Review: Cruise’s sci-fi, action-packed “Oblivion” lacks heart

It’s 2077, and Earth is now a wasteland after a war with aliens has left our blue sphere inhospitable. Everyone now lives in a big space station called the Tech. Only two people remain on Earth, to extract its last resources. Jack (Tom Cruise) and Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) have only two more weeks of duty remaining before they can leave to join everyone else, but Jack makes a shocking discovery that leads to a chain of even more shocking events. The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who co-directed “Tron Legacy.”

“Oblivion” feels like a classic ’70s era sci-fi flick. There is a strong influence from films such as “Logan’s Run” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” There is the protagonist who asks too many questions, an ominous tone and a technological government entity with shady objectives.

The first thing that struck me about the film was how good it looks. The cinematography and visual effects are all top-notch. The ship that Jack pilots looks really cool, and the devastated world of “Oblivion” is beautiful in its gloom. The long dunes with historical landmarks popping out of them are a sight to behold.

I tried very hard to find any flaws on the visual front, and there are none to report. I shudder at the thought of how many zeros were on the check for this movie because these visuals can’t be cheap.

Even better than the visuals is the sound design, which is phenomenal. The audio effects of all the future-tech in the movie are effectively pulse-pounding and brought out my inner sci-fi loving child, who could better describe the effects than the present me. The guns go “brakakaka” and the space ships go “neooooo, pshhhhh” and the explosions go “bdoooom!” It’s all topped off by a very sexy soundtrack bursting with synths and strings to give it that epic sci-fi feel.

There are also some very fun and kinetic action sequences. I just wish there had been more of them.

While the movie looks good and sounds good, it unfortunately has no heart behind it. The world and mythology of Oblivion is rather unoriginal and forgettable.  There is some very good acting, but the characters are never fully developed.

Tom Cruise does his best, but I really don’t know Jack – really, anything about Jack. I am not attached to him or his journey, therefore I don’t really care whether he lives or dies. This is a result of the ambitious, but hyperactive plot.

The film is loaded with plot twists, and while some of them are cool and do a good job of holding your attention, they come too frequent and don’t have as much of a punch when they happen. It’s important to shake things up in the plot, but “Oblivion” totally alters the status quo a few times too many. There were a couple scenarios that the movie could have stuck with, and let breathe.

All of these complaints don’t necessarily make the film bad; they just hold it from being truly good. “Oblivion” is at the very least consistently intriguing, and at times thrilling. If only the same care had been applied with the script as with the technical aspects of the film, we might have had something truly special here.

Overall, it’s a decent film that will keep you entertained, but you won’t be sad when it’s over.

Oblivion is in theaters starting tonight, is rated PG-13 and runs for 126 minutes.