A Return to Pure Sci-fi

Rating: 9/10 (19 February 2013)

Moon is a welcome return to pure science fiction. Most science fiction films nowadays are what I call "sci-fi lite-" that is, they contain science fiction elements within the framework of another genre. But Moon is the best real science fiction film that I've seen in ages. Coincidentally it came out in the same year as District 9, another great science fiction film, but Moon edges it out slightly in my opinion. This is a mind-bending film that gives the audience a lot to think about. This is a spoilerific review, so do not read this unless you have seen the movie.
Sam Rockwell plays Sam Bell, an astronaut who harvests an energy source called helium-3 for the Lunar Corporation. Bell is all alone on his employer's moon base with only his computer, Gerty (voiced by Kevin Spacey), for a companion. Three years of isolation have put a heavy toll on his mental and physical health. He starts seeing things and gets easily distracted. His poor health causes him to get into an accident while driving a vehicle that's sort of like a monster truck for moon travel.
Bell awakens in the infirmary on the base, but something seems fishy. Gerty does not want him to go outside and the computer lies to him about taking a conference call with his corporate overlords. So he concocts a scheme to trick Gerty into letting him outside the moon base where he makes a shocking discovery- there is a body in the wrecked space vehicle that looks just like him! It turns out there is another Sam Bell, and they are both just clones of the original Sam Bell who is safely back on Earth. The two clones have to learn to live with each other and it doesn't prove to be easy.
From here, the film explores an interesting question: what would it be like to meet yourself? Could you learn anything from yourself? The two Sam Bells in fact do have a lot to learn from each other. Sam Rockwell really makes the film's insane scenario seem perfectly plausible and he is able to carry the entire film on his shoulders since he's practically the entire cast! Rockwell is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood in my opinion.
Moon is an impressive directorial debut for Duncan Jones, David Bowie's son. Aside from creating a fascinating premise, Jones employs old school special effects that stand up to the best computer animation in Hollywood. You would never guess that the moon base and the vehicles are miniatures- and all of it was done on a shoe- string budget. It just goes to show you that creativity and intelligence can always outdo a large budget.
Moon is one of those rare intelligent science fiction films that will be loved by fans for a long time. I look forward to more of Duncan Jones's projects.