Moon Review
The summer movie season isn’t traditionally the best time to talk about how small a film’s budget is. Summer science fiction is supposed to be about guys named Kirk and Spock or robots named Megatron and Devastator. So far this summer we’ve beat up on Eric Bana with the crew of the USS Enterprise and we’ve joined McG’s resistance against the machines. Flying so far under the radar that it barely registers a blip is a smaller film, with a budget of only five million dollars, which could very well be the best pure science fiction movie of the summer. Moon is directed by Duncan Jones who has made a name for himself directing television commercials as well as for being the son of famous rocker David Bowie. The film has been floating around the festival circuit and is set for limited release on June 12th.
Sam Rockwell in Moon
Moon tells the story of an astronaut, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), who is sent to the moon for 3 years to harvest a new energy source that is transported back to earth. Bell works for a gigantic corporation aimed at providing humanity with an unlimited supply of lunar energy, which will take the place of non-renewable fossil fuels. While on the moon, Bell is assisted by GERTY, an on-board computer/robot that makes sure Sam is taken care of and that the mining job is being done correctly and without incident. A freak accident occurs involving one of the energy harvesters and Sam Bell realizes that the corporation he is working for is cutting some pretty severe corners to save money. I don’t want to spoil the film’s big reveal so I’ll keep the specific plot points to a minimum. All I can do is encourage you to see the film.
Sam Rockwell proves why he could very well be one of the most underrated actors working today. His performance in this film is one of the more memorable I’ve seen this year. Rockwell, again without giving too much away, accomplishes what is, in my opinion, one of the most difficult things that can be demanded of an actor. His performance as Sam Bell drives the entire film. His interactions with GERTY recall the best moments in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Bell’s literal disintegration, both mentally and physically, reminds us that the best sci-fi films have always turned the lens on what we tend to fear most: ourselves. GERTY is voiced perfectly by Kevin Spacey. Spacey, realizing how central the computer is to the plot, voices it with mechanical coldness mixed with small hints of emotive response. These tiny vocal inflections, mixed with a small LCD screen on the front of the computer that displays various happy faces contingent on GERTY’s mood, are what gets the audience both rooting for and being wary of, a machine.
Jones and his production team stretch their budget to create a film that is both driven by a fine performance and buoyed by solid visuals. The exterior shots of the mining facility and the lunar surface look polished and professional. The post production grading process helps achieve a slick and finished look, even when Jones is using simple techniques such as miniature models. The interiors of the station and Bell’s living space are a constructed set. The depth of the set helps counterbalance the claustrophobia that pervades the film. There are hidden floors and passageways and some rooms used for pretty unsettling purposes.
Moon announces the arrival of a new and unique talent in Duncan Jones and provides Sam Rockwell an opportunity to showcase his acting ability. Keep an ear open for Kevin Spacey’s excellent voice work and Clint Mansell’s atmospheric and appropriate score. The film, despite being a virtual one-man show, is shockingly deep. Rockwell showcases an entire emotional spectrum from elation to absolute despair. Moon provides a much more cerebral alternative to the summer popcorn movie and here’s hoping that it sees success in limited release which, in turn, could lead to a very profitable wider release.
