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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

SIFF I Saw It: Moon

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, May 27, 2009 at 11:19 AM

(Note: Moon isn't a trick-ending kind of movie, but I still don't want to spoil anything, so I'm going to be really unspecific in my review.)

Pi and Primer proved that you can do great sci-fi with little to no budget. Moon is a bit more ostentatious than those two movies—it's about a blue-collar worker named Sam Bell living alone on an energy-mining colony on the moon at the end of a three-year hitch, so there are a lot more special effects than either one of those examples—but it certainly has the same ambitious reach of the best independent sci-fi films.

Moon was written for Sam Rockwell and it is completely his show: He's in every scene and at times the movie feels so intimate that it could practically be a theatrical production. As Bell begins to lose his mind with two weeks left in his three-year contract, Rockwell does a fine job of staying somewhat likable (he's never entirely likable, to his credit) and never overacting. I would love for him to at least be nominated for an Oscar for this one, but I doubt he'll get the credit he deserves because...well, it's a low-budget sci-fi film.

And that's about all that I want to say about it: If you liked Pi or Primer, or those post-2001 films about space like Outland and Silent Running, or really science fiction film in general, you should see Moon. It plays ~~tonight at the Egyptian~~ this afternoon at SIFF Cinema. Director Duncan Jones will be in attendance.

UPDATED to include correct movie times and locations for today: 4:15 at SIFF Cinema.

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Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

I really enjoyed Moon, but I wish that trailer didn't sort of give away the twist in the story, even though it comes early on.

Posted by Wicked Virgin

on May 27, 2009 at 11:26 AM

I saw it yesterday at the Egyptian. I'm pretty sure the show today is 4:15 at SIFF Cinema. Also, click on my name to read my review (its a bit more spoilerish than Paul's, but I don't give a way the MAJOR twist).

Posted by danhowes

on May 27, 2009 at 11:38 AM

Was it just me, or could this easily have been a P.K. Dick book?

Posted by disintegrator

on May 27, 2009 at 11:42 AM

Paul the film is actually at SIFF today at 4:15.

Posted by oldmanandthesea

on May 27, 2009 at 11:45 AM

Primer never made sense. Did it?

Posted by TheMisanthrope on May 27, 2009 at 11:48 AM

It's at 4:15 today at SIFF Cinema. I'm going to see Rembrandt's J'Accuse there at 7pm and a friend is catching Spike Lee at the tribute at the Egyptian at 7pm. Bluebeard is 9:15pm at SIFF Cinema too.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Looks pretty good; sadly, tonight I have a prior engagement.

Posted by Greg on May 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM

I loved it so, but man, I really don't like Rockwell. His acting is superb, yes, but this is a personal thing. I just don't like looking at him. He makes me feel icky. Much like John C. Reilly, Tom Hanks and Woody Harrelson. Voice, face, hair, smile, frown...everything about them makes me want to run out of the theater screaming.

Posted by Mr. Poe on May 27, 2009 at 11:52 AM

Strangely enough, it was more lighthearted than I expected. In my opinion, I felt that this take on solitude was a little more 'Red Dwarf' than '2001'. Especially in a more dramatic sci-fi film, this was actually refreshing.

Posted by BishopNelson on May 27, 2009 at 12:17 PM

There is a bit of PKD in this film. Although the aesthetic cues are mostly from films like 2001 and Alien, thematically the film is much closer to Blade Runner.

BTW, I hope Mr. Jones is a bit prompter in showing up after the SIFF screening than he was at SFIFF. He has some marvellous stories to tell, though.

Posted by SF in SF on May 27, 2009 at 12:41 PM

I'm kind of wanting to see this movie based on this unspecific review. I'd heard about it, but wasn't sure. By the way, Duncan Jones is David Bowie's son...

Posted by bookworm on May 27, 2009 at 1:15 PM

I believe Moon opens for a limited run in mid-June. Though you probably won't get to talk to David Jones' son at your local Landmark theater.

Posted by Mr_Friendly on May 27, 2009 at 1:27 PM

Hoping it comes near Vancouver at some point - it looks fantastic.

Posted by wench on May 27, 2009 at 2:09 PM

@5 - here's your primer sense right here:

http://neuwanstein.fw.hu/primer_timeline…

Posted by skye on May 27, 2009 at 2:14 PM

@3, 10, does the story include creepy, powerful mind altering drugs that may or may not effect objective reality? The you've got an PKD story. I'd love to see someone take on Valis. Maybe with Charlie Kaufman on screenplay.

Posted by Westside forever on May 27, 2009 at 2:20 PM

I read a George R R Martin short story a lot like this recently. Or maybe it was Piers Anthony? I read the 2 books back to back. Anyway, it was sad and kinda creepy, much like this movie looks to be based on the trailer.

Posted by lizdini on May 28, 2009 at 3:58 AM