Moon
If you go to any dictionary, preferably one that has pictures, you’ll find a great photo of Sam Rockwell; eye winking and pointing off the page. It seems that Rockwell has fallen under the radar of everyone despite being in major motion pictures like The Green Mile. He appears in this years The Way Way Back and yet again steals the show, becoming the most engaging likeable character of 2013. However, it feels as though people have still yet to grasp his legendary status and this reality only comes to light when you watch 2009’s epic Moon.
Directed by Duncan Jones, that is David Bowie’s son, Moon is a science fiction drama that echoes back to thrillers such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. Centred around an energy base on the lunar body, Moon focuses on worker Sam who has been isolated on a space station to harvest clean energy with only robot GERTY (voiced spookily by for company. Coming to the end of his three year journey, Sam is elated to get home to his family. However, seemingly haunted by hallucinations, Sam is shocked to find a body out in a wreckage. Even more startling is that the body is actually a clone of his self and something sinister is happening.
Moon is a brilliant drama that is written superbly by Jones and screenwriter Nathan Parker. Moon brings the tension so shockingly real, filling the screen with human worries and fears. Claustrophobia, paranoia and existentialism, Jones and Parker utilise this with the abandonment of space in its literally breathless wonder. Adding clean sterile walls and the harmonious robotic tones of Spacey, Moon is steeped in genuine terror for our lead character. As the story unfolds, we follow on the edge of our seats, beating a panicked pulse. We go on as stark and alone as Sam is, trying to untangle the web he is placed in.
But like I mentioned in the opening sentence, Moon is successful because of lead (and pretty much only) Sam Rockwell. Not many would be able to play different versions of his self, but Rockwell achieves the different levels of age and experience whilst also having them spar off. He captures confusion and rage in one as well as deterioration and intelligence in another and plays them against one another. His natural charm drags you into the plight of Sam whilst further piquing your interest in the plot. It is a marvellously mature and insightful performance that inches at a great pace into the depth and dilemma of his character. He is astonishing.
With Gravity about the hit cinemas in the next week, yet another brilliant space movie, Moon is essential viewing for those fans of the genre. Jones has created a triumphant movie that is sorely missed in people’s collections. It is a near impeccable movie that all though is a homage to class science fiction movies, has a different flare and twist (it’s nice to see a friendly robot.) Rockwell is over looked time and time again but sure enough, with genuine greatness like this on his resume, he will become as luminous and bright as a star.
TTFN
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