3 out of 5

Director: Duncan Jones

Impressive in its meager presentation but underwhelming in scope, Moon is a worthwhile debut for director Duncan Jones but plays like an extended version of an hour long TV special. Almost solely performed by Sam Rockwell (with a voice assist from Kevin Spacey), Rockwells casting as Sam Bell fits the tone of the film, as Rockwell has a type of blend-in screen-presence that is noteworthy and yet not truly solo-star status (sorry guy!). Moon takes place at the end of a three-year long space mission, where Mr. Bell is the lone occupant of a moon station that monitors a mining operation for some wacky earth-bound corporation. Hes only got a couple weeks left on his stint when things start to get a little screwy… and Sam starts to wonder if whats going on is really going on. There is no problem with Moon except that it never goes beyond what its presenting. Even the main conceit of the film, when developed, carries with it not a startling revelation but just a nod of acceptance. In a way, this is how sci-fi should function, but I do think that the genre also asks us to push beyond our understood boundaries of reality, and Moon doesnt attempt to go that far. And by films end it hasnt really gone anywhere at all… but it piques interest for our directors next project. Of special note, of course, is the great usage of set, effects, budget, and cast. Everything is very minimal and so has a sort of old-school feel without looking or feeling cheap.