“Oblivion” is a stylish science fiction picture released in 2013 and directed by Joseph Kosinski, who co-wrote an unpublished graphic novel that served as a basis for the film. The screenplay was written by Karl Gajdusek and Michael Arndt. The cast is headlined by Tom Cruise and includes Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Oblivion is for sure a visual aesthetic and a remarkable film with a deeply philosophical score in the background. That film even today makes the audience wonder who they really are and what is the nature of their existence.
Oblivion as a post-apocalyptic feature is a unique and contemplative addition to the sci-fi genre. It does pay homage to the classics yet still pioneers its own, more meditative course that ingeniously offers silence and stillness.
Synopsis
The year is 2077. The planet Earth has been attacked by a species called Scavs as the earth then turns into a battleground for humanity in a war and a world later conquers the “invaders.” Although they won the war, their victory was bittersweet. Earth’s evil forces turn the planet into a nuclear wasteland and the remaining population becomes exiled to live on a distant moon of Saturn called Titan.
Jack Harper, portrayed by Tom Cruise, is one of Earth’s last humans and is functioning as a “tech” maintaining the drones that defend the hydro-rigs which extract and gather what remains of Earth’s resources to be used on Titan. He shares a high-tech sky tower with Victoria “Vika” Olsen (Andrea Riseborough), his wife and a comms officer. They follow orders daily from their commander, Sally, who is aboard the Tet, a stationed commanding spaceship.
The memories of Jack and Vika have both been wiped for security reasons, but Jack is still struggling with the remnants of enigmatic memories he cannot place—most notably a woman and the observation deck of the Empire State Building, one of the drones he operates. These irrational and unexplainable “memories” threaten his sense of purpose.
While on a routine mission, Jack comes across a crashed spacecraft and a group of humans in stasis. One of them, Julia Rusakova (Olga Kurylenko), is the woman from his dreams. Her presence shatters his world. As Jack continues to search for answers, he comes to the terrifying realization that the Tet is not a refuge for humans, but an alien artificial intelligence that destroyed Earth and uses clones to subdue its defenders. Jack is just one of the many clones that the Tet created to efficiently manage Earth’s resources.
Now, with the help of Julia, who he learns is his wife, and a surviving group of the human resistance led by Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), Jack is forced to come to terms with his reality. Along with accepting his true identity, he must make the impossible choice of Tet’s self-sacrifice in order to shut down the AI and free humanity from control.
Characters and Performances
Jack Harper (Tom Cruise)
Tom Cruise’s performance is grounded. He combines the usual action-hero flair with some introspective vulnerability. Jack is a man gently beginning to wake up to the reality of the situation. Cruise fully embraces the character’s transition from a devoted system servant to a self-defeating rebel confronting the truth of his existence. He brings impact to the film with his emotional chemistry with both Andrea Riseborough and Olga Kurylenko.
Victoria Olsen (Andrea Riseborough)
Vika is Jack’s partner both in the mission and in the home front. Riseborough plays her with a cold, more wound-up demeanor. Her need for approval and to bring order to chaos stands in stark contrast to Jack’s yearning for freedom and emotional exploration. Vika is a tragic character as well; controlled, frightened, and ultimately unraveling to the truth that she is too scared to face.
Julia Rusakova (Olga Kurylenko)
Julia is the emotional center of the film. She is Jack’s real wife, and her presence forces him to face his suppressed memories and reassess everything he thought was reality. Kurylenko’s performance brings out the depth and the tragic romance of a film overpowered by the technology themes.
Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman)
Morgan Freeman, as always, brings gravitas to the role of the resistance leader. Beech is the bearer of truth and the embodiment of humanity’s last hope. He might not appear on screen for long, but his role is essential for supporting Jack on his transformational journey.
Themes and Symbolism
At its core, Oblivion is a meditation on identity, memory, and free will. Jack Harper’s journey is not only a quest for humanity’s future, but a personal endeavor to rediscover his identity. The film asks deep questions. Can a being created for a specific role outgrow their blueprint? The concept of cloning and AI is at the forefront here. Jack’s revelation as a clone forces the audience to confront the ethics of replication and the essence of self. Thousands of identical Jacks may exist, but the one we follow is different because he chooses to defy, to love, and to sacrifice.
Another significant a theme is illusion versus reality. The existence Jack’s living at the start, which appears as a sterile, high-tech bliss, is meticulously maintained illusion. All reinforcing elements in the illusion, the sky tower, the daily reports, and even his partner Vika, reveal as to the lies of his existence. The truth of the illusion and reality balance is a personal peeling journey as much as it is conspiracy revealing.
Through the character Jack, the film explores memory and love as a forces of love. Jack’s dreams of Julia transcend being a mere system glitch; rather they suggest hints of a powerful, unreal past which even a clone is unable to forget. This notion elevates his and Julia’s bond to a near mythical dimension, projecting love as a memory transcending tremendous enough to overpower even meticulously detailed programming.
Visual effects and Direction
As a former director of Tron: Legacy, Joseph Kosinski is captivating in the direction of Oblivion. With splendid reveal of ruined cities, vast empty deserts, and futuristic technology, Oblivion is a visual masterpiece. The film exhibits the beauty of a visual masterpiece in juxtaposition to practical effects and sleek CGI.
The design of the sky tower, drones, and ships is simple and sleek, mirroring the sterility of Jack’s false reality. In contrast, the resistance base that is hidden underground is earthy, dark, and alive. The visual contrast reflects the narrative shift from control to freedom.
The cinematography, by Claudio Miranda, emphasizes the isolation and beauty of the Earth and sky. Acclaimed French electronic band M83, along with Joseph Trapanese, provided the score for the film, which serves as an emotional and philosophical complement to the narrative.
Reception and Legacy
Oblivion’s reviews were a mixture of praise and critique. Critics noted the visuals, soundtrack, and ambition as highlights, while the narrative’s heavy reliance on prior sci-fi works as a critique. Viewers were quick to recognize the homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey, Moon, Wall-E, and The Matrix. Oblivion, however, was noted for its emotional impact and sophisticated execution.
The film was a box office success, particularly in foreign markets, and was later embraced by viewers in home settings. Oblivion is gaining recognition for its calm, high-concept narrative that is reflective and introspective, while still being on the scale of a blockbuster.
Conclusion
Oblivion intricately weaves a futuristic tale of humanity’s reckoning with an introspective narrative, balancing reflection with moments of an action-packed plot. It modernizes a classic sci-fi approach, blending sleek visual aesthetics with philosophical depth. The film showcases Jack Harper’s journey transcending a mere narrative about self-identity, memory, love, and the bravery required to achieve freedom.
Oblivion transcends a post-apocalyptic film with stunning visuals, becoming a deeply resonating narrative about humanity, even amidst technology’s overwhelming presence. It poses a philosophical inquiry of: what is left of someone when memories, history, and background are stripped away? The answer to such a deeply resonating inquiry Oblivion proposes, while simple, is profound in nature: love, choice, and sacrifice.
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