Oblivion - The IMAX Experience Review

Rated PG-13 (Sci-Fi Action Violence, Brief Strong Language, and Some Sensuality/Nudity)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 6 Minutes

Cast-

Tom Cruise-Jack Harper

Olga Kurylenko-Julia Rusakova

Andrea Riseborough-Victoria Olsen

Morgan Freeman-Malcolm Beech

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau-Sykes

Melissa Leo-Sally

Zoe Bell-Kara

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Director Joseph Kosinski creates a stunning post-apocalyptic world in his latest film, "Oblivion," starring Tom Cruise.

Note: Screened on Monday, April 15, 2013 at AMC Loews 34th Street 14.

Back in the 'good ol' days,' a big-name actor or actress was all you needed to ensure a film's box office success. If a studio managed to snag someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger for example, the marketing campaign pretty much wrote itself. Just look at the posters for Schwarzenegger's films: every one of them has his name and face front-and-center while the title is tucked away in some corner. Nowadays, there are very few 'movie stars' that can open a film on the strength of their name alone. People like Robert Pattinson or Kristen Stewart may be popular but their fame lies in the brands they're associated with. The only actor today that can still headline a film with just his name is Tom Cruise. Despite his public image taking a hit due to his eccentric behavior and strong ties to the Church of Scientology, Cruise has managed to retain much of his box office clout, especially overseas. His sci-fi outings, 2002's "Minority Report" and 2005's "War of the Worlds," are some of the highest-grossing films of his career so it's not surprising to see Cruise return to the genre with "Oblivion" from director Joseph Kosinski. Making his debut in 2010 with Disney's "Tron: Legacy," Kosinski is slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. Although it received mixed reviews from critics (51% on Rotten Tomatoes), I fell in love with "Tron: Legacy," even if the film was dramatically inert at times. Sure, Kosinski isn't exactly the strongest of story-tellers but he understands that you have to have characters worth investing in; otherwise you're left with a bunch of fancy, meaningless effects. A hauntingly mesmerizing experience full of breathtaking imagery, the story in "Oblivion" may be made up of familiar sci-fi tropes but it never forgets the human element thanks to Cruise's engaging performance.

In the year 2077, the Earth is nothing more than an irradiated wasteland, the result of a war with a malevolent alien race known as 'Scavs' sixty years ago. Using nuclear weapons, humanity won the war…but lost the planet. The remaining survivors have established a new life for themselves on Saturn's moon Titan while an orbiting space station called the 'Tet' oversees the extraction of Earth's remaining resources. Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) is Tech 49, one of the last few humans stationed on the planet. Working with his communications officer and lover Victoria Olsen (Andrea Riseborough), Jack specializes in drone maintenance and keeps the massive 'Hydro-Rigs' in working order while fending off occasional attacks from remnant Scavs. Two weeks away from joining his human brethren in space, Jack diligently makes his daily rounds in his advanced 'Bubble Ship' but something continuously gnaws at his subconscious. Every night, he dreams of a strange woman named Julia (Olga Kurylenko) and Jack soon comes to suspect that they might be memories of a past life. When a space capsule containing Julia suddenly falls from the sky, Jack finds his very beliefs and identity questioned as he embarks on a desperate search for answers.

The best science-fiction stories are always about 'something,' a fact that Hollywood tends to forget as studios continue to throw millions of dollars away on empty CG effects. Of course, there's also the fact that today's movie-going audience suffer from short attention spans. If there isn't an explosion every ten minutes, then the film automatically 'sucks.' This is why films like "Moon" receive only a limited release. Although its title may remind some viewers of the Elder Scrolls game, "Oblivion" is actually based on an unpublished graphic novel from Radical Comics. Created by Kosinski with Arvid Nelson as co-plotter and illustrated by Andrée Wallin, it was originally set to be released sometime in 2012 but that date came and went with nary a peep. Kosinski eventually revealed that he always intended to turn his original eight-page treatment into a film and that the graphic novel was really just used to continue development during the 2007-2008 Writer's Strike. Opening with a short prologue where Cruise's character Jack Harper recounts how the Earth transformed into a radioactive wasteland, "Oblivion" harkens back to the more character-driven sci-fi films of the 1970's and 1980's with its slow, methodical pace. There's spectacle to be found within its gorgeous visuals but Kosinski's focus is always on the characters as he explores a myriad of themes that include love, loss, and redemption. At the heart of the story is the question of identity—what does it mean to be 'human'? Are we human because our DNA says so or are we defined by the sum total of our memories and experiences? It's a common trope in many sci-fi tales such as Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (which was later adapted into the film "Blade Runner" by Ridley Scott). However, Kosinski at times bites off more than he can chew, with the script's philosophical musings clashing with its need to appeal to a wider audience. Still, I admire that he's trying to create a film that matters, something that entertains yet is meaningful as well. So many directors today settle for less. Although the twists in the second hour reveal the thinness of the material (it's basically a pastiche of "Wall-E," "The Omega Man," "Moon," "Planet of the Apes," and "2001: A Space Odyssey"), the human element remains intact, imbuing "Oblivion" with a soulful edge that is absent in many Hollywood blockbusters today.

By far the most memorable aspect in "Oblivion" is the visuals. Kosinski reteams with Academy Award-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda to create one of the most breathtaking post-apocalyptic worlds I've ever seen. Shot on-location in Iceland, Earth of 2077 is an eerie, desolate landscape where the remains of humanity's once-great civilization are slowly swallowed up by time. From the Empire State Building's spire jutting out of a newly formed mountain to the New York Public Library partially submerged under a sand dune, Kosinski's attention to detail is impressive (especially in IMAX) as he transports audiences to another time and place, one that is both familiar and alien at the same time. The only signs of life are Jack and Victoria, who reside in an ultra-modern 'Sky Tower.' To get around, Jack pilots a 'Bubble Ship' and it's clear that Kosinski put a lot of thought into its design. The ship is sleek yet also practical. There's a handful of exciting set-pieces such as a dogfight between Jack and a group of drones (whose single red eye resemble HAL) but for the most part, the action is very low-key. Continuing his trend of hiring off-beat composers for his films, Kosinski has chosen the French duo M38 and the result is an outstanding score that creates an epic sense of grandeur.

Much of the film's success lies with Tom Cruise. I've read dozens of comments from people who have vowed that they will never watch a film with him ever again but the fact remains: this guy can act. Similar to "War of the Worlds," Cruise brings an everyman, down-to-earth demeanor to Jack as he goes about his daily routine repairing killer drones. I've always been impressed with the way he immerses himself in every role and it's no different here thanks to his nuanced performance. Andrea Riseborough is great as well and there are subtle hints in her character's behavior that point to her knowing that something is amiss about her mission but she refuses to acknowledge it. Victoria finds comfort in the 'lie' and she is unable to cope with it once it is exposed. As Cruise's love interest, Olga Kurylenko is fine, although her dialogue can get too bogged down by exposition. Despite being featured prominently on the posters, Morgan Freeman has a very small role and is woefully underwritten. Rounding out the cast is Jaime Lannister himself, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Melissa Leo, who is reduced to sitting behind a computer screen as Sally, Jack and Victoria's mission control.

Released on April 19, 2013, "Oblivion" has received mixed reviews with 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that it 'benefits greatly from its strong production values and an excellent performance from Tom Cruise' but ultimately found the film to be 'thinly scripted.' As the sole new release this weekend, the film should handily land at the top of the box office and its already faring quite well overseas. However, audience reception during Monday's advance screening was somewhat muted, which could spell trouble in the long run. "Oblivion" has its shortcomings but Kosinski has dared to create a film that puts characters over spectacle. It's the type of sci-fi picture that Hollywood should make more of and while it's not as 'original' as it claims to be, the film nevertheless remains engaging throughout.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5

"If we have souls, they're made of the love we share. Undimmed by time, unbound by death."