"Moon" Review

For those who think they know hard science fiction, you don't. I have not seen another sci-fi film filled with so much raw, frightening human emotion. "Moon's" setting may be cold and barren, but its story and characters are devastating and impossibly alive.

Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, an astronaut sent to the moon to fulfill a three year contract of gathering materials to fuel Earth. Writer-director Duncan Jones is daring in that instead of showing you this long span of time and Sam's evolution, he sets the story two weeks before Sam's mission is over--when the psychological effects of isolation rear their ugly heads. The film starts right off the bat with Sam experiencing hallucinations and losing his temper. Like the great directors (Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Michael Haneke), Jones instantly makes you feel unsafe in his hands. And the surprises just keep flowing.

The film takes a "Twilight Zone"-esque turn when Sam finds a man on the moon that appears identical to him. This is when Rockwell really shines. He creates a chemistry between he and...himself that is so convincing, it's really quite shocking. He adds humor and awkwardness to the relationship, making it both fun and achingly real.

Critics have complained that this film does not raise enough philosophical questions. Well, maybe it doesn't do so directly, but I found plenty of things to ponder like... Would I like myself if I was faced with a clone? How capable are we as a species of suspending disbelief? How far are we willing to protect our planet? Would we bend our morals to do so?

Jones pulls the rug out from under the audience not only in the story, but in the way he has marketed the film and the release date he has agreed to. It's a genius stroke of wit to make the audience expect a summer sci-fi spectacle/fast-paced thriller and deliver a methodical, haunting character study. The great thing about this film is that it could take place anywhere. The moon is just a backdrop for its story of loneliness and insanity. It does not depend too heavily on its sci-fi elements. It's one of the few science fiction films that depends instead on human drama.

"Moon" is a punch to the gut. When it's over, you won't know what hit you. In short, it's one of the best films of the year.

"Moon"

Grade: A