***Ed. note— Moon has moved to #22 on my all-time movie list***

Finally, amidst all this overhyped, testosterone-charged, mindless bullshit of a summer movie calendar comes a film that is not only tremendously well put together, but also unique. Moon has shades of the solitude of I Am Legend mixed with the insanity of The Shining. But most importantly is the unsurprisingly impressive performance by the lead Sam Rockwell. Normally, you don't hear a lot about character development in sci-fi films, but this is hardly about big effects and non-stop action. While I find it difficult to call Moon a character piece, it is driven entirely by the journey you experience with our main character. Rockwell plays one of the more diverse (literally) roles in recent cinematic history. The many layers of his performance echo throughout the film. But at the end of the day, what truly made Moon an exceptional film was Clint Mansell's score.

ROCKWELL'S PERFORMANCE: If you are new to Sam Rockwell, I highly recommend you set aside a day to simply watch his work. From Matchstick Men to Choke, he pulls off characters not many, if any, Hollywood stars can make work. There is a disgusting nature about his crude language and scruffy appearance that creates a sense of realism and humanity to all of his characters. Yet, all the while, Rockwell continues to provide dry humor and sarcasm to keep any audience focused on his performance, wondering what he will do or say next. There is a consistency in his ability to portray self-destructive behavior in a repulsive, yet compelling way. In Moon, Rockwell captures a number of different "characters" and tosses them into a single performance. Moon is a complicated experience. One in which you will undoubtedly be questioning what you just saw when leaving the theater. It stuck with me for days, and I genuinely want to go back. In a new era of filmmaking where unique and thought-provoking (not propaganda-inducing) films are few and far between, the ones that focus on these qualities are getting better and better. Sam Rockwell's performance was barely overshadowed by the amazing music of the film.

MANSELL'S SCORE: Music and movies need each other more than any other combination in entertainment. Films are simply boring, no matter the plot, without a strong musical background accompanying what we see on screen. I recently discussed Hans Zimmer and John Williams as being the two greatest movie composers of all time, and I stand by that. But on my list, Clint Mansell is always number three. His scores have haunted me throughout films such as Requiem For a Dream, The Fountain, and The Wrestler. There is something about the simplicity of his music that drives the movies with which he works. There is a certain engrossing quality about his beats that become a character of their own in films like Moon. The solitude of the movie, taking place entirely on the moon, needed the touch of a Clint Mansell. His music is simple, yet complex, in its use of a seemingly basic piano key. But it haunts you. It lasts beyond the film. And in its own quiet, melancholic way, it adds intensity and suspense to everything it touches.


While the leadership of rookie director (and son of David Bowie) Duncan Jones brought reminders of the first-time brilliance of Sam Mendes' breakout film American Beauty, it was the support around him that propelled Moon to elite status. Rockwell was fantastic. Mansell's score was superb. And the welcome addition of Kevin Spacey as the voice of GERTY, the film's benevolent robot support system seen in most every futuristic space film, is anything but a cop-out. Throughout the entire film you are questioning in the back of your mind the integrity and intentions of GERTY, wondering what he is really trying to do in the scheme of this plot. And you will not be disappointed by Moon's take on a character that's been done time and again. Although most of you don't know much about this movie, it will soon be expanded to many cities nationally. Hopefully you get a chance to see Moon and if you agree with my taste in movies at all, you will NOT be disappointed. Even with only "one" actor on screen 98% of the time, Moon is a film dug out of the depths of Hollywood that somehow found its way onto the big screen without being tampered with or bogged down.

4.5 / 5 TROPHIES