems.

The Verdict: Oblivion looks a treat but nods to every seminal sci-fi flick makes it feel like Groundhog Day in space.

3.0/5.0 from me, David.

Is it too much these days to hope for a truly original sci-fi movie? Perhaps it is if Tom Cruise’s latest blockbuster attempt is anything to go by.

In Oblivion, he plays Jack Harper a drone repairman in the final stage of a mission to extract the earth’s remaining resources. He lives as idyllic a life as you can when your planet has been stripped to desolation after years of war with ‘alien’ species the Scavs. He patrols the skies in a chic bubble space craft or on a turbo charged motorbike on land and mixes business with pleasure with Victoria (Andrea Riseborough, Brighton Rock) his co-worker stationed back at his hovering skytower.



Come here often?

But when a stranger drops out of the sky - quite literally - in the form of the mysterious Julia (Olga Kurylenko, Quantum of Solace), everything Jack knows about his existence will be turned on its head as his memories of her in a still-in-tact New York City grow stronger.

"The official site for Oblivion describes it as “original” and “groundbreaking”. Not so; the line between reverence and plagiarism becomes blurry."

 

Oblivion, which borders on soap-opera-in-space, prides itself on its plot twists and turns. I won’t spoil them here except to say they unfortunately amount to moments that are less jaw dropping and more underwhelming of the 'Time-for-Tom-to-save-mankind' kind. One highlight though is a fight scene where Cruise in form fitting white padded leather gets a leg up (and over) on.... let’s just say someone VERY recognisable.

The official site for Oblivion describes it as “original” and “groundbreaking”. Not so. Let’s be pragmatic, probably all films have reference points – ‘Everything old is new’, ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ and all that – but play ‘Spot the sci-fi reference’ and the line between reverence and plagiarism becomes blurry; from 2001: A Space Odyssey (a familiar, omniscient malevolent presence) to Star Wars (a thrilling spacecraft chase through rocky chasms), Alien (“Back off you son of a bitch!” warns Jack) and even Predator.  



Space Chic



It’s confusing sci-fi-by-numbers but what Oblivion does , it does well. Helmed by presumed sci-fi aficionado Joseph Kosinski  (TRON: Legacy) and based on his unpublished graphic novel, the movie excels with a spectacular space-chic look and seamless, stunning action sequences. CGI desolation - which often has that misty, appropriated look - looks better than most aided by filming (in part) in some spectacular Icelandic locales.



Hands off the narration Morgan. It's mine I tell you, all mine.



The cast all do serviceable jobs including Morgan Freeman whose role as a mysterious lair dweller with steam punk glasses amounts to little more than an extended cameo. (At least he doesn’t slip into his well worn shoes as narrator, that's reserved for Mr Cruise).

But it’s Cruise who’s least surprising here. It’s an action heavy, scenery-chewing role that he could do in his sleep, one that hardly stretches him. We’ve seen that before too.