Moon (2009) Movie Review #2

I just had the considerable pleasure of watching “Moon” starring the ridiculously good Sam Rockwell and the amazing up and coming director Duncan Jones. I notice that “Moon” was produced in part by Trudie Styler who also produced Guy Ritchie’s first film. She has an eye for talent does this girl. Trudie is also the wife of Sting for those not in the know.

“Moon” is a glorious return to old school, model based science fiction. I say model based because instead of C.G.I. that you know is fake, “Moon” uses models and sets that you know are fake but in a different and more interesting version of fake. It’s fake but has that old world craftsmen feel to it. When rovers go bouncing across the lunar surface like they do frequently in “Moon”, you’re thinking, man that’s some good carpentry or excellent plastic whittling. I really respected the time it took to do it. Now, Duncan Jones probably would have used fancy special effects if he had the money for it, but I’m glad he didn’t frankly. Maybe he wouldn’t have changed a thing. We will never know.

“Moon” kills the nonbelievers out there in Sci-Fi land that say you need a ton of action, bloodthirsty aliens or copious spectrums of prismatic laser fire to make a good Sci-Fi. It turns out all you need is a really good story, directed excellently and one really good actor. “Moon” is a story of a guy (Sam Rockwell) sent to the moon to mine Helium 3, the stuff fusion might eventually use to solve all our problems. Turns out you need to go to the dark side of the moon to get the stuff. As the film opens, Sam is almost through his three year term and is really ready to get the hell on home and see his wife and the baby I don’t believe he has ever met.

With two weeks to go, Sam begins to bug out but quickly finds himself, so to speak. I won’t spoil it for you and if I go further I will. I’m hoping there are budding filmmakers out there that after seeing “Moon” realize what can be done with real sets, real actors and beautiful miniatures with tiny lights. “Moon” has a larger point to get across of course. I got some serious “Blade Runner” vibes throughout. Corporations suck and will eat you. Human life is human life. If something says it’s sentient and it can pass the turing test you better be ready to give it respect. I got all these points watching “Moon” and more. Watching it though, the biggest point that came across for me was talent and craftsmanship still matter. It demonstrates. We can make one Transformers movie or maybe 50 Moons. As all Sci-Fi fans know, there are a metric crapload of fantastic stories out there in our literary history, electric and ready for guys like Duncan Jones to make. I really loved “Moon”. Please make me more.

Duncan Jones (director) / Duncan Jones, Nathan Parker (screenplay)
CAST: Sam Rockwell … Sam Bell
Kevin Spacey … GERTY (voice)
Matt Berry … Overmeyers
Robin Chalk … Sam
Dominique McElligott … Tess Bell
Kaya Scodelario … Eve Bell
Malcolm Stewart … The Technician
Benedict Wong … Thompson