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Sunshine
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Starring: Cillian Murphy
Genre:
Science Fiction
Run Time: 107
min.
Release Date:
July 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Trying to be too much at
one time, SUNSHINE often fizzles and fades under the shadow of
its own weight.
The biggest letdown is the cast. Not necessarily the actors themselves
but how little we’re able to identify with any of them in any way. When
characters began dying off, I felt nothing for them. It was also
frequently confusing trying to figure out who had what job and why (“I
thought he was the captain?”). Chris Evans (FANTASTIC
FOUR) plays more of a tough-guy “crewman 19" scenario
than anything else. Cliff Curtis (THE FOUNTAIN) plays a psychologically
unbalanced doctor who only likes to stare at the sun as much as
possible. Michelle Yeoh (MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA) I’m guessing was some sort
of astro-botanist obsessed with her shipboard crops. Cillian Murphy
(BREAKFAST ON PLUTO) is the only character most viewers will come close
to feeling anything toward. He plays resident physicist Robert Capa
who’s responsible for their ships precious cargo; one designed to
reignite our dimming sun. His seemingly over-importance is hit on time
and again since “he’s the only one that knows how to ignite the
payload.” For such an important mission, I would’ve thought that
whatever space agency was involved in this mission would’ve sent at
least a few other people along who knew his job in case something
happened to him (credibility issue).
But for all its unknown character portrayals, Sunshine does have some
stunning visuals. A space walk by two members of the ship (known as Icarus 2) is candy for the eyes, with wisps of solar energy licking
around the dome-shaped ship and threatening them. A few dream sequences
with Cillian Murphy’s character falling into the sun are also
fascinating and creepy.
Much time in the film is given over to the discovery of their failed
predecessor, the Icarus 1, and its discovery by the crew of Icarus 2. A
connection is supposed to be made by the audience between these two
ill-fated crews. The connection is supposed to be the fragile minds that
begin fracturing as they approach the sun. Is it some sort of
space/sun-spot dementia/psychosis? Or is there really a threat to the
Icarus 2 via the Icarus 1? I’m not going to spoil that for you, so
you’ll have to check it out for yourself.
The final problem with Sunshine is that it was directed by Danny Boyle.
Boyle is more recognizable now as a successful director of horror since
his acclaimed connection with 28 DAYS LATER. Unfortunately, some horror
aspects show up in Sunshine and this is where things really get messy
for the film. Dipping into so many genres that it blurs its purpose
(sci-fi, psychological, horror, drama), Sunshine doesn’t shine much in
any of them.
With the exception of some great scenes that have little or nothing to
do with the characters, this movie won’t ignite most movie-watchers’
imaginations.
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Image from Sunshine
DVD cost: $28.99
Purchase:
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Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
When the crew enters
Icarus 1, flash frames appear on screen when the flashlights point into
the camera. These frames are pictures of the crew of Icarus 1 taken from
the group photo seen later. Another few flash frames are seen later when
Capa learns that there is a 5th crew member on board.
Movie Quote: "Our
purpose is to create a star within a star."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Sunshine
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