Starring Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey
Written by Nathan Parker and Duncan Jones
Directed by Duncan Jones
Running Time 97 minutes
Production Year 2009
This absorbing, atmospheric and philosophical science fiction film is the debut feature of Duncan Jones (formerly known as Zowie Bowie and son of David Bowie) It is set on a mining base on the moon where lone astronaut Sam Bell is in charge of recovering the precious gas Helium 3 for export back to earth. When a crash occurs outside of the base Sam makes a disturbing discovery about his own identity and that of an unknown injured man that he recovers from the accident.
Owing much in tone and style to such classic sci-fi movies of the 1960s and 70s as 'Outland', '2001', 'Silent Running' and 'Solaris' this intriguing drama is beautifully played by Sam Rockwell in what amounts to a one man show. It was shot on a tiny budget by modern sci-fi standards and relies on ingenuity and atmosphere rather than expensive special effects to draw us in. At the heart of Moon are some unsettling and very possible dilemmas which science could well present us with one day.
Moon was critically lauded and as a result Duncan Jones' next picture - 'Source Code' had a much larger budget. That film also played with notions of identity and the soul and was a considerable critical and box office success. Jones is currently working on a sequel to Moon having declined a number of higher profile projects.
