Co-written, produced and directed by Joseph Kosinski and based on his unpublished graphic novel, Tom Cruise stars in the sci-fi action “Oblivion.” SIDEWALKS’ JP gives us his thoughts.
OBLIVION
Universal Pictures
Cast: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Melissa Leo
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Screenplay by: Karl Gajdusek and Michael Debruyn
Original Story by: Joseph Kosinski
Produced by: Joseph Kosinski, Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark, Barry Levine, Duncan Henderson
Executive Producers: David Morrison, Jesse Berger, Justin Springer
Studio Synopsis:
Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of TRON: Legacy and the producer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind.
Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete.
Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.
Oblivion was shot in stunning digital 4K resolution on location across the United States and Iceland.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBVkUb_TWp8′]
J.P.’s Take:
I’ve sat through lots of sci-fi films; many of which never fully develop story wise and basically showcase lucid effects just to satisfy movie goers. Fortunately, I can say after viewing “Oblivion,” there is something satisfying about it, although it’s somewhat diluted in terms of symbolism.
Written and directed by Joseph Kosinski (“Tron: Legacy”), this quasi mind warping sci-fi/drama/thriller began life as a graphic novel written by Kosinski and Arvid Nelson. Writers Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt with Kosinski adapted the novel for the silver screen, which eerily paints a bleak picture of a future where Earth, in the year 2077, has been decimated by an alien invasion 60 years prior. Supposedly scraps of survivors have relocated to Saturn’s moon of Titan; although that notion can’t be confirmed here. This tale surrounds the main character Jack Harper (Tom Cruise), a drone technician/security officer, whom with his communication officer and partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), lives a life of solitude in a high tech “Jetson” styled condo. Their daily activities consist of the routine radiation zone patrols, repairing hunter/killer type drones and the nightly dinner by candle light. After each mission both Jack and Victoria undergo a systematic memory wipe, as their supervising officer Sally (Melissa Leo) prepares them for their next mission.
A pretty boring existence by the sound of things, although it’s one any working stiff today can sympathize with. The situation becomes more intriguing; however, as we zero in on Harper, who is haunted by reoccurring dreams of a woman he believes he once knew. Where it gets tricky is when Jack witnesses a space craft that crash lands near the radiation zone. He believes it’s a Scav ship, the alien race that is said to have wiped out all humans. Yet upon investigation he finds human survivors. Among them specifically a female Aeronautical Officer resembling the women he’s only dreamt of. Harper puts his life on the line to save the Officer named Julia Rusakova (Olga Kurylenko) from a drone scouting the area that mistakenly senses these survivors as Scavs. The drone then proceeds to execute the remaining crew members on the spot. This chance meeting sparks a chain of events that sends Jack Harper on a new mission to discover his true identity, as well as the truth behind the obliteration of life on Earth.
Kosinski leans on Philip K. Dick territory with a story that doesn’t quite hit profound levels in handling the human/creator dynamic. However, he plays with the idea of identity in the same manner as P.K.D., in the sense that we discover who we really are by rediscovering our past. Furthermore, a message of redemption can be found through out its plot.
There is a fuzzy logic as to how this all plays out, however. If you want to see a movie that provides deeper discussion points on the human/creator aspect, I suggest you see “Prometheus.“ But overall, we are drawn into Jack Harper’s world with each vague dream sequence, while turning over more clues; solving them along the way.
I don’t want to leave out that Morgan Freeman as Beech, who has an integral role in aiding Harper, in his search for the truth about the incidents leading up to the destruction of Earth. Stunt woman/actress Zoe Bell also makes an appearance as Kara, although she doesn’t have much of speaking part here.
Other stark reminders of “Prometheus” are the landscapes and fantastic graphics provided by Digital Domain. Visually “Oblivion” is compelling to view, as I and my guest enjoyed watching massive inverted pyramids hover over the ocean, buzzing drones whizzing by and the Cruise’s character’s highly agile personal ship take off into flight. I felt as though we were watching the futuristic art pieces of either Peter Elson or Syd Mead come to life. The film itself was shot in actual environments, like “Prometheus,” which gives it some tactile emotion.
I consider “Oblivion” an improvement over 2012’s rehashing of “Total Recall.” There was mystery here, plus, there was suspenseful pacing as well. Seeing this movie in IMAX also heightens the experience. On the positive side, the ending wrapped up cleanly even delightfully.