Somewhat Busy, but not Too Much So...

I've nothing to write about really, other than the film I recently watched and fell in love with all over again.

The director; Danny Boyle, preluded the film with an introduction commenting on the general process involved in making 'Sunshine.'  He likened the process to a more realistic take on science fiction, akin to the original Aliens, and I would draw a direct comparison with 'Event Horizon,' one of my favourite films.  The premise is that the sun is dying and a crew of eight are shepherding a small planetoid sized bomb to the sun, in order to get the old girl started again.

Where this film immediately differs from contemporary sci-fi, is the non-reliance on lengthy, drawn out scenes upon which premises are built.  The opening scene establishes all that need be known about the film, without a single line of dialogue.  Ultimately, the film is as much a cabin-fever story set in space, as a race to restart the sun.  As with all films set in tight quarters, the cast do not so much create the atmosphere through which the film runs; they are the atmosphere, and the tension, and everything between.  As such, the cast excel in all areas.  I particularly enjoyed the lead, acted by the exceptional main man in '28 Days Later,' Cillian Murphy (another exceptional film by the same director, and an actor/director partnership of significance) but I also enjoyed the earthmother character, Michelle Yeoh (real name Yang Zi Chong) who also performed in 'Far North.'  The characters were poles apart (sic) and yet similar in their protective roles.  She is responsible for ensuring crew survival by keeping a botanical section thriving, keeping oxygen supplies refreshed.  In Far North her role is mentor, protector and leader of a two woman tribe in the snowy wastes.  Indeed, her final act as Corazon is to craddle a new shoot, grown from the ashes and ruins of her botanical bay.  The symbolic significance is obvious, but her significance throughout is the very thing that means I've not seen her mentioned anywhere else:  Her lack of imposition within each scene.  She represents humanity and ultimately life, and her disappearing into the shadows mirrors the crews' demise.


The deeper the crew fall, the further away she seems.  Only when balance is restored, is her screen time and ultimately, her significance restored.


Another standout performance that's not been recognised (as far as I can tell) is that of the ships' counselor.  Unfortunately he dies quite early, however his job is shown to be exceptionally complicated after afray on the flight deck.  His character is akin to Icarus; he flies dangerously close to the feverish insanity that's prevalent in these conditions, and overcomes problems by confronting them with his own feverish mentality.


Cliff Curtis is the actor who performs the maniacal balancing act, threading between sanity and insanity.


The clever use of CGI ensures this film won't age like 'Avatar,' or other special effects laden nonsense; because the special effects are used in a minimalistic way that never impose, and will never be subject to full scrutiny by the viewer.


Overall, this film is on-par with Event Horizon, and scores 9.5 out of a possible 9.5.