Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-15-2009 11:13 AM
Directed by Duncan Jones and starring actors Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey, "Moon" is a new sci-fi thriller scheduled for release sometime in 2009 (it will debut at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23).
There doesn't appear to be a teaser or trailer available yet, but several clips and photos have been released, as well as the movie poster and a synopsis. The following contains spoilers, so if you don't want to know more, stop reading now.
Sam Bell is nearing the end of his contract with Lunar. He's been a faithful employee for three long years. His home has been Selene, a moon base where he has spent his days alone, mining Helium 3. The precious gas holds the key to reversing the Earth's energy crisis.
Isolated, determined and steadfast, Sam has followed the rulebook obediently and his time on the moon has been enlightening, but uneventful. The solitude has given him time to reflect on the mistakes of his past and work on his raging temper. He does his job mechanically, and spends most of his available time dreaming of his imminent return to Earth, to his wife, young daughter and an early retirement.
But two weeks shy of his departure from Selene, Sam starts seeing things, hearing things and feeling strange. And when a routine extraction goes horribly wrong, he discovers that Lunar have their own plans for replacing him... and the new recruit is eerily familiar.
Before he can return to Earth, Sam has to confront himself and the discovery that the life he has created, may not be his own. It's more than his contract that is set to expire.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-15-2009 11:16 AM
Sony Picture Classics video
Astronaut Sam Bell's (Sam Rockwell) three-year shift at a lunar mine is finally coming to an end, and he's looking forward to his reunion with his wife (Dominique McElligott) and young daughter. Suddenly, Sam's health takes a drastic turn for the worse. He suffers painful headaches and hallucinations, and almost has a fatal accident. He meets what appears to be a younger version of himself, possibly a clone. With time running out, Sam must solve the mystery before the company crew arrives.
ilbasso Member
Posts: 1522 From: Greensboro, NC USA Registered: Feb 2006
posted 01-15-2009 12:06 PM
Looks like they have solved the problem of that pesky 1/6th gravity!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-18-2009 11:30 AM
Gravity issues aside, reports suggest that Jones looked toward real lunar imagery to inspire the look of his "Moon":
According to press reports, director Jones said that his science fiction setting on the Moon was influenced by new imagery streaming in from Japan's lunar orbiter – Kaguya. Jones also points to the Michael Light photography book, Full Moon, in helping the director design the look and feel of the film.
gliderpilotuk Member
Posts: 3398 From: London, UK Registered: Feb 2002
posted 01-18-2009 01:10 PM
2001 meets Solaris meets Space 1999?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-08-2009 12:26 AM
For those in the Houston area, the Space Center Lecture Series will host a pre-release screening of "Moon" at Space Center Houston on Monday, March 16 at 7:15 p.m.
Director Duncan Jones will offer a special introduction to his film, followed by a Q&A after the screening. Admission is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
Sony Picture Classics will be releasing "Moon" in US theaters on June 12, 2009.
AJ Member
Posts: 511 From: Plattsburgh, NY, United States Registered: Feb 2009
posted 06-09-2009 01:39 AM
Here's an interesting tidbit of info: Duncan Jones is the son of David Bowie. the New York Times has a story about him here.
It was inevitable that Duncan Jones's first movie would be a science-fiction film. While he was growing up, Mr. Jones, the British director, said, his father made sure he read at least two hours a night, and turned him on to the speculative fiction of authors like George Orwell when he was as young as 8 or 9. Later, as a lonely adolescent, he was irresistibly drawn to the alternate realities presented in the novels of Philip K. Dick and J. G. Ballard. "My upbringing was pretty weird, anyway," Mr. Jones, said recently, "so it was maybe less of a jump for me."
If his name and his stately, Americanized accent do not immediately ring a bell, Mr. Jones is — for the moment — better known as the son of David Bowie, the glam rock star who populated his own parallel worlds with sci-fi alter egos like Ziggy Stardust and Halloween Jack, and who raised his son under the otherworldly name Zowie Bowie.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4437 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-09-2009 07:29 AM
Perhaps "Major Tom" was the inspiration for his film?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-09-2009 07:33 AM
In my interview with him, Duncan specifically said he avoided resting on his father's career to launch his own. "Moon" is his unique vision.
And for those who missed it the first time, here are photos from our time together touring Johnson Space Center.
spacecraft films Member
Posts: 802 From: Columbus, OH USA Registered: Jun 2002
posted 06-10-2009 09:06 AM
Robert, did you see the film when it was screened in Houston?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 06-10-2009 09:09 AM
I did -- and it was very engaging. Duncan made "Moon" for just $5 million and successfully rivaled films with ten times (if not more!) his budget.
MrSpace86 Member
Posts: 1618 From: Gardner, KS, USA Registered: Feb 2003
posted 07-21-2009 03:11 PM
Has anyone seen this movie yet? The plot sounds interesting and you can read more here.
Editor's note: Threads merged
neke Member
Posts: 55 From: PA Registered: Jan 2009
posted 07-21-2009 10:44 PM
I saw it last week and really enjoyed it. It drove this former proofreader/editor bananas every time they showed a particular computer screen that said "SATTELITE LINK LOST," though.
And of course there are technical inaccuracies — gravity being one — but I definitely enjoyed the story and the performances. Actually, performance... this probably has the smallest cast of any movie I have ever seen!
spacecraft films Member
Posts: 802 From: Columbus, OH USA Registered: Jun 2002
posted 07-24-2009 10:12 PM
I had the opportunity to see this film this week, and loved it. Sure, technical problems here and there (gravity), but we have so few well-reasoned sci-fi projects done now...
Enjoyed very much. Went back again the next day and took my 12 year-old son. He loved it as well. And it led to some great conversations into several technical topics.
Well worth seeing.
issman1 Member
Posts: 1042 From: UK Registered: Apr 2005
posted 12-07-2009 06:10 AM
"Moon" was the recipient of two prestigious awards in London. It's certainly a credible story and the acting is stellar.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-04-2019 10:32 AM
Here's a book about this movie:
Directed by Duncan Jones, and written by Nathan Parker from a story by Jones, "Moon" is a 2009 science fiction drama following Sam Bell, a man who experiences a personal crisis as he nears the end of a three-year solitary stint mining helium-3 on the moon.
Independently financed and produced on a modest budget, "Moon" became an instant cult classic. It was well received by critics and audiences alike, and was particularly praised for its scientific plausibility and realism.
Making Moon will take an in-depth look back at the film's production: It features interviews with the film's key creatives and includes rare concept and behind-the-scenes images, as well as excerpts from the original shooting script.
posted 01-15-2009 11:13 AM
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