This is another film that’s been sat in a ‘recommended’ list for so long I forgot why it was there in the first place. After watching it the other night, I suspect it was recommended to me after reviewing Interstellar, or maybe even Gravity, but that’s just a guess! As I write this now the UK is going through an insufferable heat wave, and with hindsight, maybe watching a mind-boggling sci-fi whilst melting in my living room was the wrong thing to do.
Moon is a clever little sci-fi film set in the future, where mankind has discovered an alternative fuel source found on the moon, helium-3. Sam (Sam Rockwell) is the sole employee at a lunar station on the moon, where we manges the machines responsible for harvesting the helium-3 from the moon’s surface. As his 3 year contract comes to an end and he looks forward to coming back home to earth, he is injured in an accident.
I think that’s all I can really tell you without spoiling anything. If you’re thinking about watching Moon, I promise to keep this spoiler free for you! Also, you must forgive the sloppy review.Sci-fi is not my forte, and ‘space stuff’ tends to go right over my head. For example, there’s a robot in Moon called GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey), that I’m told is a nod to a robot in 2001: A Space Odyssey, but I haven’t seen that...maybe that’ll be one for the Blind Spot list next year.
Speaking of GERTY though, he was delightful. He has a little monitor with an emotion-style face which ranges from a grin to crying, which tells us how he’s feeling at any time. Does he feel? Does he have AI? I’m not sure! He does have a ‘kick me’ sign on his back though, which made me chuckle.
It was nice to see Sam Rockwell in such a serious role. I’ve only seen him in comedies so far and I really do think he’s a good actor. There’s a particular scene which really stuck with me where he has a complete breakdown, and it was so moving. He nailed it! The music as well was brilliant, and straight from the start it gave me a feeling that things weren’t going to be happy fun times.
So, as much as I’ve praised Moon, something still doesn’t sit right with me. Sam didn’t freak out as much as I thought he should have done at a certain revelation, and the twist kind of wasn’t a twist, either. I don’t know? It’s hard to explain, but nothing really shocked me in this. It was enjoyable for sure, but I didn’t love it as much as I perhaps should have done. Absolutely worth a watch though!
I keep being told that I need to see this. I still haven't...but I will. Your review, despite not 'loving' the film, has me even more convinced I need to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteYes, please don't let me put you off. I really can see why this is such a loved film, it just didn't do it for me! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it though.
Delete- Allie
I was pleasantly surprised by Moon. I really enjoyed it. Rockwell absolutely nailed it. And yeah, GERTY is totally a riff on HAL from 2001.
ReplyDeleteI can't argue with that, Sam Rockwell was brilliant. I need to see 2001! It should be on next year's Blind Spot list I think.
Delete- Allie
Great review! I liked it a bit more than you did. It's actually one of my all time favorite sci fi movies now. Rockwell deserved an Oscar nom for that performance.
ReplyDeleteGerty > Hal. I hated 2001 lol.
No I know exactly what you mean, I think he deserved one too! I can see why it's such a loved movie, it just didn't hit the spots for me :(
Delete- Allie