Oblivion (2013) film Review
In "Oblivion Movie," Tom Cruise takes on a unique space adventure where he pilots a peculiar, sperm-shaped craft into a massive space uterus. The scene might sound more intriguing when described than when actually watched. Cruise's ship enters through an airlock that looks like a geometric vulva, leading him into a chamber filled with egg-like glass bubbles. At the center is a pulsating, sentient triangle, representing some sort of mother figure that Cruise must defeat to save Earth.
Oblivion (2013) film
Similar to director Joseph Kosinski's earlier work, 'Tron: Legacy,' 'Oblivion' is heavy on special effects and symbolism but lacks substantial meaning. The movie starts slow, becomes dull, and eventually turns tedious. Despite these drawbacks, it's a slight improvement over Kosinski's previous film, featuring shiny surfaces, futuristic machinery, and a lack of relatable human behavior.
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Set in 2077, 60 years after an alien invasion left Earth mostly uninhabitable, 'Oblivion' follows Cruise's character, Jack Harper. He's one of the few remaining people on the planet, tasked with servicing robot drones defending resource-gathering stations from lingering alien threats. Harper lives in a penthouse-like tower with his communications officer, Vica (played by Andrea Riseborough), whose permanently dilated eyes and marionette-like demeanor may remind viewers of Olivia Wilde's character in 'Tron: Legacy.
"Harper and Vica spend their days fixing drones, enjoying candlelit dinners, and swimming in a glass-bottomed pool. Their boss, Sally, oversees them from a control center in space. To maintain the mission's integrity, Harper and Vica's memories have been wiped. However, Harper is haunted by cheesy dreams of a woman from pre-invasion New York.
One day, Harper rescues a survivor from a crashing spacecraft – a Russian astronaut who resembles the woman from his dreams. Bringing her home creates tension with Vica, his partner and lover. The astronaut, in cryogenic sleep for six decades, withholds her mission details until they recover her flight recorder, revealing secrets about Harper, Vica, and the alien invasion.
The film's strength lies in its opening, gradually building an immersive world. However, the abandoned Earth it introduces is more captivating than the jumbled story. "Oblivion" tries to be many sci-fi movies simultaneously but falls short.
It begins as a political allegory about a technician using drones against demonized aliens, only to abandon this theme. It attempts to be a mind-bending exploration of the lead character's identity, but the character lacks depth. While portraying human struggle in a tech-controlled world, it prioritizes technology over human stories. As an action flick, it falters in delivering compelling action scenes.
The film's persistent theme is a 'creation myth' around Harper, an idealized man. Despite various female characters, none can act without Harper's help, reinforcing a sense of misogyny. "Oblivion" aims for depth but ends up clinging to outdated gender stereotypes.