This is not your parent's space oddessy. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is an astronaut who has a three year contract with a private company to "mine" the moon as a newfound source of electricity. Look closely at the great shots of the moon with square mined areas taken out. Brilliant. He is joined only by Gerty (Kevin Spacey) the intentionally sounding Hal-like robot who attends to his ever need. Director Duncan Jones (David Bowie's son) puts a few references in the movie to 2001 as well as Danny Boyle's Sunshine (clue, it's in the music) and has fun with the use of the flow-bee and the clapper. After an accident while on duty attending to a machine Sam is knocked unconscious. When we see him next he is waking up in the infirmary with Gerty informing him that he had an accident. After a while of paranoia, we soon find out that Sam is still unconscious, left for dead in the range rover only to be rescued by Sam. Confused?
The "new" Sam is a clone, looking like, talking like, everything like the old Sam who just looks more bloodied and worn. The two of them learn to tolerate each other and the special effects are amazing. Not just a split screen shot, the two Sams interact with each other in a highly creative way, the ping pong scene being one of the better. Additionally, as an actor, Rockwell had a great deal of learning and remembering to do when shooting these twin scenes. After a while the two Sams unearth a surprising plan that gives new meaning to employee retention.
Jones did a smash up job with this film, letting his imagination soar in tandem with his budget. Rockwell does an amazing job and is just plain fun to watch when he acts against himself. Overall a very clever-clever film.
Big bite: Really interesting and entertaining to watch.
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