One of the most original and thought-provoking sci-fi movies of recent years

Rating: 8/10 (24 October 2009)

"Moon" belongs to that tradition of science-fiction films that drop the flashy effects and breath-taking action in favour of the more subdued intellectual approach that suggests an idea and invites the audience to consider its moral and philosophical implications. The setting - an isolated space station, its psychologically unstable lone inhabitant, his robotic companion (a humane, and thus inevitably flawed, version of Kubrik's "Al") - sound all to familiar, and at different stages the film seems to fall into one classic storyline or another. There are hints of the "Space Odyssey", particularly felt in the quiet atmosphere and sluggish pace (maintained with the aid of the beautiful score). The growing psychological ambiguity, hallucinations and the shocking revelation that follows are all reminiscent of Tarkovsky's "Solaris", and certainly "Moon" evokes many of the same questions and themes as the Soviet masterpiece, albeit with considerably less ambition. The final stages of the film are bound to draw comparisons to another cult sci-fi classic, The Blade Runner, and though there is certainly a case for such comparisons, they may actually distract us from the movie's finer and more original aspects.
Though it does take a while before the story really begins to develop, I wouldn't necessarily call it too lethargic or dull. If anything, the lack of action works well to convey the main character's boredom and mounting depression on this empty extraterrestrial island. Much of the credit for the film's success should go to Rockwell, who once again proves himself one of the most versatile actors around, acting solo for the majority of the film (bar Spacey's voice). As he dives deeper into the mystery of his mission, his reactions to some truly disturbing discoveries are anything but generic or predictable. Though one would expect the audience to sympathize with any character that finds himself in such a situation, Rockwell is able to create two distinctive personalities, yet both equally sympathetic. He certainly has a big future ahead of him if he carries on in this vein.
The movie boasts some beautiful though rather spooky CGI landscapes of the moon, with the silent harvesters endlessly scouring the satellite's surface. There is some dark, absurdist humour, originating largely in the "dialogue" between Sams, as well as some truly touching, poignant moments. Some of the issues that it raises, like "are we free if we believe in this freedom?", or "does knowledge provide true happiness", are certainly not new, but Duncan Jones gives us a fresh and interesting take on them, which is certainly worth watching.