If Tomorrow Never Comes
Film: Edge of Tomorrow
Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt
Directed by: Doug Liman
Duration: 1 hr 52 mins
Rating: * * * 1 / 2
Edge of Tomorrow will go down as one of the better science fiction films we have seen in recent time. With a clever story (based on a Japanese book All You Need Is Kill) director Doug Liman (the Bourne Identity and Ultimatum) manages to deliver a film that is intriguing from start to finish.
It would be impossible not to think of Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day (1993) while watching Edge of Tomorrow. Since the story goes in a ‘loop’ it also reminded me of Manners of Dying (2004, based on a story by Yann Martel) and science fiction writer Robert Heinlein’s classic time travel story, By His Boot Straps.
What would you do if you could ‘reset’ the day and start all over again if something went wrong? That is the basic premise although it is set during a conflict when everything is going wrong.
Set during an unspecified time, aliens have invaded the earth and mankind is fighting a losing battle. Tom Cruise plays William Cage, an army Major who is forcefully sent to France where a Normandy like attack takes place. Just as he is killed, Cage finds him self back to the base. The conflict starts again and Cage is killed at a slightly latter stage this time but as soon as that happens, he finds himself back on the base.
In other words, with his death, the day is reset. Rita (Emily Blunt) is an ace warrior who possessed similar qualities once and understands what is happening to Cage. Together, they have to find a way to get to the Omega (equivalent of the alien mother ship) and destroy it.
With a story that goes in a loop for a while, it could have easily spiraled out of control but Liman has kept the proceedings tight and pacy, initially you wonder where it all headed to but once the outline is laid, the film gets into action mode. You know they are likely to achieve what they want to, the question is, how will it unfold.
Tom Cruise’ off screen antics may have given him a bad name but as in actor, he still has it in him to pull it off.
For those who like action or sci-fi Edge of Tomorrow is not to be missed.
Published in The Navhind Times on 8th June 2014
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