Moon (2009) (English Language)

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97min

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott …and more

Humanity has solved its energy and environmental problems by mining Helium-3 on the Moon which makes nuclear fusion possible on Earth. Astronaut/caretaker Sam Bell is the only man on a semi-automated lunar mining colony and starts to experience seemingly psychological issues towards the end of his 3-year mission, only to stumble onto a mystery that may threaten his life and relationship with those he left on Earth.

The always intense and eccentric Sam Rockwell stars as the isolated and deteriorating astronaut in an essentially solo film performance which was unjustly overlooked in the 2009 awards season, Rockwell holds together a truly original Sci-fi drama feature film debut from British writer-director Duncan Jones.

Moon is a Space Sci-fi departure from some of the more visual thrillers or ambitious dramas that have preceded and followed it (Sunshine, Interstellar etc). It manages however to retain many of the elements that make for great space-travel dramas and makes up for what it lacks in scope and budget, with an original and often misleading psychological storyline.

Even though the story does suffer somewhat when the mystery element is removed, the combination of the original script and evocative score from Clint Mansell, with the exceptional central performance by Sam Rockwell, makes for one of the more distinctive and memorable Space Sci-fi films you are likely to see and one which many more people should.