Moon

Director: Duncan Jones
Cast: Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey
DVD release: 24 February 2010
Rated: M

Space Odyssey with a cast of one

It’s a little hard to know what to think of this sci-fi offering. Heavily indebted to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, it makes a great deal of very little. Debut director Duncan Jones seems enveloped in Kubrick’s shadow. Jones, the son of David Bowie, is here creating his very own ‘Space Oddity’. He also wrote the original story elaborated as a screenplay by Nathan Parker.

Once upon a time in the future we watch a TV advert for mining Helium-3 on the moon, an energy producing resource to keep our planet green. Cut to the lunar mining control station manned by solitary occupant Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) assisted by obsequious robot Gerty (voiced by Kevin Spacey), a direct descendant of that ‘know all’ Hal. Sam is doing a three year stint on the mining station and is nearing the end of his contract, looking forward to returning to Earth and his wife Tess. He’s monitored by Gerty, the gently spoken robot apparently concerned with maintaining Sam’s well-being.

He can view his wife’s taped messages, but direct video conversation isn’t possible because of a technical problem. Like Space Odyssey, there’s a conundrum coming up - and the communication problem is a subtle clue. Sam has an emergency with one of the mining machines and he goes out on the lunar surface to investigate. He’s involved in a serious accident, a rescue and then the sudden appearance of a strange man in the control station.

There’s no explanation as to where the stranger has come from, and he bears a disturbing resemblance to Sam. Engulfed in weirdness, Sam wonders if he’s got aliens in his attic. He deteriorates physically as his alter ego gradually takes over the situation. Sam has a nasty suspicion he’s been cloned while Gerty lurks in the background giving reassurance in dulcet tones and a smiley face. The two Sams desperately try to sort out their relationship and solve the mystery. The truth, when they find it, is far worse than imagined.

Talk about a one man band - appearing in every scene Sam Rockwell doubles his part thanks to agile split screen work. Playing table tennis with himself is neat trick. The Lunar Station is conceived in simple terms by Kubrick standards. At least it looks ‘lived in’, showing considerable wear and tear. A couple of the lunar landscapes raise the suspicion of miniatures, but generally the production values are good. Melancholy piano chords in Clint Mansell’s music score emphasize the loneliness of space.

Despite Rockwell’s marathon performance where he really gets into both his characters effectively with trenchant dialogue, the director’s ‘steady as it goes’ pace wilts the tension. Rockwell has done eccentric parts like Victor Mancini in Choke as well as box office hits such as The Assassination of Jesse James and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. He generally comes across as an offbeat actor. Kevin Spacey (21) imparts the robot a comforting if slightly sinister delivery, investing the machine with a touch of humanity.

A whisker too long ‘Moon’ never goes off with the big bang you might have hoped. Duncan Jones by emulating the classic Kubrick film, invites the inevitable comparisons. That may be unfair perhaps, because as a stand-alone Moon is an intelligent sci-fi movie (unlike the headbanging Terminator stuff), but then 2001:A Space Odyssey was a masterpiece.

Because the storyline keeps the audience guessing for much of the movie, and the uniqueness of Rockwell’s performance Moon deserves to attract fans of the genre. I must admit, it’s an achievement for any actor to carry off this complex dual role and hold an audience for over 90 minutes.

John Bale