Duncan Jones is the new Neil Marshall. Well, kind of. He's a talented, up and coming British genre director thats produced an amazing film going experience by reinterpreting his favorite movies influences of his youth. Marshall has used American Werewolf, Alien, The Shining, Escape From New York and The Road Warrior in his various endevors. Mr Jones (David Bowie's son, fact fans) has got his own cool movies and TV to reference; Blade Runner, 2001, THX 1138, Outland, The Matrix and Silent Running.
In Moon, Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, the lone human worker of a fuel producing moonbase of the near future. Nearing the end of a solitary 3 year shift, Sam encounters a replica of himself outside the base. Sam's only company is the moonbase computer Gerty, voice by Kevin Spacey.
The movie is dirt cheap, being reduced to the small interior of the base for 95% of the film. But like the best stage-plays, sets make a good movie not...it's the script and the acting talent. Filming his own screenplay, Jones presents an engaging mystery along the lines of an extended Outer Limits episode. Like Martyrs, seen earlier in the year, it provides us with a basic senario...then keeps adding layers and twists and revealations that alter our perception of what we're watching. Even when you've got a handle as to what's going on..there an increasing level of subtext emerging as the 2 Sams deliberate their situation, that keeps you glued to the screen. Even with 2 characters present (or 1 when you consider it's the same person) Jones shines a light on the way humans operate in society. A lot of Philip K Dick issues crop up regarding the nature of an individuals identity...is it due to the memories you have or the life experience that you build up or something more. Corporate influence on society is thrown into the mix as are notions of slavery and freedom. AS a meditation of the human condition, it's excellent, seeing Rockwell presented at various stages of the human lifespan; birth, life and death.
It's made all the more intriguing by the masterful performance of Mr Rockwell who, as anticipated, rises to the challenge of a one man show. He delivers the whole range of emotions from sorrow to joy, from anger to sadness...and all while playing opposite a robot...or himself. It is , by far, the most convincing split screen performace I've seen (and yes, that means better than the Shatner verses Shatner fight in The Undiscovered Country).It's a nuanced performance, broken up by some wonderful funny moments...the best use of a Chesney Hawks song in a motion picture by far.
Despite the low budget, Moon never feels cheap. The interiors are confinded, spoarce and lived in (Outland style) while the Space 1999-esque exteriors, created by Cinesite Effects, are moody and dramatic...cementing the belief that Sam is on the moon...not in a cramped set. Composer Clint Mansell pulls another haunting score out of the hat....if his work on The Wrestler, Smokin Aces, The Fountain and Requiem For A Dream gives you goosebumps...so should this.
Despite this being a minor production, this is a major league motion picture. One of the best of the year.
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