A Fresh Take on the Sci-fi Genre

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2010)

Moon has been labeled an "indie-sci-fi film". And with a directorial debut from Duncan Jones, very little CGI, and a budget of 5 million dollars, it is just that. If you were like me and don't quite know what to expect from this film, you should be pleasantly surprised. Yes, Moon is a sci-fi film, but its focus is 100 percent on character and psychology. In a way, it is reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey (without question the greatest science fiction tale ever put to film). There is spectacle in both films, but it takes a back seat to some very original, human ideas.
Moon is set sometime in the future, although we are never given a specific year. Fossil fuels and common sources of energy on earth have been completely used up. Luckily, the moon's surface is rich with some kind of helium, which can be used to make energy through nuclear fusion. The company in charge of this mining process, Lunar Industries, employs Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) to supervise all the mining equipment on the moon. Sam is under a three-year contract; in his solitude he watches television, grows plants, and receives video messages from his wife and newborn daughter. His only companion is the computer GERTY (appropriately voiced by Kevin Spacey) who too closely resembles HAL from 2001. The film begins with the final weeks of Sam's contract. It would be difficult to continue explaining the film's plot without ruining it, so I won't even attempt to do so.
Within 30 minutes, the film rejects traditional sci-fi elements and turns into something you would never expect it to be. It also requires some close attention; some twists are explained so quickly that you may be scratching your head by the end of the film. Pay attention to the last lines of the movie. It raises some ethical Blade Runner-esquire questions while setting the film up for a sequel (which Duncan Jones has already confirmed).
The most important thing about a film like Moon is the performance. There's a lot of chatter within the internet community about Sam Rockwell's performance and a possible Academy Award nomination. Rockwell (who forever will be "Wild Bill" from The Green Mile to me) is a very solid supporting actor, but doesn't have the type of screen presence to carry an entire film. Don't get me wrong, he gets the job done. In a one-man show like Moon, Rockwell has a lot of masks to wear. However, an Oscar-worthy performance should keep the viewer transfixed, and by the end of the film, I just wasn't quite sold.
Although it has its flaws, Moon is unique, enjoyable, and a must see for viewers looking for something fresh in the sci-fi genre.