MOON (2009)

Directed & Story By: Duncan Jones 
Written By: Nathan Parker 
Cinematography By: Gary Shaw 
Editor: Nicolas Gaster 

 Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Benedict Wong, Kaya Scodalario
Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.

Amazing for a Directorial Debut

This movie is all about subtlety, which is nice for a change. Not an action spectacle with a cast of hundreds. Instead here there is a subdued mood that manages to amaze and shock at times while grappling at bigger issues.

This is science fiction that just happens to deal with science and technology. Where as the films main emphasis is on character and mood. It also deals with the nature of identity.

Since we are dealing with a man on a mission. Mining on the moon as his mission is to spend 3 years Alone solitary except for a robotic companion. The film sets the deck early with the robot who has a sad monotone voice of Kevin spacey. For people who are familiar with 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY. Might suspect where the story is going. It wants us To suspect him. So that we are expecting a HAL type of situation. Though that might just be a red herring

I went into this film virtually blind, so I didn't entirely know what to expect. So the things that happen took me by surprise. Though if you see the trailer they kind of spoil it.

The film is a mind bender. Not in a thriller way or continuous twists way, but in a more cerebral way. It asks you to imagine what if you were in the same situation.

For as much praise as I can give to director Duncan Jones. An equal amount must be given to actor Sam Rockwell too. This film is a virtual one man show and Mr. Rockwell carries it well. He is always captivating never boring. The same can be said about the film.

The film makes several references to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODESSEY. GERTY looks and sounds similar to HAL 9000. They also have a similar dot: HAL's is red and GERTY's is blue. This film choreographs scenes in space to classical music, just as Stanley Kubrick did.

The reason i didn't rate this film higher. I do feel this film is a modern classic. Though You have To be in the right mood to really enjoy and appreciate it.

This is definitely a film that is better seen on the big screen, unfortunately I saw it on the small screen also at times it sucks being a film fanatic because you read high praise for the film and your friends go to see it and you expect so much from it and if it falls short of your expectations. It feels like a failure.

While this film is far from one. It wasn't what I expected, but if you are a true film fan you will love it. The four harvesters are nicknamed Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - corresponding with the first four books of the New Testament in the Bible. Screenwriter Nathan Parker said that he just needed four names; no particular symbolism was intended.

It is certainly better and more influential then 80% of what else is actually out there. The film has a simple premise and very few sets. Most of the effects are actually models, but it's ideas and scope are huge.

This is the type of film-making that has been missing from Sci-Fi really since the 70's Duncan Jones is a major talent and I can't wait to see his future films (he is also David bowie's son)

Sam Rockwell gives a star making performance as usual. I have been predicting greatness from Him. Since GALAXY QUEST and he has never let me down. Why he is not a star? I have no idea.

I like that this is the type of film you can go to blind and while you spend the movie trying to figure out what would happen next. You are having fun while watching the film and your thoughts luckily are not distracting you and you are willing to follow the film wherever it may lead. 

Grade: B+