2000’s

Moon (2009)moon_2009_wallpaper_2-HD

What does the future hold for us?

Humanity has consistently been interested in imaging what lies ahead, as no one can know for sure. This mystery, intrigue, fear, and questioning has allowed for great pieces of art to be created as individuals are able to create their own vision of the future with no restrictions.

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In Duncan Jone’s film Moon, the future is actually doing pretty well as the film starts off with an energy-company advertisement providing the set-up for the events to follow. After running out of fuel on Earth, corporations have set up lunar mining operations to gather helium-3 on the far side of the Moon. It is mostly self-automated, but there is one man, Sam Bell, who has spent near 3 years in solidarity keeping watch with an artificial intelligence named GERTY as his only companion. His stint is almost over and he is excited to go back to visit his wife and child, but he soon faces a personal identity crisis as unexpected variables are introduced into his existence.

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While watching the movie, it is mind-blowing to realize that it was produced on a budget of $5 million. Yes, it may have no major special effects requiring vast amounts of dough to produce, but this environment on the moon and in the base is so believable that it is enough to draw me into the movie. It is insane to compare this to a movie like Spiderman 3, created with an ultimate budget of $258 million. It might be like comparing apples and oranges, but Jone’s accomplishment shows how movies don’t need large productions to capture and transport the audience. I also enjoy how the movie set is reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Jones seemed to draw lots of influence from in crafting this movie.

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Sam Rockwell, acting alone in probably 65% of the scenes, runs this film. It is a difficult role to embody, but he is able to breathe life into it through a incredibly nuanced performance. He is likable (a trait that can be hard to get right for the main characters) and we feel sympathy/understanding in his confusion. I was genuinely surprised when I found that I also really liked GERTY. In movies, robots and the like are usually used for comic relief or some sort of villain, so it was refreshing how GERTY was conceptualized as just a supporting character. Plus, GERTY’s use or change in his emoticon always made me chuckle a bit.

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Moon allows some deep concepts/themes to be introduced without their inclusion slowing or weighing down the plot. It asks questions like: “How real are we? How real are our memories? Do we possess free choice? What are the costs for innovation and growth? At what point is enough?” Though it doesn’t provide any immediate answers, I truly think that it is what can make a good film when it doesn’t need to preach its values. It, instead, can just formulate the questions and allow the viewer to take away their own opinions from the movie’s presentation itself.

3 responses to “2000’s

  1. I watched 2001 a space odyssey when I was little, it brings back so many memories!! I remember that I almost had an heart attack when he travelled space in the future , to find himself older. I only saw this movie once but it staid impress on me my whole life!
    What a great movie I have to watch it again!

  2. This movie sounds very interesting! I like the point you made about the budgets, when I first read it, having no clue about the average production cost prices, I thought 5 million dollars was a lot, but I was definitely wrong! Its amazing how some films are able to create such a believable environment for their film, while spending so little!

  3. I remember the scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey where Hal 9000 is shut down and that was such a quiet, yet ominous scene. Moon had much the same effect when I watched it, cause it was just so quiet all the time really showing the solitude suffered by the main character. Films such as this really challenge the viewer on various levels.

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