Review: Moon

Finally!!! I got to see the critically praised, low budget Sci Fi thriller, "Moon". This film opened about a month later in South Florida after its nationwide release(how embarrassing is that!?).

Synopsis

In the not so far future, a large US-South Korean corporation begins mining clean fuel from the moon, satisfying Earth's energy needs. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is an engineer hired by the US SoKorean Corporation to manage its automated mining station on the moon. His only company has is a computer named Gerty (Eerily voiced by Kevin Spacey). His 3 year contract is coming to an end, and he has two weeks before going back to Earth to his wife and daughter. After a sudden accident on a routine maintenance task, his life will take an unexpected turn.

Comments

This is a very experimental film with an unusual slow pace, countered with high tension. Great performance by Sam Rockwell as he plays the washed out and angst ridden Sam Bell. This is also Duncan Jones' first film. This rookie film director is David Bowie's oldest kid. The set pieces are very reminiscent of "2001: A Space Odissey". I also noted that Sam Bell's lonelyness and fruitless attempts at communicating live with his bosses on Earth were very similar to the loneliness and desperation suffered by the astronaut on Bowie's song "Space Oddity". After introducing us to the main character, the rug is pulled from under our feet, as we really wonder if what is going on is real, or a product of Sam's mind. Once Sam accepts his reality, the film moves to the third act of the movie, which turns tense as we see Sam trying to escape the mining station.

"Moon" has a very original story which combines introspective themes, like the quest for self understanding, and self respect, with criticism towards unfair corporate practices, wrapped within a suspenseful plot that forces our hero to seek an escape to Earth, as his life is threatened by imminent death. Some viewer's may be turned off by the film's linear slow pacing...but hey, have patience, Movies are an art form that must be respected.

This is my second favorite film so far this Summer.

Highly recommended.