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Joseph Kosinski has had one of the most unusual paths to success out of any modern filmmaker, as he has almost exclusively worked at the largest scale possible. His first film, Tron: Legacy, was the most expensive directorial debut of all time at the moment of its release, and his best film, Top Gun: Maverick, was hailed as an event that saved the moviegoing business in the aftermath of COVID-19-related shutdowns. Although his latest blockbuster, F1, is among the most anticipated films of the summer, it is easy to forget that Kosinski directed the science fiction mystery Oblivion with Tom Cruise.
Oblivion was based on a graphic novel of the same name that Kosinski wrote himself, and repurposed classical science fiction imagery for the purpose of telling a post-apocalyptic story about human survivors on Earth. Although it was released at a time when Cruise was at the peak of his popularity, as it came out only shortly after Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, it sadly underperformed when compared to its budget. Perhaps audiences went in expecting a “no prisoners” action thriller, but Oblivion is a deeply thoughtful contemplation of the future that contains one of Cruise’s most underrated performances.
What Is ‘Oblivion’ About?
Set six decades after an alien attack forced humanity to migrate to a colony on Saturn’s moon, Titan, Oblivion stars Cruise as the drone repair technician Jack Harper, who remains on the surface of Earth alongside his communications officer Victoria Olsen (Andrea Riseborough). Although Jack is tasked with converting energy to be used for the Tet, the last remaining human colony ship that orbits Earth, he begins to suspect that he has been denied the truth about the purpose of his mission. Jack’s intrigue intensifies when he begins having recurring dreams about a mysterious woman in his past, and a mysterious NASA craft crashes near his compound. Jack discovers that one of the survivors of the crash, a woman named Julia (Olga Kurylenko), is a Russian crew member who claims to be his wife. Recognizing that his memories may have been erased by his employer, Jack finds an ally in Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), the leader of a group of human survivors who have survived a series of attacks by the Tet.
Although the action sequences that involve Jack avoiding the Tet’s movements are just as electrifying as anything in Top Gun: Maverick or Tron: Legacy, Oblivion is a spiritual film about the importance of memory and identity. Jack is haunted by the belief that he could have been someone better, and begins to question why he is protecting a planet that he has no memory of. Jack’s story arc is an inspiring one, as he is put in a position to fight for the other survivors, but has not truly felt confident in his identity. It’s a more vulnerable performance from Cruise, whose role as Jack is far closer to his work in Vanilla Sky or Magnolia than what you’d expect from your average sci-fi action movie.
Kosinski is one of the few work directors who can utilize visual effects to augment a story without replacing the fundamentals of narrative, and Oblivion uses its eye-popping visuals to create a stark, lonely version of Earth. While at first it can be quite disturbing to see familiar pieces of architecture in such ruinous states, Kosinski suggests that Earth’s legacy is that of its people, a theme that is strengthened thanks to the great chemistry between Cruise and Freeman. Although there are many visual parallels that can be drawn from classical science fiction works, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still or Star Trek, Oblivion features unique designs that feel lifted straight from the original source material.
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‘Oblivion’ Deserved To Be a Bigger Hit
Although it can often be challenging to sell something that’s ostensibly marked as an original work, as most viewers were not familiar with the graphic novel, Oblivion has a moving human story that only makes its visual ambition more compelling. Jack is ultimately drawn between two women who represent different opportunities; Victoria serves the unquestioning nature of the status quo, and Julia invites him to examine the past, even if it holds uncomfortable answers. Older science fiction films can quickly become out of touch if they are not up-to-date with the current developments in technology, but Oblivion features a powerful warning about the danger of artificial intelligence that makes it even more relevant today.
Oblivion deserves to be reconsidered within Kosinski’s filmography, as it proved he was capable of making something other than pure escapism. When compared to someone like Steven Spielberg, Kosinski’s action-packed work in Top Gun: Maverick and F1 are similar to classic blockbusters like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park, whereas Oblivion represents something more unusual and emotional like A.I. Artificial Intelligence. It’s a film so packed with detail that it improves upon each watch, but the electrifying score by M83, locked-in performance by Cruise, and Oscar-worthy visual effects make Oblivion a must-watch for those who complain original sci-fi isn’t made frequently enough.
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