I’m a sucker for sci-fi movies set in space and Clint Mansell soundtracks. You can find both in Duncan Jones’ first directorial effort Moon.

Jones directed one of my favorite movies of the last decade, Source Code. 5 years later he would go on to make a World of Warcraft movie that I’m not sure has been seen by Warcraft fans.

from imdb.com

I came across Moon when looking up Clint Mansell’s soundtrack history. Mansell’s most popular work came from his brilliant music in the Mass Effect video game series. Mansell’s style of production is perfect for anything set in space. I’ve kept Moon in the back of my mind for many years after watching the trailer several times. I was intrigued by the concept.

Moon is centered around Sam Rockwell’s character Sam Bell. Bell is an astronaut on the literal dark side of the moon mining resources sent back to Earth. The future Earth is in an energy crisis and it is Sam’s job per his company, aptly named, Lunar Enterprises, to send Helium-3 to Earth. We are introduced to Bell coming to the close of a 3-year contract. Bell is weary, tired, and very delirious after such a sustained period of isolation. His only company is a bulky robot named Gerty (ominously voiced by Kevin Spacey).

From the outset, this is a film that could go hundreds of different directions. We’ve seen movies like The Martian and Gravity take different approaches to the astronaut marooned in space scenario. Moon is the most original of the three and that’s not discrediting the originality of either The Martian or Gravity, which are better films in comparison.

Moon is a pensive film, and not for the faint of heart searching for tension or drama. There are definite revelations to be had as the plot progresses, but Jones never accentuates these moments.

I was engrossed with Moon because I was bought into the mysterious aura and suspense surrounding Sam Bell and his predicament. There’s a definite vibe that things aren’t what they seem when Bell wakes up after a deadly crash in his moon rover. We are soon introduced to a new character and the rest of the film takes shape from there. Even still, I feel like there’s a deeper meaning that I missed. A thematic takeaway that just went right by my orbit and would require me to give an even more thoughtful second watch.

Rockwell executes his demanding role well. The robot computer Gerty is so ominous that he leaves you on edge as you prepare for a seminal moment.

Moon’s fatal flaw is that after a full hour and change of atmospheric tension and a plot coming to its peak, Jones doesn’t capitalize with a signature moment or scene to remember the film by. The story that occurs is fine and it works, but it limits the overall impact of the film. As I said before, there is likely a deeper message underlying the surface of this film.

Moon is an ambitious undertaking, especially for a first-time director in Jones. It’s the perfect prelude to his true directorial accomplishment, Source Code. It’s been a strange fall from grace for Jones since then with his most recent two efforts, Warcraft and Mute, not being well-received. I can only hope Jones regains his footing if he does pursue a new project.