Moon

Moon is cardboard sci-fi with a laudable idea, served up in a less laudable dramaturgical package. But the overall impression is positive: Sam Rockwell delivers a good performance and Kevin Spacey’s voice was a great idea. (20/02/2010)

In the end it just doesn’t have what it takes for the legendary status enjoyed by milestones in intelligent sci-fi such as Space Odyssey or Blade Runner (the screenplay holds it together, but there are a couple of screaming lapses of logic), but a few times while I was watching it did occur to me that it isn’t that far off. Plus, Moon has huge potential to mature with time. And who knows, maybe there will come a time when I will have to change my comment at the beginning. P.S.: Lots of those lapses of logic may be solved by the theory about radiation sickness, but not all of them by far... (28/10/2009)

Dystopian sci-fi paranoia that makes strange use of cheap moon sets, technical miniatures that take us 25 years back in time, and Sam Rockwell's one man show. It's bleak, dark and depressing, but with a very lively script without unnecessary crutches. I didn’t mind the open ending, but the unbalanced pace and small budget are far worse, which unfortunately sends the film into slightly B-movie waters in the genre. (27/03/2017)

A well-mixed blend of slow editing, brilliant camerawork and beautiful sets that, while not groundbreaking in the final analysis, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Duncan Jones lets the film flow slowly, but this does not prevent him from surprising the viewer several times with the unexpected complexity of the plot, which gradually comes to light. That said, the director made a bit of a mess of it, because even though the script tries to explain everything quickly and succeeds quite well, there are still a few question marks at the end. No one can beat Kubrick's Odyssey, after all, but Moon at least reminded me pleasantly of it. And also, Sam Rockwell is a fine actor and Duncan Jones is a director who’s yet to say his last word... (20/06/2012)

Danny Boyle is often thought about, but in my opinion wrongly. Jones’s story could easily have been set on Earth, but then it lacked the "Cameron-esque" detachedly cool industrial setting that perfectly supports the film's events. The story isn't rocket science but instead rides along a strong emotional level of a lonely man, which was a challenge accepted by Sam Rockwell, who did his job with incredible grace. Not to be unfair to the director - especially the opening paranoia and the schizophrenic feel of the second half do make us think - but Rockwell's acting, backed by Mansell's excellent score, actually "made" this film. It’s an unconventional film experience, though probably without a significant audience response. (09/11/2009)