Oblivion (2013)

The definition of oblivion itself is 'the state of being unaware or unconscious of what is happening'. Not only does this reflect the events of the film's plot but also my experience with watching this film, for I felt like I was constantly in a state of oblivion. Oblivion is certainly unexpected; a science fiction movie with Tom Cruise doesn't exactly sound like a recipe for genius but incredibly Joseph Kosinski pulls it off with style and grandeur, no mean feat for a director's second film (this followed the reasonably well received Tron: Legacy). The film's 'oblivion' quality (as I'm going to coin it) is that the plot throttles around with twists at every corner and takes up your mind processes for a good while after the credits have rolled. You could say, without spoiling it, that you never REALLY know what's going on truly in the world of Oblivion.

After an alien race named the Scavengers destroy our Moon and begin a devastating nuclear war, Earth is rendered inhabitable. Whilst the humans do win the war, they're forced to relocate to the largest moon on Saturn, Titan. However, they're not quite there yet, having to take sea water into hydro generators to convert it into energy to run a triangular ship called the Tet that is housing the remaining human race. Normally, a fleet of intelligent drones keep check on these generators but the Scavengers still remain on Earth and they're being generally a nuisance and shutting off the drones. Cue Jack Harper (or Tech 49 as he's called), a repairman who's been kept on Earth to fix the drones and take out remaining Scavengers with the help of his comms officer Victoria. The plot is Oblivion is oddly its greatest strength and its weakness. That small summary is the basis of the film but over the course of the two hours, what is considered truth and lies are blurred quite thoroughly. I would like to stress in face that if you saw marketing material for Oblivion, you may be mistaken into thinking this is another generic Tom Cruise action flick. Oblivion is in fact anything but; it's a smartly paced, well thought out sci fi mystery with a range of developed characters and a jaw dropping universe. However, if you are a diehard sci fi fan (or even just someone who sees them every now and then) then you will notice plot points that have been generously borrowed from other films. Oblivion's overall plot is extremely thought provoking and interesting but not exactly entirely original. It's a grand shame too as this is one of my favourite storylines in a while and I simply cant do it justice in this review without giving away spoilers. This is a film that will surprise you often. Don't spoil it for yourself.

Kosinski, as mentioned earlier, previously directed the visual artistry that was known as Tron: Legacy. With its fancy neon graphics and enticing CGI world, you can definitely expect a similarly stunning world in Oblivion. My eyeballs were blown away by what I was being shown- and its not even in 3D. In fact, Oblivion is a great example of the 3D gimmick these days. Sure, it can add to the overall experience but it isn't essential by any means. Oblivion gives the viewers an unforgettable world and captivates them with classic sci fi technology and creatures. It goes with my theory that white is the colour of the future, especially with Apple devices practically ruling the tech market. The simplistic colours and the detailed suits, ships and weapons really stand out. This is a film you'll be proud you saw on the big screen.

Now onto the inevitable acting stage and I have to say Oblivion outdoes itself in its performances. Cruise surprised me with his down to earth, human performance. Mission Impossible hero, he is not. Honestly, and this will spark some controversy, I thought Cruise gave possibly the best performance of any 2013 film so far (its only been four months but still a high accolade). Now we have to remember, I haven't seen tons of films this year. I'm sure that the Les Mis stars gave spectacular performances but for me Cruise takes the cake (so far). Now, that's not to undermine the other characters either. Morgan Freeman plays a very important character who I can't give away for spoilers sake but its a very intriguing and impressive performance as you'd expect from him. Andrea Riseborough also gives an outstanding performance in a very key role as Victoria. Her character definitely develops as the movie progresses and when it gets to its peak, her scenes will keep you on the edge of your seat. Finally, Olga Kurylenko (yes the Bond girl from Quantum of Solace) plays another character I can't reveal but who is also extremely important to the films progression.

As a summary, Oblivion is the biggest surprise in a long time. I went in expecting a visual feast (I got a pretty hefty banquet), some typical Cruise action (I got a surprising performance with mystery thriller elements) and a pretty basic science fiction humans vs aliens plot (I got completely the opposite). Simply, Oblivion is worth seeing. Sure, it's not the most original film out there but it looks incredible on the big screen and the plot will keep you hooked despite its complexity. It's a modern science fiction masterpiece.