Skip to main content

THE MISSING SLATE

Reinventing The Reel: Edge of Tomorrow

By Jay Sizemore
Tom Cruise may not be the most stable person on the planet, having devoted much of his life to a religion developed by a science-fiction writer and all, but he still proves himself to be a juggernaut of talent when it comes to acting, consistently turning in solid, visceral performances that never feel overwrought or campy. One might wonder if his worship of L. Ron Hubbard has anything to do with his recent penchant toward working in science-fiction films. Whatever the motivation, at least Cruise has an apparent knack for picking quality scripts and talented directors to work with.
© 2014 Warner Bros.
© 2014 Warner Bros.
Edge of Tomorrow is no exception. A surprising amalgamation of iconic movies, includingGroundhog DayAliensStarship Troopers, andThe Matrix, this film takes an outrageous plot device and turns it into a completely riveting life-or-death scenario that builds momentum like that bus in Speed: if it slows down, it will explode. The reason it succeeds is that everyone is happy to go along for the ride. Doug Liman is a director who is no stranger to action, having been propelled to fame with The Bourne Identity, and his finesse for crafting action sequences has only improved over the years. Some of the moments in this one will have you sweating and clenching your teeth.
There are some very interesting things to consider during the course of this film’s progression, and some are a little harder to swallow than others. For instance, just because one character relives the same day over and over yet retains his memories, that doesn’t mean that all the other characters will always accept and interact with him as though they have already shared countless experiences together. Despite Cage (Cruise) spending the same day with Rita (Emily Blunt) again and again, for Rita it always remains the first time she has ever met Cage. However, it becomes harder for the audience to remember that, and it was apparently hard for Emily Blunt to remember to act that way, as their relationship seems to progress at an accelerated rate, which is only credible when you consider Cage’s perspective on it. This issue never goes so far as to completely stretch the bounds of believability however, and that is a testament to the editing and the direction of the film.
Another element is the film’s paradoxical approach to the concept of fate. Bill Paxton is excellent as Master Sergeant Farell and one of his key lines deals with his view of fate, about how he doesn’t believe in it because it ruins the thrill of battle. And yet, the scenario that has Cage pitted to replay the same day over and over until he finds a way to win seems an awful lot like a fated outcome to me. But there are some unexpected twists that may or may not reinforce Master Sergeant Farell’s stance on fate, and it’s those twists that keep the audience on their toes throughout the movie.
Overall, while perhaps not the most original in its ideas, Edge of Tomorrow is an excellent science-fiction blockbuster which succeeds through great storytelling, acting, and direction. I highly recommend it to anyone in need of an adrenaline rush this summer.
Jay Sizemore is a film critic for the magazine.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Natural

Wonderful world

God gave us a world to live in, Food to put on our plates, Water to drink when we are thirsty, That flows down rivers and lakes. Animals that live on the land, Birds that fly in the sky, Fish that live in the sea, All these things that please the eye. When will we come to realise, What a beautiful world we have, We should all want good for the earth, Not destruction and all that is bad. So why do we have to fight, Bringing loss, heartbreak and tears, We live our lives each day, With uncertainties, worries and fears. Why is there so much bitterness, Let's say to ourselves it must cease, People should all come together, Then the world will at last live in peace. I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom, for me and you. And I think to myself... what a wonderful world. I see skies of blue, and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night. And I think to myself... what a wonderful world. The colors of the rainbow, so pretty i...

The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Was a Summer in San Francisco

The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Was a Summer in San Francisco Posted on November 30, 2011 Locale: San Francisco, California? Paris, France? Duluth, Minnesota? Milwaukee, Wisconsin? Originator: Mark Twain? Horace Walpole? James Quin? R. Q. Grant? Lord Byron? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator : Living in Menlo Park near San Francisco I have heard the following witticism credited to Mark Twain many times: The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco. I actually enjoy the weather here, so this saying always seemed implausible to me. Also, the San Francisco Chronicle once printed an article that cast doubt on the Twain attribution. Can you figure out who created this joke? Also, was the remark originally about SF or some other locale? Quote Investigator : There is no evidence in the papers and speeches of Mark Twain that he ever made this remark about San Franc...