Moon review

 Number 339 on the top 1000 films of all time is the science-fiction film 'Moon.'

Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is the sole engineer responsible for maintaining an energy-mining facility on the dark side of the moon. His only companion is the AI computer GERTY voiced by Kevin Spacey. However, Sam was a personal crisis when he realises he is actually a clone.

Duncan Jones directed this film in his debut where he was heavily influenced by Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. The comparisons were plain to see. Both films contain a minimal cast with an AI-esque robot that has dubious intentions. The main difference is where Kubrick prioritised his big ideas over his characters. Duncan Jones balanced the two very well. This was no surprise, as he soon went onto direct the excellent Source Code.

Sam Bell was a memorable character whose world is rocked when he finds out that he is a clone of the original Sam Bell. And he only discovers this when he finds his doppleganger after hunting for answers. This allowed Rockwell to show off his considerable acting skills, as he plays a duel role where is playing against himself. No wonder he won an Oscar eight years later.

But this role really outlawed him to run run the gamut in terms of character work. He played confusion, distress, anger, joy and happiness. As Duncan Jones only had one character with any considerable screentime, he needed a good actor to go along with that. He had written the role of Sam Bell specifically for Rockwell. Luckily, he accepted both for Jones and for us, as Rockwell carried the film.

True, there are other characters like Benedict Wong and Matt Berry who played Bell's superiors back on Earth or Dominique McElligot who played Bell's wife, but these were supporting roles at most. Bell's wife probably could have used a bit more development.

Despite being heavily influenced by Hal in A Space Odyssey, Spacey too the character of Gerty to a different place by making him a benevolent robot. It was a refreshing change. Spacey helped to provide some light humour to what was otherwise a pretty dour film.

Duncan Jones made Moon on a small budget of $5 million. He kept the budget small by having a small cast and re-using old sets from other films and TV shows like Red Dwarf. Yet the film never felt cheap. He knew how to get the most out of his money.

And Jones knew how to make a good science-fiction film. Moon, not only posed interesting existential questions, but had interesting characters to boot.