Rusty James Reviews Moon
Monday, July 6th, 2009
The Moon. For several years now it has illuminated our night sky as well as our imaginations. While some say it merely reflects the light from our Sun, others say it reflects man’s search for purpose in a vast and mysterious universe.
And now one of David Bowie’s kid’s has made a movie set upon this titular celestial plateau.
Far in the future; sometime after the oil lobbies iron fist has unclenched but before apes become our masters; human beings have at last figured out the answer to our energy needs. The solution involves a friendly robot Kevin Spacey, a manned station on the dark side of the moon, and sending Sam Rockwell’s scruffy ass there to do stuff.
It’s a lonely job but Sam Rockwell’s gotta do it. Actually, I’m not even sure what his job is supposed to be on this space station. Everything looks automated so I’ve concluded he’s just there to keep Robot Kevin Spacey company.
Why this guy? How’d he draw the short straw? And what happens next week when his three year tour is up? These questions and others may be addressed in some manner by the end of the film.
Moon starts off at slow simmer and it took me a while to find it’s grove but once I did I became immersed in it’s spell. The story unfolds with the disarming intensity of a one man, single act play. It’s a claustrophobic introverted drama set against an endless and cosmic back drop. There are emotional heart breaking moments that rival anything in Up.
It’s terse smart sci-fi in the same vein as Danny Boyle’s Sunshine. And while the imagery may not be quite as beautiful as that film’s the story doesn’t derail two thirds in and delivers a satisfying concussion.
This is director Duncan Jones’ first feature film (and he really is David Bowie’s son). Clint Mansel’s (The Fountain) score drones and hums melodically like a marriage of Radio Head to Carter Burwell. The art direction is austere and sterile and recalls Douglas Trumbull’s work in 2001 (Did you know there’s an actor in that movie named Glenn Beck? I hope it’s not that same glazed-over cross eyed douche that’s on TV). The effects aren’t state of the art but they’re resourceful and well done. It’s relieving to see practical effects on the big screen again.
It’s a smart, well made film, at once unnerving and entertaining. Sci-fi fans should make it a point to put in on their must see list.
The Infamous Russel James
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If it’s good enough for Rusty James, it’s good enough for me.
Jack, you live in England right? Is this film playing near you right now?
I’ve seen previews for this “In The Loop Movie” you keep talking about. It looks but I just don’t british people are funny. I’ve been told it’s a horrible prejudice of mine.
I do live in England. Moon isn’t out over here until July 17th, it did have a q and a screening with Duncan Jones at the BFI (British Film Institute) the other night, I would have gone if not for a prior engagement. In The Loop is a masterpiece, a tourdeforce of pure awesomeness, The American previews are 100 times better than the UK ones which really didn’t sell the film well at all. The film is smart, funny and gripping, it is also one of the best (and realistic) films about politicians I’ve ever seen. Sorry you feel that way about British comedy (though America features heavily in In The Loop), but I’m just going to throw out a few suggestions that will hopefully help change your mind
Anything Monty Python
Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz
The Thick of It (which shares characters with In The Loop)
Alan Partridge
Blackadder
The League of Gentlemen (not the movie version though)
Psychoville (onright now and is hystrical)
The Inbetweeners (not great but can be brilliant)
and of course, the classic British version of The Office
@ Alan Partridge
Soooo many people have recommended this to me. I just don’t get it, I thought it was unremarkable, I didn’t finish the dvd set.
Spaced is lame, Monty Python have done some ok stuff.
I think Gervais is funny and Young Ones is one of my favorite shows. Other than that you’re just an unfunny race of people.
aw dude, I used to like you but god, how can you call Spaced lame, same with Alan Partridge, it’s fracking awesome.
Try out The League of Gentlemen, it’s a must for any fan of dark humour/obscure film.
I actually have an unatural LOVE of British humour. Spaced is right up there with my favorite sitcoms, and I think Ricky Gervais is a genius. Haven’t seen Alan Partridge yet, but I’m a big Steve Coogan fan and I’d love see the thing that put him on the map sometime
I’m gonna start to sound like a broken record but check out The League of Gentlemen, I don’t think it ever made a big splash outside of the UK but it is one of the funniest… and at times scarriest things I’ve ever seen, really worth a look. Try and avoid things like Little Britain, The Catherine Tate Show, My Family, they are a bit poo. Another interesting one is Peep Show, it’s truly awkward and hysterical
I’ve liked what I’ve seen of the Catherine Tate Show, but I haven’t seen a lot. What American shows are you a fan of?
I know I know I’m in the minority.
Ive barely seen an episode though. I’ll retract “lame” and say “it wasn’t my sort of thing”.
I like things that aren’t lame.
Wait that didn’t com
have you seen “Young Ones”
I love The Young Ones, I feel it’s a bit dated now though…
I think Moon is in less than 100 theaters here in the states. I’m curious if anyone else lives anywhere near where this thing is playing.
I’m in Canada, and it just came out today so i decided to check it out after reading your post about it. I thought it was pretty good, even if it isnt my usual kind of movie.
Thanks for telling me that Keoki, it’s nice to know someone took my recomendation and I’m glad you liked the movie.
In what way is it not your “usual kind of movie”?
What’s an example of your kind of movie?
Well i seem to be the kind of movie-goer you seem to hate…i dont see many movies and when i do they all seem to be the big blockbuster, popcorn movie… ie: Transformers and the like… im just starting to get into the smaller movies now that i have more time on my hands, which is why ive been following some of your suggestions this last week or so
Whoa whoa. I defintely have some strong opinions but “I hate people who see the wrong movies” is not the message I’m trying to get across.
I do understand that not everyone is as into movies as me and that some films don’t even open in huge parts of the country (er… continent). I don’t expect people who go out to the theater a few times a year to be ultra-discriminating. They want to see the movies that they’ve seen commercials for and heard their friends talking about and that’s fine.
This review was born out of that epic flame war between Randy and I, over in the Trans 2 thread. But I felt like I let myself get off message over there. It started out with me advocating some cool looking sci-fi movies I was looking forward too but ended up blowing up at Randy over his lowest common denominator film viewing.
I understand why people are more willing to go out to see something they grew up with like Smurf’s and He-Man. But I also think most of us would enjoy a film like Moon more in the long run. I think Moon is a better use of our time and money.
And I think most of us agree but unfortunately Moon doesn’t have a $100 million ad campaign to incestantly remind us all that it’s coming out and that it looks cool. It gets lost in the summer movie shuffle. You’ve got to do the marketers job for them and remind yourself that it looks good.
Where I really started to take issue with Randy was that he seems to think Trannies and GI Joe are just as legitimate as films like Moon or District 9. They’re not. Original stories have infinitely more potential than some thinly gussed up toy commercial premise.
Look at the trades, the future looks more like Asteroids, View Finder, and Short Circuit Remake and less like Do The Right Thing or Blue Velvet. And that’s the future you’re voting for when you go see Transformers 2.
Real films are going away. The films that make you love film are out of vogue and impractical to finance. I don’t think there’s much we can do to stop this trend, and I’m not too worried about it; solid film making will have a future in dtv and online streaming.
But it’s pathetic to support the trend. What’s the point in being a sci-fi / film buff if you’re just going to see the same crap as everyone else?
And besides it’s a waste of time. Films like Moon and A Scanner Darkly are better than Transformers and GI Joe.
So I guess I’m just trying to raise awareness among the fan community and promote concientous consumerism.
- The Kindler, Gentler Rusty James
I think I should note that a big multi million dollar film doesn’t exactly have to be bad, both Transformers and GI Joe are bad movies, but the first two Spidey movies are great, Star Trek was great fun, as was Iron Man, if we have more movies like that in our future I’ll be very happy, hell look at The Dark Knight, a fantastic film and one of the highest grossing films of all time.
I see your point, and i suppose i did over simplify a bit when i said you hate those movies and the people who see them. And i must agree with you about A Scanner darkly, because i loved that movie. And I also agree that those of us who don’t see many movies seem to only see the giant blockbusters that have incredibly large advertising budgets when it might be more fulfilling to go see a smaller budget film that is of higher quality. (I cant even use the excuse of not having many movies come out as I live in the largest city in my province.) That is why I for one am trying to change, and I do hope smaller movies survive and prosper in the future because most of the ones i have seen are better then a lot of the bigger names that have come out.
Thanks for your input Keoki. Im curious, which city in Canada do you live in?
Have you read the book A Scanner Darkly? I recommend it.
I live in Calgary, Alberta, and no actually to be honest i didn’t even know there was a book…I’ll definitely have to check that out
Unfortunately Moon isn’t anywhere close to me. Hopefully it will expand further in the coming weeks.
Going to see Moon today! Very excited!
Alright, so I just got back from Moon, and it was amazing. I loved it. I’m so happy that in one year we get the very best of either end of the science fiction pool; with Star Trek we have the super fun, exciting space opera and now with Moon, we get this really brilliant, speculative, thoughtful film. Great, great film. If its playing anywhere near you, please do yourself a favour and check it out.
I guess I don’t really get the love for Star Trek. I mean, I iike it a lot. I’d give it 3 out of 4. But I hear people raving about, loving it, calling it one of the best films of the year… I don’t know…
It’s got the same later act problems that all these movies have. It’s not very imaginative, the plot is almost the same as nemesis. In some ways I prefer Star Trek V. I hope the sequel brings back some actual exploration.
A movie like Moon makes me think I should be less willing to accept Star Trek.
I wasn’t really expecting anything deep from Star Trek. I was looking for an awesome, witty, exciting blockbuster and thats what I got. To me, that’s the mistake Bryan Singer made with Superman Returns; he went too deep. That was the first time we had seen a Superman movie in 20 years and “Superman as Jesus” was an awkward reintroduction. Hopefully now that JJ Abrams has sucessfully gotten Star Trek back into the zeitgest, he can be a bit more explorative in part two. Like X: Men United was to X Men.
I think the problem with Superman Returns go much deeper than that. The film doesn’t give us anything new, it doesn’t expand on any of the conventions or add anything to the character.
Don’t say the kid. The kid does not count. Not only was it painfully obvious to everyone but the characters in the movie. But it didn’t go anywhere.
You’ve got a character who’s all powerful and with 60 years of storylines. Anyone who has worked on superman knows that the most important thing is to find a new way to challenge the character. Singer didn’t even try.
They introduce the villain (the guy who is supposed to fight superman) gold digging some old woman’s fortune, like some ones pathetic sleeze bag uncle. He may as well have been plotting a master scheme to sell amway.
The superman is jesus angle just wasn’t very inspired:
Singer: so like, he’s from another world and he likes to save people. You know?
Hollywood Executive: This is the whole movie?
Singer: And then he’s standing there with his arms stretched out so its like a cross. He dies at the end but he gets better. It’s like jesus.
Hollywood Executive: Now is jesus actually a character in the movie?
That’s a little play I wrote about it.
People excuse the film because it’s “prestigous” and “classy” but it’s just a terrible film. It really does not deserve any good will? Why does Ang Lee’s movie with it’s beautiful interludes and awsome battles get shit all over while this one gets a pass?
I prefer the Richard Pryor one.
In fact, Richard Pryor is the best villain to ever appear in a Superman movie.
off to see this tomorrow but I found this to be quite funny, my local cinema recomends Moon if you liked films like Transformers or Star Trek… pretty odd movies to pile in with this one.
well… “sci-fi” I guess is the unifying theme there. It is pretty funny though.
Come back and tell us what you thought.
By the way, it’s the 40th anniversary of the the Moon landing this week.
I loved it as I thought I would, it has squeezed its way into my number 3 spot on my top 10 of the year so far. I loved how it harked back to classicslike Silent Running and 2001, it was truly fantastic. I see you compare it to Sunshine, which I think is unfair as Sunshine was a dire little movie (well only because it decided to turn into Nightmare on Elm Street in the last 20 mins), I feel this movie is much more special. The practical effects were lovely and it’s nice to see them making a come back as I am sick to death of CGI, it’s so detatched. The movie kept me interested from the get go and you know what, I cried at one point (3rd movie I’ve cried in this year), I honestly thought it was brilliant. I was also happy that my screening was sold out, it’s nice to see so many people turn up to an indie flick, especially when one of Englands biggest film series has its new movie out (though after seeing that I can clearly see why people would rather watch Moon). Nice little cameos from some quite well known Brit actors as well. 10/10, really lovely movie.
well, I said it was in the same vein as Sunshine except that it didn’t derail in the final third.
Glad to hear you liked it.
I bet I can guess which part you cried at. Was it a certain long distance phone call?
oddly enough yes, yes it was.
My favourite critic (Mark Kermode) just said of Moon “It’s a film about ideas, not about robosts hitting each other”. Perfect.
i’ve never been a big fan of kermode. I prefer outlaw vern.
I love Kermode because he is incredibly passionate about film and has a good knowledge of it (something I feel is missing from a lot of critics) even though I disagree with Kermode a lot, I still have a great deal ofrespect for him… I’m not sure who outlaw vern is.
google him. I recommend highly.
Kermode seems to me like he’s all one liners. I subscribe to his podcast but haven’t listened that often.
Ah Kermode is anything but one liners, apart from when he goes throughthe top 10 of course, but those are just summaries of past reviews, to hear a true Kermodian rant is to hear the voice of a pissed off god.
My favorite film critic at the moment is Nathan Rabin with the AV Club
Oh man, I just discovered his My Year of Flops series, and it is absolutely golden. The “secret success” reviews in there have caused me to reevaluate a film or two.