Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow follows Tom Cruise’s William Cage as he’s reluctantly drafted into a war against vicious outer-space creatures, with the movie primarily detailing the character’s exploits after he’s caught in a time loop that resets each time he dies. Filmmaker Doug Liman has infused the early part of Edge of Tomorrow with an almost aggressively disorienting feel, as the movie launches straight into the narrative with little by way of exposition or explanation – with the head-scratching atmosphere compounded by Liman’s ADD-afflicted directorial choices (ie the film’s initial action sequence is all but incomprehensible). It’s clear, then, that Edge of Tomorrow doesn’t begin to wholeheartedly entertain until it launches into its science-fiction-heavy premise, as scripters Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth do a fantastic job of thoroughly exploiting and exploring the various possibilities afforded by the futuristic setup – with the screenplay containing a number of thrilling and unexpectedly comedic set pieces that pave the way for an engrossing, exciting midsection. There’s little doubt, too, that Cruise’s typically charismatic turn as the frazzled central character plays a key role in the movie’s success, with the actor offering up a tremendously engaging performance that’s matched by a strong supporting cast that includes Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, and Brendan Gleeson. The captivating atmosphere persists right up until the film rolls into its final act, with this stretch, unfortunately, mirroring the rather incoherent opening in its ineffectiveness (and it doesn’t help, either, that it transpires in murky darkness) – with the lackluster vibe compounded by an ending that simply isn’t satisfying in the slightest. Edge of Tomorrow is ultimately an uneven yet mostly entertaining blockbuster that benefits from its unique premise and Cruise’s stellar work, with the film, despite its deficiencies, generally faring better than most contemporary summertime releases if only due to its (relatively) short running time.

*** out of ****