Boring, clichéd, derivative, SF action film starring Tom Cruise.

Rating: Null/10 (16 April 2013)

Is this meant to be a comedy? If so it was very good. Alas, I fear it was not. It should have been made as one and if it was, it would have been more enjoyable. Perhaps instead it was a knowing Tarantino-like nod to classic films in one genre, with other genres thrown in and all referenced in the film. Perhaps not.
There is nothing in this film that is original. Nothing whatsoever. Everything in this film is borrowed from some other film or some other film franchise (a term I do not like using but have to here). Most of the ideas in this film have been used in other SF films. The films cannot be named as this would constitute as major plot-spoiling. Two major film franchises have been used for source material, one massively, I dare not even name the star or the genre. Tom Cruise films have even been scavenged. At least two. Well at least that is appropriate. I count at least four SF films that have been scavenged. Romance and suspense genres have also been dipped into.
Film stars Tom Cruise. He has his all-American good looks and his wry smile. Film opens with his narration and with his rambling conversations to himself and his work colleague. This gives you the background to the story of the earth being destroyed and this couple living up in the sky. All this talk is irritating but at least Cruise is believable as a somewhat lonely man, on his own a lot, who talks to himself a lot.
Tom Cruise is an engineer and pilot. His colleague, played by Andrea Riseborough, works the controls back at base. This base is up in the sky and is a very clean and sanitised place, that contrasts starkly with the grim Earth below. This brave new world base is stunning. The controls stuff is boring but the domestic scenes are the best part of the film.
There is much chasing, fighting and flying. All done well. This reviewer had upgraded to the tilting seats and so this probably enhanced those scenes. Feel the vibration when the plane takes off! Having said that, the chasing and flying scenes were very derivative. Praise where praise is due, all the special-effects were stunning, as were the locations. Some of the outside location-shots were truly breath-taking but again sadly somewhat derivative.
The acting is good. Tom Cruise is good (OK TC). For some reason Andrea Riseborough is listed fourth in the cast. She should be second. We see a lot more of her here than we do in the recent 'Welcome to the Punch'. More, longer and more depth. A much bigger part which she fills well. With this and 'Punch' both being so unoriginal, it must be hoped that she can get the chance to be in better films. Olga Kurylenko, too, gave a moving performance. Both females were wasted though by this script in which everything was telegraphed. Words, plots, twists, all could be guessed at and predicted before they happened. All thespians old and young performed well.
All problems with this film can be safely left at the door of the writer/director Joseph Kosinski. Final credits state film came from a graphic novel. IMDb states the novel idea came from Kosinski. He was born in 1974, thus is nearly forty years old but you would think he was half that age. Has he not seen any films?
I was not born in 1935 but I have seen the film from that year by Alfred Hitchcock entitled 'The 39 Steps', starring Robert Donat. I have also seen the Kenneth More and Robert Powell versions. Why do I mention this? I can safely mention that a good way into the film there is a small scene which would have Richard Hanney shouting "Been there, done that!". I merely say that this film is just so very, very familiar.
In the UK it is rated 12A. In the opinion of this reviewer, this is because nobody over the age of 12 should be allowed to see it. Even those 15-18 years-old will find it derivative.
Have heard secret reports leaking out that a 4th version of 'The 39 Steps' is to be made. I look forward to Richard Hanney once more shouting out "What are the 39 Steps?" but that of course is another story.
If you are going to see 'Oblivion' and you have never seen another film before, you will love it. Those who have seen more films will like it less. Comedies and romances must keep to the rules of their genre. Nice guys get laughed at when they are in trouble but then they get out of it. That couple who are right for each other will eventually get together. Do action films just have standard actions and plots that are endlessly repeated? This one does!
At the risk of being repetitive about this deeply, deeply unoriginal film, there is nothing in this film that is original. Nothing at all. Therefore this can only be described as a fairly good to average action film and thus is marked 5/10.