For those cinema-goers whose enjoyment of a film is based on their personal feelings for its star, Edge Of Tomorrow is a win-win: fans of Tom Cruise can delight in one of his most propulsive, cleverly crafted and slyly funny films in years. Meanwhile, those who consider him an odd and irritating cult freak can relish watching him get killed hundreds of times.
Director Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) is on rip-roaring form with this Source Code-Starship Troopers hybrid, which sees cowardly military figurehead Cruise thrust into a vicious futuristic war against alien marauders. Caught in a time-loop, he must relive the same epic Normandy-style beach battle again and again. Every time he is killed, the day is reset, and the videogame set-up sees him slowly progress each battle, getting ever closer to destroying the alien race.
Cruise has rarely been better in an action film, and his arc wryly plays on Cruise’s own reputation within Hollywood. Initially presented as a schmoozy PR representative, his faux-charisma is hilariously shown up by a no-bullshit General (a brilliantly stoic and scene-stealing Brendan Gleeson). When thrust into battle, he becomes a snivelling, useless mess, and Liman’s mercilessly frenetic battle scenes evoke his terror and disorientation. Shaky cams and well-used 3D capture the onslaught of alien attacks and debris being thrust at both Cruise and the viewer.
Thanks to this emotional realism, Cruise’s gradual transformation into an elite killer feels satisfyingly hard-earned, and made all the more engaging thanks to Emily Blunt’s role as his hard-nosed trainer, as well as the hugely energised, visually spectacular action.
Well played, Cruise. Take some bonus points and an extra life – you’ve earned them.