DVD REVIEW: Moon

LOST IN SPACE

I’m not a fan of science fiction as a genre and studiously shy away from it (with the notable exception of Douglas Adams’ idiosyncratic take on the universe, which is just too funny to ignore). Talking robots, people in stuffy space suits, the artificial atmosphere of flying shuttles and looking out at fake stars and other-worldly aliens doesn’t excite me.

But Douglas Jones’ (he’s David Bowie’s son) debut film Moon doesn’t seem like a regular space misadventure that relies more on hi-tech CG and futuristic gadgets than solid, old-fashioned narrative. It’s as compelling a human drama as anything set on planet earth and particularly perceptive about man’s struggle with himself and the elements surrounding him and his need for a distinct identity. It’s about a lone figure, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) stationed at a lunar camp and approaching the end of his three-year contract at the station which apparently mines lunar rock to extract Helium-3 for nuclear fusion for providing pollution-free power on Earth. He represents a huge American corporation that’s evidently very prosperous in an unspecified era; but the timeline is virtually irrelevant for the viewer to connect with the concept of an individual being manipulated and crushed by his bosses without compunction.

Sam has lived alone at the station for the duration of his stint, barring his constant companion, Gerty the robot (voiced perfectly by Kevin Spacey) who’s supposed to ensure his wellbeing. Sam is obviously cracking up under the strain of being alone for so long and communicating with the world via an impersonal video link. He talks to his miniature plants and pursues woodcarving as a hobby, but the lack of human contact is driving him insane. After an accident during a repair mission, he finds an unexpected companion in a situation that’s as confusing for the viewer as it is for him, till the mystery gradually unfolds.

Apparently made on a shoestring budget of $5m, Jones and screenwriter Nathan Parker engage the audience for a taut 90 minutes and much of the credit should go to Sam Rockwell’s ability to execute a demanding and presumably exhausting part with great conviction. He’s akin to the character Tom Hanks portrays in Castaway, fighting the odds against his own survival – a futuristic Robinson Crusoe of sorts.