Review: Oblivion (Spoiler-free)

Oblivion (Spoiler-free)
Cert: 12A / 125 mins / Dir. Joseph Kosinski



For the first hour, Oblivion is a slickly assembled if incredibly generic looking Sci-Fi actioner; The production design looks like it came from unused concept art for Star Wars, and the story slides neatly into the holes you expect it to. Then a thing clicks into place, and it suddenly becomes a lot more interesting. It's not a 'twist', just a plot development, but it did make me realise that I wanted to know how the story ended. That happens less often than I'd like, these days.

And the second hour delivered all I wanted it to in terms of story resolution. There are areas I wanted to see explored more (not least, '1 to 51'), but in terms of a Summer Blockbuster the film really worked for me. It's not as dumb as it could be, but doesn't try to baffle the audience with pseudo-science either. Tom Cruise plays that version of himself which we're all familiar with now, Olga Kurylenko pretty much follows his lead and does her best with the screen-time she's allotted, Morgan Freeman is wasted in full pantomime-mode, and it's only really Andrea Riseborough that actually emotes at all. All things considered, she's certainly the most interesting character in the film, and I can't help wonder if she'd have been expanded more if all the spotlights hadn't been shining on Mr Cruise.

Ultimately, it's a pleasant surprise to find a movie with some decent writing behind it. It's not Looper or Inception standard, but few films are, and for good reason.

When it's not busy being The Tom Cruise Show™, Oblivion is engaging and satisfying, if somewhat forgettable in the long-term.

As much as it can be without giving everything away. It sets the tone well enough.



Yes.



Almost.



Cinema / DVD.



No.



Yes.



I don't think so, but I heard something pretty damned similar…





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