Zowie Bowie is all grown up and making movies now, under the name “Duncan Jones” (“Duncan, what the hell kind of name is that?? And, you are NOT going out looking like that. Get upstairs and put on your makeup and skintight leotard! We’re a skintight leotard family! Thank you, Kevin Meaney)
Moon is compelling and effective; however, its ambitions to being a major mind-trip space film don’t really measure up to other films you might be reminded of, such as 2001 , Solaris and even Silent Running (where the bee-dee bee-dee robot destroys all the greenhouses in space–though I might be wrong. I haven’t seen it in twenty five years and I get it confused with the Buck Rogers TV show). Sam Rockwell is very good, [vague SPOILERS AHEAD] especially in the long sections where he must interact with himself–a more wound-up and angry version of himself. The voice of Kevin Spacey, coming from “Gerty,” the robotic assistant is perhaps a bit unsettling–Gerty is a twist on HAL, in that he is a rather reasonable machine who really wants to help (or does he?). The premise for the film is rather perfunctory, suggesting an evil corporation, who, unlike the major university, never heard of just exploiting folks at low wages. In fact, there are many loose ends here, but I think you will enjoy the story, if you don’t overthink it, as well as the attempts to duplicate the feel and pace of 1960s/70s science fiction. In fact, I wish it had gone for more extended eerie trips through moonscapes–though that may have endangered too much its “limited run” at my local multiplex. Next up, Space Ossuary where Mick Jagger and David Bowie must join forces with Sally Field to counter osteoporosis.
I really want to see this, and now I know not to glam up for my trip to the theater. (Sorry, leotards–back into the closet with you.) Great review, and not just for the hattip to Kevin Meaney, ‘though I did hear his voice in my head thereafter. And probably will for the rest of the day.
Mike–wipe that puss off your face. goin’ around with the puss! That’s not right.
Duncan Jones went to the College of Wooster as an undergrad, which is just down the road from Oberlin. His dad turned up for graduation, and the Wooster Music Department vetoed the idea of an honorary degree for dad on the grounds that he really wasn’t influential enough in the world of music (unlike the faculty in the Music Department). I’m guessing the Wooster development office is not raising much money from the family.
I enjoyed this. It does hinge on a fairly small “twist” (some very loaded metaphysical and political baggage) but the film doesn’t unpack too much, doesn’t really travel far with its potential ideas. Still, what it does do (very) well–production design and a pair of Rockwell performances that are lovely, detailed, sly and moving–make this, as Michael said, a fine nod to the moody sci-fi of an earlier era.
I am looking forward to this. Netflix released this, In the Loop, Hurt Locker, and 24 City all on the same day. What a bonanza.
Not my cup of tea exactly but sorta creepy. When the Harvester toppled over the communications tower which was jamming live transmissions, shouldn’t the tower have floated a bit as opposed to falling down as if pulled by gravity? I probably just don’t understand gravity. And I was pretty damn sure I heard someone screaming too. If I, or someone like me, lived on the moon, my avatar would weigh approximately 29 pounds. We’re talking Olson Twins numbers here folks. That’s a fact! Another fun fact: the pull of gravity on the Moon is so low that you could actually fly with wings attached to your arms (as long as you were inside an enclosed dome filled with air at the Earth’s atmospheric pressure). Wouldn’t it be great to be able to fly around like a bird? Yes, it would GERTY. Would you like some hot sauce with your beans???