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Moon (2009 film)

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Moon
File:Moonposter.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDuncan Jones
Written byDuncan Jones
Nathan Parker
Produced byStuart Fenegan
Trudie Styler
StarringSam Rockwell
Kevin Spacey (voice)
CinematographyGary Shaw
Edited byNicolas Gaster
Music byClint Mansell
Production
company
Liberty Films
Distributed bySony Pictures Classics
Release dates
23 January 2009 (Sundance)
12 June 2009 (US, limited)
17 July 2009 (UK)
Running time
97 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5,000,000
Box office$4,656,200(worldwide)[1]

Moon is a 2009 science fiction/thriller film about a solitary lunar employee who experiences a personal crisis as the end of his three-year stint nears. It is the feature debut of director Duncan Jones. Sam Rockwell stars as the employee and Kevin Spacey voices his robot companion. Moon premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and was released in selected theatres in New York and Los Angeles on 12 June 2009. The release was expanded to additional US theatres on both 3 and 10 July[2] and was released in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on 17 July.[3]

Plot

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is an employee contracted by the company Lunar Industries to extract helium-3 from lunar soil for much-needed power back on Earth. He is stationed for three years at the 'Sarang' lunar base with only a robot named GERTY (voiced by Kevin Spacey) for company; a chronic communications failure limits him to only occasional recorded transmissions to and from Earth, such as a video message from his wife Tess and three-year-old daughter Eve. Two weeks before completing his assignment he begins to hallucinate, briefly seeing a teenage girl on the station. During a routine rover excursion to extract helium from a harvesting machine, he sees the same girl standing on the lunar surface. Distracted, he crashes the rover into the harvester.

Sam awakens in the infirmary and GERTY tells him that he is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident. HQ tells him that a rescue crew is on the way to repair the harvester and take him home. He becomes suspicious when he overhears a live communication between GERTY and Lunar Industries headquarters, and fakes a meteor impact with the habitat to manipulate GERTY into disobeying orders and let him go outside to repair it. Instead he goes to the harvester, where he finds a crewmember barely alive in the crashed rover: himself.

The two Sams struggle to come to grips with the existence of the other, each believing the other to be a clone of himself. The first Sam is deteriorating physically and emotionally. The second Sam is sharper but less experienced. GERTY evades their questions, and they are unable to find answers within the base, so they venture away from it, and find a series of antennas jamming direct live communication with Earth. The first Sam becomes ill and returns to base where, with the aid of GERTY, he discovers video logs of previous Sam Bells: working, becoming ill, getting into the "hibernation" pod to return home, and being incinerated. Now better understanding the nature of his existence, he explores the death chamber further, discovering a hidden chamber beneath it. The two Sams explore the chamber together, finding an extensive cache of clones. The first Sam takes a rover out beyond the jammers, and establishes an up-link with the Bell residence. He speaks with Eve, who is now 15 and the girl he had 'seen' earlier, and learns that Tess has died "some years ago", and that the original Sam Bell is alive on Earth.

With only a few hours before the "rescue" team arrives, the Sams realise that if they're discovered together, they'll both be killed. The second Sam makes a plan to launch the first Sam back to Earth in the helium delivery vessel, activating another clone to take the first Sam's place in the damaged rover. Prior to enacting their plan, the first Sam realises that he is dying, and insists that the second Sam escape, while he returns to the rover to die. To cover up the second Sam's existence, GERTY permits Sam to wipe his memory and reboot him. After reprogramming a helium harvester to crash into one of the jammers, the second Sam launches his escape, which the first Sam sees in his final moments. With the jammer disabled, the base computer finally registers that a live up-link has been established. As the second Sam approaches Earth, voice-overs begin detailing Lunar Industries executives' arraignment on crimes against humanity.

Production

Moon is the first feature film directed by commercial director Duncan Jones, who co-wrote the script with Nathan Parker.[4] The film was specifically written as a vehicle for actor Sam Rockwell.[5] The film pays homage to the films of Jones's youth, such as Silent Running (1972), Alien (1979) and Outland (1981).[6] Jones described the intent, "[W]e wanted to create something which felt comfortable within that canon of those science fiction films from the sort of late seventies to early eighties."[7] The director spoke of his interest in the lunar setting, "For me, the Moon has this weird mythic nature to it... There is still a mystery to it. As a location, it bridges the gap between science-fiction and science fact. We (humankind) have been there. It is something so close and so plausible and yet at the same time, we really don't know that much about it." The director described the lack of romance in the Moon as a location, citing images from the Japanese lunar orbiter SELENE, "It's the desolation and emptiness of it... it looks like some strange ball of clay in blackness... Look at photos and you'll think that they're monochrome. In fact, they're not. There simply are no primary colours." Jones referenced the photography book Full Moon by Michael Light in designing the look of the film.[8]

Moon's budget was $5 million.[9] The director took steps to minimise production costs, such as keeping the cast small and filming in a studio, as opposed to location shoots.[7] Moon was produced at Shepperton Studios, London, England,[4] where it filmed for 33 days.[7] Jones preferred using models instead of digital animation.[6] Jones worked with Bill Pearson, the supervising model maker on Alien, to help design the lunar rovers and H3 harvesters in the film.[10] The moon base was created as a full 360-degree set, being 85–90 feet (26–27 m) long and approximately 70 feet (21 m) wide. The film's robot, GERTY, was designed to be bound to a rail within the base since the tether was critical storywise.[7] The visual effects were provided by Cinesite, who sought cut-price deals with independent films.[11] Since Jones had an effects background with commercials, he drew on his past experiences in creating effects under a small budget.[7]

Jones is currently planning a follow-up film, which will serve as an epilogue to Moon. "Sam has agreed to do a little cameo in the next film," says Jones, who ultimately hopes to do three films in the Moon series.[12]

Cast

Sam Rockwell and Duncan Jones at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival screening.

Release

The sales company Independent is handling international sales for Moon.[14] Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group acquired distribution rights to the film for English-speaking territories.[4] Moon premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.[15] Sony Pictures Classics commercially distributed the film in the United States,[16] beginning with screenings in selected theatres in New York and Los Angeles on 12 June.[2] The film's British premiere was held on 20 June 2009 at the Cameo Cinema in Edinburgh as part of the 63rd Edinburgh International Film Festival. Jones was present at the screening along with other key crew members. The full UK release is scheduled for 17 July.[3]

Reception

Reception from critics

Moon received positive reviews at the Sundance Film Festival.[17] Damon Wise of The Times praised Jones's "thoughtful" direction and Rockwell's "poignant" performance. Wise wrote of the film's approach to the science fiction genre, "Though it uses impressive sci-fi trappings to tell its story—the fabulous models and moonscapes are recognisably retro yet surprisingly real—this is a film about what it means, and takes, to be human."[18] Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter applauded screenwriter Nathan Parker's "sharp [and] individualistic" dialogue and how Parker combined science fiction and Big Brother themes. Byrge also believed that cinematographer Gary Shaw's work and composer Clint Mansell's music intensified the drama. Byrge wrote, "Nonetheless, 'Moon' is darkened by its own excellencies: The white, claustrophobic look is apt and moody, but a lack of physical action enervates the story thrust." The critic felt mixed about the star's performance, describing him as "adept at limning his character's dissolution" but finding that he did not have "the audacious, dominant edge" for the major confrontation at the end of the film.[19]

Roger Ebert gave the film 3½ stars out of 4, saying, "'Moon' is a superior example of that threatened genre, hard science-fiction, which is often about the interface between humans and alien intelligence of one kind of or other, including digital. John W. Campbell Jr., the godfather of this genre, would have approved. The movie is really all about ideas. It only seems to be about emotions. How real are our emotions, anyway? How real are we? Someday I will die. This laptop I'm using is patient and can wait."[20]

Reception from the scientific community

Moon was screened at NASA's Space Center Houston at the request of a professor there. The screening was part of a lecture series. "He'd been reading online that we'd done this film about Helium-3 mining and that's something that people at NASA are working on," says Jones. "We did a Q&A afterward. They asked me why the base looked so sturdy, like a bunker, and not like the kind of stuff they are designing that they are going to transport with them. I said 'Well, in the future I assume you won't want to continue carrying everything with you, you'll want to use the resources on the moon to build things' and a woman in the audience raised her hand and said, 'I'm actually working on something called Mooncrete, which is concrete that mixes lunar regolith and ice water from the moon's polar caps.'"[12]

References

  1. ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=moon09.htm
  2. ^ a b "MOON // A Film by Duncan Jones // Dates". Sony Pictures Classics. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b Clarke, Cath (29 May 2009). "First sight: Duncan Jones". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Siegel, Tatiana (5 May 2008). "Sony lands 'Moon' rights". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  5. ^ Dawtrey, Adam (14 January 2009). "U.K. co-productions storm Sundance". Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2009. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b "News Etc". Empire. February 2009. pp. 20–21.
  7. ^ a b c d e Douglas, Edward (23 January 2009). "Sundance EXL: Duncan Jones & Sam Rockwell on Moon". ComingSoon.net. Coming Soon Media, L.P. Retrieved 24 February 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  8. ^ Macnab, Geoffrey (23 October 2008). "Moon rising: Two new lunar movies are taking viewers back into orbit". The Independent. Retrieved 27 December 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  9. ^ http://scifiwire.com/2009/06/how-david-bowies-son-woun.php#more
  10. ^ Marshall, Greg (16 January 2009). "Sundance goes sci-fi with 'Moon'". Park Record. Media News Group. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Dawtrey, Adam (7 November 2008). "London's CG houses share digital wealth". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b Stewart, Ryan (11 June 2009). "Duncan Jones (a.k.a. Zowie Bowie): Moon". SuicideGirls. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  13. ^ "Moon press kit" (PDF). Sony Pictures Classics. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  14. ^ Dawtrey, Adam (11 March 2008). "Independent flies to 'Moon'". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  15. ^ McCarthy, Todd (4 December 2008). "More star power at Sundance". Variety. Retrieved 27 December 2008. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  16. ^ Swart, Sharon (23 January 2009). "Sony Classics nabs 'Moon'". Variety. Retrieved 24 January 2009. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  17. ^ Flynn, Gaynor (24 January 2009). "Brits in the thick of it at Sundance". The Independent. Retrieved 24 February 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  18. ^ Wise, Damon (24 January 2009). "Poignant tale of starman waiting in the sky". The Times. Retrieved 24 February 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  19. ^ Byrge, Duane (26 January 2009). ""Moon" a well-assembled sci-fi thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 June 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  20. ^ Ebert, Roger (17 June 2009). "Moon". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
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