Gorgeous to look at, but vacuous and empty. A by the numbers and hollow retelling of much better sci-fi premises. And sloppily at that. As a sensory experience, it is absolutely top notch - the M83 score provides half the momentum - but the messy narrative, dull dialogue, and slogging pace makes OBLIVION a lot less fun than it should be.

Still an utter joy on rewatch. Multiple visits do bring to light some pacing issues (both ironically related to travelling - the trip to Candieland, en route to Le Quint Dickey) and Tarantino's cameo is distracting. But it is full to the brim with stylish flourishes, cracking dialogue, and dark humor. Beginning to settle in near the top of my favorites in Tarantino's oeuvre

The arc of human lives = the aging of wine. Graceful in peaking, yet sharp in decline. Peaks must be seized upon, lest degradation take hold. Payne provides a character in Giammati with so much crushing humanity that the (sometimes) broad gags feel more honest than they would in a lesser film. Lush score and editing provide a serene and gorgeous portrait of joy and poignant sadness as the characters attempt to find life's meaning in the California countryside.