Moon (2009)

Director:

Duncan Jones

Writers:

Duncan Jones (original story)
Nathan Parker (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 July 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The last place you'd ever expect to find yourself

Plot:

Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, where he, working alongside his computer, GERTY, sends back to Earth parcels of a resource that has helped diminish our planet's power problems.

Plot Keywords:

Earth | Computer | Accident | Contract | Astronaut

Awards:

11 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Sam Rockwell	...	Sam Bell
Kevin Spacey	...	GERTY (voice)
Dominique McElligott	...	Tess Bell
Rosie Shaw	...	Little Eve
Adrienne Shaw	...	Nanny
Kaya Scodelario	...	Eve
Malcolm Stewart	...	Technician
Robin Chalk	...	Sam Bell Clone
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matt Berry	...	Overmeyers
Benedict Wong	...	Thompson

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:R | Ireland:15A | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Netherlands:9 | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Liberty Films UK

Trivia:

On one of the mineral tubes that Sam unloads from the mining machine has the word Sarang written in English and Korean. Sarang is Korean for "love". Sarang also means peacock in Sanskrit language.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the shot where you can see the Earth it appears much bigger than it would in reality.

Quotes:

Sam Bell: Are you OK with that?
GERTY: I'm here to keep you safe, Sam. I want to help you.

Movie Connections:

References Alien (1979)

Soundtrack:

Walking on Sunshine

Classic sci-fi driven by a Sam Rockwell tour-de-force

I attended a screening of "Moon" at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival in the legendary Paramount Theatre. There wasn't an empty seat in the 1300-capacity palace. Directed by Duncan Jones, "Moon" stars Sam Rockwell, one of our generation's most powerful actors.

The notion of a film being unique seems unlikely in 2009. Not here. While "Moon" is a modern-day science fiction film set in the future, it pays homage to recent classics like "Blade Runner" and "Alien." Viewers will be dazzled -- fans of the genre will nod in approval.

Science has developed a way to mine the rocks of the moon for clean energy here on earth. Private enterprise, in the form of a corporation from Japan, sends astronauts on a three-year work stint to carry out this ongoing mission. Sam Bell (Rockwell) is the latest to undertake this task, with the trusted robot GERTY by his side watching over the base's operations -- think HAL with a heart. Of course, things are not what they seem, and the viewer is mesmerized as puzzling and surprising events unfold.

Cinematographer Gary Shaw contributes to the impression of the eerie stillness of life on the moon with the copious use of still camera and slow tracking shots, only using hand-held when necessary. Nicolas Gaster's editing is sure and steady, emphasizing the slow pace of Sam Bell's multi-year work assignment. Remember those pre-CGI days when special effects meant miniature land rovers on a bumpy table? It can still be done -- and be believable. "Moon" is evocative of the sci-fi greats whose visuals were done in-camera, i.e., on set as opposed to being created by computers in post-production. Sam Bell's unearthly home is comfortable yet aging like the patina of an old cottage.

Nathan Parker's screenplay (Jones wrote the story but handed over screen writing duties to Parker) makes the most of Sam Rockwell's considerable talents. This was quite a physically demanding role, as well, and rarely has the actor been better (watch "Snow Angels," though). He doesn't just carry the film -- "Moon" is almost a one-man show and Rockwell conducts a master class.

"Moon" is a classic, down and dirty (literally) science fiction film with a baffling mystery that challenges the viewer to live in the shoes of the protagonist. It's hard to imagine a better one than Sam Rockwell or a more effective, entertaining, and satisfying cinematic experience.