Oblivion - B

Rated PG-13, 129 minutes

Sublime visuals biggest star of intense Cruise sci-fi thriller "Oblivion"

Tom Cruise

I will admit that Tom Cruise annoys me, but due to that (or maybe because of it), I found his new sci-fi thriller "Oblivion" to be vastly entertaining and a tense, taut if not overly familiar thriller filled with a nice set of impressive visuals. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, it should appeal to both Cruise fans and science-fiction lovers alike. A court martial sends a veteran soldier (Cruise) to a distant planet in the year 2077, where he is to destroy the remains of an alien race. The arrival of an unexpected traveler (Olga Kurylenko) causes him to question what he knows about the planet, his mission, and himself. Directed by Joseph Kosinski ("Tron: Legacy"), the real star of the enjoyable action thriller is the sublime visuals, namely the sphere-like drones which become the main focus of the story, adding a tense energy that fills the movie. Because drones have been in the news lately, they make for an interesting plot point that speaks to our current reliance on them. Though the story is mildly confusing and predictable, Kosinski's bleak yet fascinating portrait of the future pays tribute to other sci-fi films such as "Star Wars," "Logan's Run" with a little "Planet of the Apes" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" thrown in for good measure. Andrea Riseborough (seen recently in "Disconnect"), along with Oscar-winners Morgan Freeman and Melissa Leo (essentially a female HAL named Sally with a southern accent) round out the A-list supporting cast. Former Bond girl and model Kurylenko's limited acting skills don't help much, but the impressive special effects, not to mention a couple of breathless action sequences (one in the first act involving the drones is especially tense) more than make up for her bland pairing with Cruise, in lower-key form than usual; the draggy mid-section picks up to an explosively baffling climax that may leave some scratching their heads. "Oblivion" is one of Cruise's more tolerable films, and may remind some that Cruise and sci-fi make for a decent pairing, given his last sci-fi outing, 2002's "Minority Report," is one of his best films. "Oblivion" has plenty of thrills and action and plays as a serviceable homage to past sci-fi films and on that level, I don't believe I'm saying this, I will recommend "Oblivion." You'll make it through just fine, so put aside any reservations you have with Cruise and enjoy this intense sci-fi thriller.

Wes's Grade: B