The new film by Duncan Jones is a though provoking lovely bit of classic science fiction. While most films in the genre lean on effects, this one relies on our ability to empathize with the characters. Sam Bell is the sole human on a mining operation on the moon. Due to a damaged satellite he can only send and receive taped messages. His only direct conversation is with Gerty, the ship’s computer.
With only two weeks left in his contract, Sam has an accident in a rover and wakes up in the sick bay to another Sam. A support ship is coming to repair the mining machine and so the two Sams have a limited time to discover exactly what is going on at the station.
The whole film is a character study as well as a well turned story. How would any of us react if we were trapped alone with ourselves. As hard as being alone can be, having to see our own flaws in the flesh are much more trying. There are also some heavy ethical questions presented that unveil themselves as the two Sams begin to piece together their situation.
Gerty tries to help where he can, with a small screen on his front which displays different emotions on a standard round yellow smiley. It’s a nice touch as he has the standard monotone computer generated, yet human voice.
Overall I thought this was a brilliant film. The fact that we talked about it the whole way home, and I’m sitting here only a few hours later, writing this out, is proof of what I thought. My hope is that the trend in science fiction keeps heading back to it’s roots. I think it’s time we get back to films that make us think as well as entertain.