Moon (2008) science fiction (really) starring Sam Rockwell

I read the synopsis of this movie and decided I'd give it a try, hoping I wasn't in for a contrived adventure/special effects monster movie. What a pleasant surprise this movie turned out to be.

Within minutes of this movie's beginning, you get a strong sense of deja vu. Obviously the director and cinematographer were influenced by '70s sci-fi classic Silent Running. This movie with its simple title is very much a throwback to a time when science fiction was factual and not fantasy, when scifi was about the human condition in the face of technological advancement, and not just letting technology dominating the story.

This is no epic. This is a sci-fi story in the best sense of the term. Its an economy of set design and plot with technology being suggested to the viewer (instead it of being a blunt object). Moon, like much of the sci-fi from the '70s, touches upon subjects like corporate greed while keeping the focus on the human element.

Its a shame this kind of movie is so rare. Rockwell gives an oscar worthy performance. In an age where we have a cable network named Sci-Fi whose programming is dedicated to movies about mega disastors and giant aligators, squids, sharks, et el, a movie of this high calibre is a real gem.