iconLog In  |  Register

Moon: A heady trip into the landscape of the mind

Director Duncan Jones knows that he's toiling in the shadow of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey with his film Moon. This quiet, haunting entry in the sci-fi genre evokes that seminal classic in mood and tone as it's main character finds himself stranded in outer space for a prolonged period of time, a situation that forces him to question not only his sanity but his purpose. With nods to Silent Running, Alien and Solaris, Jones pays homage to those films as he crafts his own distinct entry in the genre. While Moon may not achieve all that those films do, it certainly is one of the more thought-provoking films to be released this year and serves as an auspicious calling card for the director.

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of a task that would test the mettle of the strongest of souls. Having signed a three-year contract to man a mining station on the dark side of the moon by himself, he finds himself on the verge of losing his mind with two weeks to go before his stay is done. Sam lives for taped messages from his wife and small child and finds that his only companion Gerty, a robot charged with caring for him (voice by Kevin Spacey), is far from adequate company. Careless and tired due to his long stay, Sam has an accident while operating a large mining vehicle, which leaves him unconscious. He wakes up in the infirmary and is assured by the robot that he's been out for a while and will soon be back on his feet.

Then, a shocking event occurs that turns the film and Sam's life on its head.

I've read reviews that give away Jones' plot twist and this is nothing but a disservice to the filmmaker and the audience. Much of what makes the movie work is the way in which Jones doles out the many intriguing plot points he has up his sleeve. The initial twist is a stunner and the rest of the film deals with the narrative ripples that emanate from it. Sam is forced to contend not only with all that is happening with him in the present, but also with his past as he has to contend with his state of mind as well as reality, which wind up being intertwined in ways he never contemplated.

It's to Jones' credit that time travel nor any other fantastic sci-fi convention is not used to put Sam in this situation. He goes out of his way to keep this tale grounded in the plausible giving us a vision of a probable future, which results in a story that's more human and ultimately poignant. In keeping with this, the film's aesthetic reflects this as the space station where Sam resides is a bit grimy and worn, reflecting his state of mind as well as the logical extension of today's technology to outer space of the near future.

In a sense, the entire film rests on Rockwell's shoulders and he rises to the rare acting challenge it contains. Running the gamut of emotions from cocky to paranoid and everything in between, the actor pulls out all the stops. He doesn't shrink from any of the intense emotional moments Jones throws his ways and winds up delivering a moving performance. The existential confusion Sam faces as well as the mental trials he endures are written on Rockwell's face and in his physical demeanor as he attempts to remain strong under a magnificent burden. It's great fun watching him, especially when he interacts with Spacey's Gerty, a perfect piece of casting, as that actor's syrupy, subversive mischievous tone does nothing but incite Sam's paranoia and ours.

That the story takes place on the dark side of the moon is no coincidence. Sam, and by extension the audience are forced to plumb the depths of many universal doubts and fears, which must be dealt with far away from the sight of others. Among all other films that have been released this summer, Moon sticks with you in a way others can't, as Sam's trial resonate, because his journey is so much our own.

 

Moon opens today and will be playing at the Beverly cinema.

Runtime: 1h 37 min — Rated R — Sci-fi/Fantasy

2 comments

username

Jordan

#1

i’m so excited to see this movie.

username

laura

#2

also playing at Boardman’s Art Theatre—why not skip the cineplex and watch it downtown? the popcorn is cheaper, they have marionberry-stuffed pretzels, and no 20-minute forced viewing of horrible commercials before the film begins…    
 
beautiful film—sam rockwell hits it out of the park


Add A Comment

A note about our commenting policy.


Comment
  1.  captcha arrow

Most Recent Arts Comments

{username}

The main character’s name is actually Lisbeth, in case you want to correct.

{username}

Karen Vaccaro is a remarkable person as well as a dedicated performer. I couldn’t imagine a better night at theater!

Kelly Innes avatar

The director should’ve added the wrinkle that the ban on dancing’s the only thing keeping Bomont from attracting the green/tech/jobs of the future!

Tracy Nectoux avatar

Now that’s Class!

emma reaux avatar

I have read several of her books and liked them. I guess because I’m not an overweight, lesbian, intersexed Jewish amputee with divorced parents I can’t comment on the offensiveness of some of her jokes.

{username}

You forgot to mention fat people.  She made fun of obesity.  And divorce.  Children of divorce were lampooned, too.  Jewish people.  She hit on a lot of “groups.“  I fit into a number of them.  If you didn’t like her speech you won’t like her books.  If…

emma reaux avatar

Lesbians: Anecdote about her mom being a lesbian, and getting her mom introduced to Rosie O’Donnell, and mom and Rosie talking about oral sex, and Weiner acting disgusted. She probably meant the disgust in a “don’t wanna hear about my mom’s vag” kind of way, but all…

Tracy Nectoux avatar

Oh. Wow.   What exactly did she say, Emma? Do you remember?

emma reaux avatar

I went to this. In the first 5 minutes of her talk, she made fun of lesbians, intersexed children, and amputees. I was honestly surprised at how offensve she was—it was like she thought the Champaign Public Library was a venue for Last Comic Standing.   I…

emma reaux avatar

Theresa—are you speaking generally about that monologue, or did you attend the Friday night showing at UIUC?

Most Recent Comments

{username}

Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win. 

Dan Schreiber avatar

Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is.  But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…

{username}

Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…

{username}

I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get.  I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library.  None of those activities…

{username}

These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…

{username}

(speaking as a Savoy resident)  By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc.  This is how library systems work.  The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…

Rob McColley avatar

I read Timbo’s argument. I think the key word is “speculating.“

{username}

I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?

{username}

Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.

emma reaux avatar

I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…

Dan Schreiber avatar

And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.

Dan Schreiber avatar

The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.

Timbo avatar

Curtis Orchard is always good for an hour or three, especially if you have rugrats.

Timbo avatar

What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…

{username}

Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.

{username}

Thanks for the article, Ben.  I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar.  A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…

{username}

Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…

Joel Gillespie avatar

@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.

Tracy Nectoux avatar

Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.

Ben Valocchi avatar

good call on that Herring recording, Josh. Love that version of Exit Music….here’s a clip of the Cinco de Mayo show (from about six months prior). As I recall, this Shakedown went on for roughly a half hour, while getting into the Trampled Underfoot jam in the…

Log In



Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?