Sundance Journal 2009 Day 2: Duncan Jones’ Moon

Until I physically had the press kit in my hands, I had no idea that Duncan Jones’ Moon was actually a property of Sony’s Stage 6 division. I anticipate that this Brit indie film will easily cross over into several markets.

You can see how working in commercials allows some directors to perfect certain skills — the type of illusionary devices that Michel Gondry commonly whips out in most of his creative work. He couldn’t have used a better muse than in wackjob Sam Rockwell and the trickery goes a long way in exploring the pros and cons of human cloning. The premise of having more than one Sam Bell is what actually veers the picture into is satisfying original story-line and how this is tied to how solitary confinement and how it isn’t healthy for anyone, (I thought of the mental and physical deterioration in Das Boot) actually expands the formula into some fairly interesting and at times comical sequences. Borrowing from previous sci-fi-in-space incarnations/masterworks – Jones does a great job at creating the environment both in a tonal sense and the set construction and props brands this film as something that was cared for and nurtured. Along with fellow critics Edward Douglas from Comingsoon.net, Alex Billington from Firstshowing.net and Peter Sciretta from slashfilm.com — I think this film has legs and Jones should get ready to receive an on-slot of scripts to consider for future projects. Stay tuned for my full length review soon!