Moon (2009)
March 12, 2016 12:03 PM - Subscribe
In Duncan Jones (nee Zowie Bowie, son of David)'s debut feature, astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell in a celebrated showcase performance) has a quintessentially personal encounter toward the end of his three-year stint on the Moon, alongside his computer companion GERTY. Despite not storming the box office, Moon (trailer) drew comparisons to movies like Solaris, Alien, and 2001, found critical praise (though not universally), won several awards, and still maintains a healthy following seven years later. (Some links contain spoilers)
The moment where Sam realizes what's what is heartaching.
posted by ian1977 at 12:24 PM on March 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 12:24 PM on March 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love that the robot was actually helpful and cared for Sam.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:11 PM on March 12, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:11 PM on March 12, 2016 [14 favorites]
I also love the anti-Hal computer that actively works to help Sam, and the biblically-named robot helium collectors.
Do you suppose Sam Prime knew the extent of what was going on with his clones on the moon? It's clear the rest of the world has no idea. There was the brief realtime call clone Sam makes to his daughter, but I can't remember if Sam Prime kens it's about.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:33 PM on March 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Do you suppose Sam Prime knew the extent of what was going on with his clones on the moon? It's clear the rest of the world has no idea. There was the brief realtime call clone Sam makes to his daughter, but I can't remember if Sam Prime kens it's about.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:33 PM on March 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Yeah, part of the reason I loved this picture (apart from my celebrity boyfriend Sam Rockwell) is that I kept waiting for the AI to turn bad, but the confounded my expectations. I love when that happens.
posted by holborne at 7:57 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by holborne at 7:57 AM on March 13, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ooooh I love the firstfilm tag. We should have a Firstfilm Club.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:32 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by infinitewindow at 10:32 AM on March 13, 2016 [2 favorites]
Great movie and great soundtrack. I love how quiet and slow-paced it is, and as quirky and weird as it seems at the start, it ends up making perfect sense and having a non-hopeless ending.
posted by mmoncur at 7:50 PM on March 13, 2016
posted by mmoncur at 7:50 PM on March 13, 2016
This is one of those movies you can't really rewatch, but at least the soundtrack is stellar and stands up well to repeat listening. As does practically everything Mansell has done.
posted by axiom at 11:28 PM on March 13, 2016
posted by axiom at 11:28 PM on March 13, 2016
I love that the robot was actually helpful and cared for Sam.
Yes! An SF film with an AI that is HELPFUL and DOESN'T GO MAD. So good.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:51 AM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes! An SF film with an AI that is HELPFUL and DOESN'T GO MAD. So good.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 3:51 AM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love this movie, and unlike axiom, I find it eminently rewatchable. The pacing and editing and acting are just stellar. And the reveal is somehow even more effective when you know what it is, and have to watch poor Sam learn it for himself.
posted by biscotti at 5:20 AM on March 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by biscotti at 5:20 AM on March 14, 2016 [7 favorites]
Who caught the Space:1999 allusion in the soundtrack? My friend and I gave each other such a knowing side-eye when we heard that bit.
The production design was really obviously inspired by that show and by its design ancestor, 2001.
posted by tel3path at 8:23 AM on March 14, 2016
The production design was really obviously inspired by that show and by its design ancestor, 2001.
posted by tel3path at 8:23 AM on March 14, 2016
I loved this movie, it came out of nowhere for me.
Gavin Rothery wrote some great blog entries on set design and models for the move. Great details.
posted by beowulf573 at 8:58 AM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
Gavin Rothery wrote some great blog entries on set design and models for the move. Great details.
posted by beowulf573 at 8:58 AM on March 14, 2016 [1 favorite]
And the reveal is somehow even more effective when you know what it is, and have to watch poor Sam learn it for himself.
I agree very much with this. it's unusual for a movie to get more poignant with repeat watchings, but Moon manages somehow
posted by Hoopo at 2:42 PM on March 14, 2016
I agree very much with this. it's unusual for a movie to get more poignant with repeat watchings, but Moon manages somehow
posted by Hoopo at 2:42 PM on March 14, 2016
I'm going to be that guy:
I really didn't like Moon, and I've seen it 1.5 times.
The set design is awesome but... plotwise?
It's the kind of film I should love, but don't.
(Still, I do like the Space 1999 nods).
posted by Mezentian at 2:41 AM on March 15, 2016
I really didn't like Moon, and I've seen it 1.5 times.
The set design is awesome but... plotwise?
It's the kind of film I should love, but don't.
(Still, I do like the Space 1999 nods).
posted by Mezentian at 2:41 AM on March 15, 2016
I enjoyed a rewatch of this recently. I found myself treating GERTY as the main hero of the story (there's only one of him) and Sam (who is somewhat disposable, in a way) as a tool that GERTY uses to accomplish his goal.
posted by mmoncur at 4:20 AM on March 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 4:20 AM on March 15, 2016 [4 favorites]
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