Movie Review - Moon

  Moon (2009)

Director: Duncan Jones

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott

Maybe my hopes were a little too high for Moon.  You see, I'm an enormous fan of sci-fi as a genre, and 2001: A Space Oydssey is absolutely one of my most favorite movies.  So going into the movie with the understanding that Moon has been (along with Inception, Looper, and a handful of others) one of the most acclaimed sci-fi films of the past decade or so, and also well aware of the frequent comparisons between Moon and 2001, I couldn't help but be excited.  It doesn't hurt that the star of the movie, Sam Rockwell, has long been one of my favorite, underrated character actors.

I've long been hearing that Moon director (and David Bowie progeny) Duncan Jones represents the great hope of the sci-fi genre as an exciting, young director.  I saw Jones' second movie, Source Code, and while it was entertaining for what it was, I was left unimpressed with that sentiment.  I certainly hoped that Moon would do more to inspire me as a fan of Jones' work, but the film unfortunately failed for the most part in that regard.  I don't want to sound too critical of Moon.  It's an impressive work (particularly for a first-time director) and does many things very well.  But I was hoping for something revelatory along the lines of the previously mentioned Inception and Looper, and Moon simply failed to deliver in that regard.

But first, what Moon does right.  Not surprising given Jones' effects background, the movie is visually stunning.  This is a low-budget movie, and that much is very clear given the limited cast and locales, but the budget never feels restricting.  The scenes within the base are beautiful, but the scenes on the surface of the moon itself are often breathtaking.  That, coupled with the awesome soundtrack (created by none other than the incomparable Clint Mansell, the man responsible for the music in Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, two of my favorite films), makes Moon an audio and visual treat throughout.  The makeup work is also fantastic.

Additionally, I mentioned before that I was previously a fan of Rockwell for his excellent work in films like The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest, and Moon only confirmed my opinion of his great talent.  Rockwell received a nomination for his performance in Moon at the 2009 British Independent Film Awards, but the fact that he did not receive more acclaim for his role as Sam Bell (and Sam Bell clones) is a travesty.  In the tradition of Tom Hanks in Cast Away or Will Smith in I Am Legend, Rockwell has the considerable task of carrying an entire film with his performance in Moon, and he does as fine a job as either of those megastars did.

Rockwell plays dual roles, but in actuality, each of the Bell clones he portrays has a distinct personality, and he conveys that wonderfully with his acting (along with a little help from the aforementioned makeup effects).  Elsewhere, Kevin Spacey drops by for a voice-only role that demonstrates again why he is one of the greatest actors on Earth.  Spacey manages to convey more with only his voice and intonation than most actors can with full use of facial expressions and body language.

Obviously, Moon has a lot going for it.  But in the end, it succeeds only in being a very good, not great, science-fiction film.  Maybe I am at fault for my unrealistic expectations, but those expecting a game-changer here should look elsewhere.  There's just something missing from Moon that could have taken it to the next level.  Basically, the movie lacks the heart, and thematic grace, of an Inception, a Looper, or even a slightly older film like The Matrix.

The plot is mostly predictable.  The concept is an interesting one, but Jones fails to take it in new or interesting directions.  There seems to be no larger "message" or theme for the audience to pick up on.  Much like the environments it takes place in, Moon just feels alarmingly sterile.  For it's incredible accomplishments visually and aurally and for the landmark performance by Rockwell, Moon deserves to be appreciated.  But I left the movie thoroughly convinced that Mr. Jones' best work is ahead of him.  Perhaps with a little more time and seasoning he can produce that masterpiece of the sci-fi genre which he seems so destined to create.

Verdict: 7/10