2001, Alien, Blade Runner: These 3 films are like the fundamental elements of the sci-fi periodic table. Over the years they've been recombined, reconfigured and reproduced in countless sci-fi movies, none of which, I'm sorry to say, has ever managed to surpass or even add to them in any substantial way. Sunshine is no exception. Other than its eponymous premise - a mission to reignite the dying sun - pretty much every element of this film can be traced back either to the above three, or to other, less worthy examples of the genre. To make matters worse, the plot is suddenly abandoned halfway through the film to make way for a senseless and unoriginal haunted spaceship/horror subplot - involving the crew being picked off one by one by the half-barbecued captain of the previous, lost mission - a subplot that, since none of it is explained in the slightest way, completely fails to create tension or be frightening. The style of the movie is equally irritating: clearly contrived to appeal to a young, hip demographic, not one of these "astronauts" appears to be over 30 years old, and look more like fashion models than the crew of a spaceship (thin, shiny and androgynous), such that for the first few minutes, you're not sure if you're watching a film or just a really high-budget Calvin Klein commercial. This only serves to undermine the serious theme of self-sacrifice that underlies the movie, as it's hard to believe that these representatives of the ultra-shallow, "Trainspotting" generation would give up their I-pod, let alone their lives to save the earth... Summary: Looks really cool, would have made a great five-minute music video. Another pointless contribution to the sci-fi pool. Still waiting for the next great one.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Color Me Kubrick
(2005)
Brilliant work by Malkovich
26 March 2007
I have to say, after years of seeing Malkovich receive critical acclaim for acting roles in which he seemed to do little more than portray himself, I had pretty much written him off as another one of those American actors whose sole talent lay in having a charismatic persona. I gained renewed respect for him when I saw the priceless, "Being John Malkovich" - which, although not a film to challenge the former accusation, certainly showed that he had a sense of humour about himself and his established "persona". But with "Colour me Kubrick", he deserves full credit - both for allowing himself to appear absolutely ridiculous on film, and for a performance in which he truly transforms himself (multiple times) to portray the grotesque, yet strangely endearing character of Alan Conway. It's a fantastic performance that renews my belief in his skill as an actor. The film itself is cleverly written and well-executed, with excellent performances by all supporting characters. If it weren't for the many, hilarious sub-plots, involving Conway/Kubrick's hapless victims (all of whom, in some way, deserve what they get), the main plot - which is indeed a rather thin premise on which to base an entire film - would have grown tiresome quickly. As it is, the film probably couldn't have stood to be five minutes longer, and ended rather weakly. However, for what it was, it was very entertaining. As a small footnote: very surprising is the - totally uncharacteristic, and as a consequence, quite enjoyable - soundtrack work by Bryan Adams, usually known for his cheezy, lighter-waving, nausea-inducing rock-ballads. Since when does he make music like this?
Tideland
(2005)
Flawed, but underrated film
28 December 2006
After reading a number of extremely negative reviews of this film - all of which emphasized in particular its "disgusting" or "grotesque" scenes, I watched it rather reluctantly - expecting at every moment that something really shocking and awful would happen - and so was surprised by what I actually saw: a sensitive, very well-acted and often quite beautiful story, which genuinely captures the way a child experiences reality. Entirely what you'd expect from Gilliam (the Gilliam who made Time Bandits, anyhow, not the mediocre, generic, CGI-fabricated disappointment that was Brothers Grimm). I honestly can't imagine what people found so offensive about this film - especially in today's world of ultra-extreme, in-your-face-violence-and-gore film-making. I see much more offensive scenes on prime-time television every day. This was not Gilliam's finest work, but it is his best product in some years, and definitely worth watching. Look, in particular, for brilliant performances by Janet McTeer, as "Dell" and especially Brendan Fletcher, as "Dickens".
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