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I've been curious to give this film a watch for quite a few years now. And following both its appearance on the Mofo 100 list, and the fact that a friend of mine recently watched and just loved it, I decided now was the time to finally see what it was all about. In the years since it's release I've heard lots of positive buzz and for the most part I found it to be well worth it. It's an intelligent, contemplative and mesmerising film; one that I found really quite hypnotic viewing.
Now I know that not everyone will 'like' this film, but I have to say that for anyone who appreciates the art of film making I find it hard to believe that they won't find a lot to admire here. The craft on display is really quite impressive, especially when you consider the film's rather meagre budget of just $5 million; a real drop in the ocean when it comes to this genre. And yet despite the small budget, the effects are completely able to do justice to the story and the ideas. They achieve this through a mixture of practical effects, and limited but well judged and impressive digital effects. The retro practical effects, in particular the terrific use of miniatures, just feels such a perfect fit for this film, as Moon as a whole has quite an old school 70s sci-fi vibe to it. These effects help a great deal in creating such a convincing setting, a setting which is really quite atmospheric. It allows for some impressive visuals of the surface of the moon which creates quite a silent and unsettling sense of loneliness and extreme isolation. And this is further heightened by an eerie, mournful and ultimately evocative score from Clint Mansell which is just terrific.
While he is certainly far from being a movie 'star', Sam Rockwell is certainly up there when it comes to favourite actors amongst the movie buff community. And arguably the strongest element of this film is as an acting showcase for Rockwell. He does a spectacular job at portraying the character of Sam at varying stages. This comes about both in terms of the contrasting physical condition of both characters, and the different mindset that the characters are in. The initial clone is physically battered and in a great deal of pain while the new clone is in the pinnacle of health. Emotionally the characters are in completely different spaces, it's almost as if they are both at one of the five stages of grief. Sam 1 is clearly at the denial stage, refusing to accept that he could possibly be a clone. While Sam 2 seems very much in the acceptance stage. Watching the two identical, but still vastly different characters interact is a very intriguing and entertaining spectacle. It's a tremendous showing from Rockwell as he paints a vivid portrait of loneliness. And I personally feel he was unfortunate not to have been nominated at any of the major ceremonies when the awards season rolled around a few years back.
Through the clones the film attempts to tackle the question of what it means to be human. It also addresses something that currently may not be a huge issue but could become one before too very long – cloning. If scientists are one day able to completely clone a human being it would raise all sorts of questions. Starting with the question, what exactly is a clone? Is it merely a physical facsimile, or is it something more? Have you created an actual life that has a soul/spirit/consciousness/whatever you want to call it? What rights would they have? If a company such as the one featured in Moon has created a clone, what rights of ownership would they have? That leads us onto another of the film's themes; the evil, faceless corporate villains and how these big corporations take advantage and live off of the little guy who actually does all the work. And while it's a much smaller theme in the large scheme of things there is also a little element of family and the sacrifices you sometimes make for them. Sam has taken this contract on the agreement that he will be gone from his family for three years, including his little daughter who was born just before he left. That's an incredible sacrifice and you have to think it's something the character would really have had to weigh up. What is best for his family? The financial security the job could bring, or the presence of their husband/father?
Jones clearly knows his stuff when it comes to the science fiction genre, and he uses this knowledge to subvert our expectations at times by avoiding a number of the clichés that go along with the genre. The most obvious example would likely be GERTY. Voiced with a cold, emotionless tone by Kevin Spacey I was convinced throughout that Gerty was going to turn out to be evil; that he was the mastermind behind this whole cloning procedure. That never comes about however, he remains helpful to Sam throughout and in reality becomes a friend to Sam. It's a highly impressive effort for a first time director, and coupled with the highly entertaining Source Code, Jones certainly deserves his standing as one of the hottest young directors currently plying their trade.
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Year of release
2009
2009
Directed by
Duncan Jones
Duncan Jones
Written by
Duncan Jones
Nathan Parker
Duncan Jones
Nathan Parker
Starring
Sam Rockwell
Kevin Spacey (voice)
Sam Rockwell
Kevin Spacey (voice)
Moon
Plot – Sam Bell (Rockwell) has a three year contract with the large corporation, Lunar Industries. The terms of his contract see him as the sole employee of a manufacturing facility set on the moon, with his only company coming in the form of a robot assistant named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey). With only three weeks of his contract left Sam is desperate to finally make it home. Such a long period of loneliness has taken its toll on Sam who just wants to get home to his wife and young daughter. When Sam is involved in an accident however he awakes to find that he is no longer alone, and that his new companion causes him to question is sanity and his own existence.
***WARNING - There are some spoilers ahead***
I've been curious to give this film a watch for quite a few years now. And following both its appearance on the Mofo 100 list, and the fact that a friend of mine recently watched and just loved it, I decided now was the time to finally see what it was all about. In the years since it's release I've heard lots of positive buzz and for the most part I found it to be well worth it. It's an intelligent, contemplative and mesmerising film; one that I found really quite hypnotic viewing.
Now I know that not everyone will 'like' this film, but I have to say that for anyone who appreciates the art of film making I find it hard to believe that they won't find a lot to admire here. The craft on display is really quite impressive, especially when you consider the film's rather meagre budget of just $5 million; a real drop in the ocean when it comes to this genre. And yet despite the small budget, the effects are completely able to do justice to the story and the ideas. They achieve this through a mixture of practical effects, and limited but well judged and impressive digital effects. The retro practical effects, in particular the terrific use of miniatures, just feels such a perfect fit for this film, as Moon as a whole has quite an old school 70s sci-fi vibe to it. These effects help a great deal in creating such a convincing setting, a setting which is really quite atmospheric. It allows for some impressive visuals of the surface of the moon which creates quite a silent and unsettling sense of loneliness and extreme isolation. And this is further heightened by an eerie, mournful and ultimately evocative score from Clint Mansell which is just terrific.
While he is certainly far from being a movie 'star', Sam Rockwell is certainly up there when it comes to favourite actors amongst the movie buff community. And arguably the strongest element of this film is as an acting showcase for Rockwell. He does a spectacular job at portraying the character of Sam at varying stages. This comes about both in terms of the contrasting physical condition of both characters, and the different mindset that the characters are in. The initial clone is physically battered and in a great deal of pain while the new clone is in the pinnacle of health. Emotionally the characters are in completely different spaces, it's almost as if they are both at one of the five stages of grief. Sam 1 is clearly at the denial stage, refusing to accept that he could possibly be a clone. While Sam 2 seems very much in the acceptance stage. Watching the two identical, but still vastly different characters interact is a very intriguing and entertaining spectacle. It's a tremendous showing from Rockwell as he paints a vivid portrait of loneliness. And I personally feel he was unfortunate not to have been nominated at any of the major ceremonies when the awards season rolled around a few years back.
Film trivia – When he was asked to provide the voice for Gerty, Kevin Spacey accepted but with conditions. Despite having read and liked the script he wanted to see the finished film first; and then only if he liked it would he go ahead and take on the role. When he was finally shown the film Spacey loved it, so much so in fact that he recorded all his lines in just half a day.
Jones clearly knows his stuff when it comes to the science fiction genre, and he uses this knowledge to subvert our expectations at times by avoiding a number of the clichés that go along with the genre. The most obvious example would likely be GERTY. Voiced with a cold, emotionless tone by Kevin Spacey I was convinced throughout that Gerty was going to turn out to be evil; that he was the mastermind behind this whole cloning procedure. That never comes about however, he remains helpful to Sam throughout and in reality becomes a friend to Sam. It's a highly impressive effort for a first time director, and coupled with the highly entertaining Source Code, Jones certainly deserves his standing as one of the hottest young directors currently plying their trade.
The film certainly isn't perfect. Throughout this review I've used words like measured and contemplative. Basically they're just fancy, positive ways of saying the film is slow! 
Though I'm sure many would instead go with the words 'excruciatingly dull'. While I personally didn't find it a dull experience, it certainly is a film low on thrills; a film whose aim is to stimulate the mind rather than get the adrenaline flowing or to dazzle the eyes. And it does feel like you've watched every one of its 97 minute running time, and that it's right at the tipping point of 'too long' territory. There's only so long you can watch what is basically a 'one man, one location' film. And the film perhaps lacks a touch in terms of logic and explanations for the whole concept to begin with, but it wasn't something that bothered me personally. I was just able to allow myself to become absorbed in the whole thing.
Though I'm sure many would instead go with the words 'excruciatingly dull'. While I personally didn't find it a dull experience, it certainly is a film low on thrills; a film whose aim is to stimulate the mind rather than get the adrenaline flowing or to dazzle the eyes. And it does feel like you've watched every one of its 97 minute running time, and that it's right at the tipping point of 'too long' territory. There's only so long you can watch what is basically a 'one man, one location' film. And the film perhaps lacks a touch in terms of logic and explanations for the whole concept to begin with, but it wasn't something that bothered me personally. I was just able to allow myself to become absorbed in the whole thing. Conclusion – With a powerhouse showing from Rockwell driving the film along I found this to be a great film from its debut director Duncan Jones. On a technical level it is a highly skilled effort, and indeed I'm sure some people will view Moon as more of a success as an exercise in film-making as opposed to a strong narrative story. I felt it found a nice balance between the two however and I was thoroughly engrossed by it.