Moon

Review by Anthony Morris

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) has spent the last three years alone while running a helium mining station on the far side of the moon.

Even his contact with Earth is sporadic: the satellites are down and he is only getting pre-recorded messages from his wife.

His only companion is the station's robot (the voice of Kevin Spacey), but Sam is starting to think that maybe something is being kept from him.

Is he just going stir crazy after almost three years cut off from humanity? Or does he really have ground for wondering what exactly is going on around him?

Director Duncan Jones has put together an initially intriguing tale of suspense with Moon that gets across the line largely thanks to a strong performance from Rockwell.

There is a twist (that won't be revealed here) at around the one-third mark that puts a new spin on the story, and while it is an intriguing twist that's explored well, towards the end the story starts to run out of steam a little as the limited sets and one-man cast start to become played out. 

Visually it is a throwback to the science fiction of the late 1960s and early 1970s, though the twist plotting feels more like a "future shock" short story from UK science fiction comic 2000AD (which Jones - David Bowie's son - has said was a childhood influence).

Either way, Moon's down to earth approach is to be applauded.

If Moon doesn't quite make it all the way home, it certainly makes a very impressive attempt.

3 out of 5

Moon
Australian release: 8th October, 2009
Official Site: Moon
Cast: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Matt Berry, Robin Chalk, Dominique McElligott
Director: Duncan Jones