A search for truth, yet no answers are provided

Rating: 6/10 (27 April 2013)

"A veteran assigned to extract Earth's remaining resources begins to question what he knows about his mission and himself." That is the IMDb synopsis of Oblivion's plot. I went in expecting a science fiction movie about a protagonist that uncovers magnitudes of answers and truths that go against all his taken-for-granted knowledge.
The movie started in an intriguing way, showing us the decimated world wrought by war, and the routines of the protagonist, Jack, and his partner. The visuals of the movie are very well done and it was awe- inspiring to see, ironically, the beauty of such destruction. The cinematography was very well done â€“ I was immersed in several of scenes due to the fashion in which the movie was filmed.
The storyline, however, is a giveaway. It is extremely predictable at times, and it takes the protagonist on a path for truth that leads to a puddle of answers. I expected Morgan Freeman's character to provide some answers, and I expected the characters to be more inquisitive and prying for information. However, the characters were satisfied with the face value of the truth handed to them. I wanted to learn more about the world, and I was learning about it vicariously through the characters. The lack of lore presented in the movie left me hungry for more, and I ended up walking out of the theatre empty.
Overall, this movie is a rental at best. The acting and the visuals, while good, cannot compensate for the lacking story.