Director Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman and Olga Kurylenko
‘A Spectacular Blockbuster’
Not many actors have made films making headlines news like Tom Cruise. Since his rise to fame in the 1990’s, Cruuse has been a beloved icon. Whether it’s spies enduring dangers, lawyers or soaring aviators, Cruise has portrayed many compelling characters. Arguably, Cruise’s best strength as an actor is his powerful commitment to his craft. He is one of those rare actors that has always put his life on the line by performing his own stunts. Even when he has suffered injuries, Cruise has never lost his passion for making memorable movies. An actor with a strong commitment toward his craft, Cruise has become an icon in entertainment. Although he’s best known for his role in the Mission Impossible series, Cruise has proven he can make engaging films in every single genre. Throughout his powerful career, Cruise has made several unforgettable movies that are absolutely worth talking about without any doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Cruise and admire all the movies he has made in his career. However, “Oblivion” is definitely his most underrated work. Released in 2013, Joseph Kosinski’s film offered a powerful portrait of dystopian planets. Packed with engaging production, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the most underrated sci-fi movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a terrific performance by Tom Cruise, who embodies a space scavenger facing issues. Although “Oblivion” is a brilliant sci-fi blockbuster, it isn’t a flawless film. It builds to ambiguous conclusions without a satisfying resolution. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment for fans of sci-fi films.
Set amid a distant future, “Oblivion” tells a story of an astronaut seeking to survive on doomed planets facing disaster. Tom Cruise plays Jack Harper, a drone repairman that is stranded on a doomed Earth. Jack often has had a drive to survive on a destructive planet that faces catastrophe. However, his life dramatically changes when he stumbles across a stranger. Faced with a newfound threat, Jack questions his devotion towards a planet which is hard to forget. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Jack questions whether it’s possible to survive on doomed planets facing disaster. Facing the state of oblivion, Jack questions devotions to his profession.
Joseph Kosinski has often been fascinated with the sci-fi genre. His iconic movie “Tron: Legacy” honoured a beloved science fiction film’s bold legacy. With “Oblivion”, however, Kosinski created his first dystopian science-fiction film. It was the filmmaker’s attempts to create a dystopian science fiction movie but he succeeded immensely. Using strong cinematography, Kosinski captures a strong astronaut seeking to survive on destructive planets facing catastrophe. Evoking Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner”, Kosinski effectively uses montages to capture individuals living on planets facing disaster. For instance, the montages enhance the spaceship missions scene. During this memorable scene, Jack embarks on his first space mission causing tension. Using montages, Kosinski creates a portrait of doomed planets that’s engaging. Montages are complex techniques. As Tony Scott’s “Top Gun” demonstrated, montages enhance aviation movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using captivating visuals, Kosinski captures tension space scavengers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Oblivion” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best sci-fi films made. Emulating George Lucas’ “Star Wars”, Kosinski effectively uses cross-cutting editing to capture the tensions that space scanners are facing. For instance, the cross-cutting enhances the space battles scene. During this memorable scene, Jack engages in a tense spaceship battle against enemies. Using bold cross-cutting, Kosinski creates a portrait of spade that’s engaging. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Anthony Gonzales’ music contributes to the success of the movie. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing the burden space scavengers bear. Using phenomenal production, Kosinski capture individuals on a space mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Oblivion” is a sci-fi movie that’s engaging. The film is beautifully written, and expertly uses silence to capture space scavengers that face tensions. Recalling Ron Howard’s “Apollo 13”, Kosinski expertly uses silence to capture space scavengers facing adversity. For instance, silence enhances the farewells scene. During this memorable scene, Jack bids emotional farewell to his planet causing tension. Through silence, Kosinski creates a portrait of space that audiences can relate to. Silence is a complex technique to use in film. As Barry Levinson’s “Rain Man” proved, silence often elevates movies about Autism. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” did prove clearly, silence enhances films about loss. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through an excellent screenplay, Kosinski captures lives of space scavengers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his best career performances as Jack Harper. Cruise first earned appreciation for playing aviators in action movies. With “Oblivion”, however, he took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a space scavenger embarking on a journey but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most memorable role. With engaging expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and grief of a space scavenger embarking on missions. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most celebrated actors working in Hollywood today.
While the film is mainly a showcase for Tom Cruise, the supporting cast is amazing and worthy of appreciation. Morgan Freeman is magnificent, capturing the dedication of an agent that embarks on a tough mission that causes immense tension. Olga Kurylenko is outstanding, capturing the sorrow faced by a woman which has space dreams to follow. Lastly, Melissa Leo merits appreciation. As a feminist space leader, she is unforgettable.
Although “Oblivion” is a spectacular sci-fi blockbuster, it isn’t an entirely flawless film. Kosinski’s decisions to incorporate subplots about space politics into the movie is bold but doesn’t succeed. Due to this erroneous decision, scenes which focus on the lives of political figures in space aren’t as engaging as Jack’s personal missions. Moreover, the film lacks a bold ending. It’s an ambiguous conclusion without any satisfying resolution. Therefore, “Oblivion” can’t quite honour the lives of space scavengers which experience tension.
Nevertheless, fans of Tom Cruise will enjoy “Oblivion” and so would audiences which seek exhilarating entertainment. A riveting sci-fi blockbuster, it honours a legendary actor.
Nearly a decade following the release of a groundbreaking sci-fi film about individuals which face hardships seeking to survive in space, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built a successful career through his ability to portray compelling characters in memorable films which audiences have grown to embrace.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 