Some filmmakers need to warm up and hone their skills before they can deliver their best work. Others immediately start with their undisputed showpiece. Director Duncan Jones falls into the latter category. His Later Movies”source code‘, ‘Warcraft: The Beginning’ and ‘Mute’ all have their fans, but the consensus is – Jones earned his spurs with his feature film debut’Moonwas responsible for his best film.
And you can stream it for free right now: The free Amazon service Freevee has included the sci-fi masterstroke in its program. The disadvantage of the free alternative to Prime Video: you have to live with one or two short commercial breaks.
But even with the occasional break, one thing should become very clear when you enjoy “Moon” (again): the unanimous appreciation for this excellent directorial debut is completely justified. It has an excellent Sam Rockwell starring – and a really nasty twist that hurts even if you watch it repeatedly!
That’s what “Moon” on Amazon Prime Video is all about
The near future: Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is overworked, plagued with insomnia and the only person on the moon. But now, after three long years, he is about to complete his monotonous maintenance work. The astronaut eagerly awaits his release and associated return to Earth. Their energy problems were solved at once by his employer, the Lunar Corporation – thanks in no small part to Sam’s mission to the moon.
Before Sam’s dream of finally hugging his wife (Dominique McElligott) and daughter (Kaya Scodelario) can come true, however, another problem must be overcome. Because suddenly another moon inhabitant appears, whose presence even on-board computer Gerty (originally: Kevin Spacey) cannot explain, and Sam’s return to Earth is in great danger…
Calm and emotional
In a heyday of sci-fi cinema that relies on spectacular visuals and gripping action, 2009’s “Moon” has returned to the quieter, more thoughtful side of the genre: The five million dollar production, which even uses leftover sets from another abandoned project, is very atmospheric, deliberately depicts Sam’s work and living space as sparse and monotonous, with a clear emphasis on the human element.
We must and can quietly get to know and love the protagonist before Duncan Jones and screenwriter Nathan Parker (“2:22”) add some traction to the speculative sci-fi elements of this story. And even if they reveal the full scope of the story and its future elements, the emotional level remains the most important: From start to finish, Moon is a dramatic, heartfelt tale that leaves us feeling sorry for Sam and longing for a happy ending for him.
This is of course thanks to the script, which gives Sam a lot of space to think about existential questions and rationalization of his situation in an accessible way and to weigh up a purely emotional angle. But above all, “Moon” shines so much because it’s Sam Rockwell playing the part of his life.
The “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” mime captivates with his playing, which is as intense as it is delicate – and the sheer charisma he displays here (again) makes it almost impossible not to help his hero to cheer on every common sense and to take treason against him almost personally.
Wisely used Kubrick reference
Not only is Sam Rockwell’s glowing charisma set against a claustrophobic, clinical setting, it’s countered by Clint Mansell’s minimalist, hypnotic compositions (“Requiem for a Dream”). This makes Sam’s loneliness all the more lamentable in “Moon” – and then there’s his computer colleague Gerty:
Designed as a clear reference to the menacing HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”, the computer immediately arouses suspicion among film buffs. And even without this foreknowledge, Gerty contributes significantly to the atmosphere of “Moon” – he is always courteous, his voice color is downright pushy-friendly. This inevitably raises the question of whether he is up to something or whether he has developed a conscience over the years.
Either way, Sam’s only solace comes with prolonged tension. Whether you watch the film unsuspectingly for the first time or already know the central twist of “Moon” and the mystery surrounding Gerty: the misadventures and nasty revelations in “Moon” hurt terribly. And every little bit of comfort and glimmer of hope that Sam fights for feels like a huge triumph. The subsequent end of ‘Moon’ is almost overwhelming – and that without spectacle, but purely human.