You've ignored this film. It will no longer appear as a recommendation. View ignored films.
You've decided to remember Moon for later. You can see all your remembered films here.
Summary: Sam Bell is nearing the end of his contract with Lunar. He's been a faithful employee for 3 long years. His home has been Sarang, a moon base where he has spent his days alone, mining Helium 3.
Moon demonstrates that a fairly slow and limited plot doesn't really matter if you do it right. The best part isn't even Sam Rockwell, who is fantastic but that performance alone wouldn't carry the film. Moon is great because of it's atmosphere, which allows Duncan Jones to slowly drip into your head questions that are in the best tradition of "hard" science fiction.
I wanted to adore this, the first gritty & authentic sci-fi film to come along in years. And I very much appreciated the stark realism it brought back to the genre as it evoked memories of THX-1138. But when a film's characters refuse to acknowledge events that the viewer has been seeing and questioning for a long time (the withering health of the "first" Sam we were introduced to) it gets very annoying. A screenplay can't get away with that. So with reluctance I downgrade it to a mere "good".
This is a good, not great movie. It's chances of greatness were through Sam Rockwell's acting and the story. Although Rockwell's acting had tons of potential, the story and script didn't have the depth to let him express greatness. If you haven't seen Solaris or 2001, watch those instead.
It's hard to know what to make of this effort, such is the feeling it doesn't really know quite what it should be itself. Like a handful of short stories strung together Moon struggles to settle down into one clear plotline, creating great mystery but leaving the audience feeling a little cheated by what they've just witnessed. There's a nice tranquil atmosphere throughout and potential in all of the story strands, plus Rockwell is good again, but it's hard to recommend something this unfocused.
There is something special about sharing a good film that most have not seen. The surprising familiarity that is Sam Bell somehow sustains a comparable parallel to the common lifestyle. There is a sad truth in Sam's realization, that potentially causes the audience to recognize their own. I've heard the film translated in many ways, be it religion, or governmental sterilization of the workforce through the future use of machines. Rockwell should be recognized and positioned as one of the best.
Moon is a really good movie. Duncan Jones is a talented director as Rockwell is a good actor. The story rings very true about human nature and the path we are choosing for ourselves. Loneliness is a terrible thing indeed. The sad part is that we are ultimately alone in the world. Even when we are walking amidst a crowd.