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Review #490 of 365
Movie Review of Sunshine (2007) [R] 108 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.00
Where Viewed: Harkins Ciné Capri at Northfield 18, Denver, CO
When 1st Seen: 27 July 2007
Time: 7:"00 pm
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
DVD Release Date: 8-January-2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Directed by: Danny Boyle (28 Days Later...)
Written by: Alex Garland (28 Days Later...)
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Cillian Murphy (Breakfast on Pluto) • Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette) • Chris Evans (F4: Rise of Silver Surfer) • Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha) • Troy Garity (After the Sunset) • Benedict Wong (Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story) • Cliff Curtis (Live Free or Die Hard) • Hiroyuki Sanada (The Promise) • Chipo Chung (Proof) • Mark Strong (Tristan + Isolde)
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Click Here to Read Spoiler Points
A long time in finally reaching USA audiences, Sunshine, directed by Danny "28 Days Later…" Boyle from the screenplay by Alex "also 28 Days Later…" Garland, shines well worth the wait. While the summer of 2007's sci-fi film scene has been ruled by transforming Autobots® and Decepticons®, Boyle's Sunshine puts a decidedly more human touch to genre. In this case, the end of the world as the sun some 50 years in the future has begin to die down a bit producing insufficient energy to heat the world. All that work to prevent global warming was for naught as a new ice age has set in. In order to kick-start the sun, a bold plan was hatched by the world's governments to send a ship with a gigantic nuclear bomb to reignite the sun's fusion reactors that seem to have died down. That ship was called Icarus.
"Stellar and blinding special effects…stunning, surreal, and undeniably beautiful film…"
Unfortunately, something happened that prevented Icarus, commanded by Captain Pinbacker (Mark Strong), from succeeding in its mission. So, in one last desperate attempt with infinitesimally small chances of success a new crew of eight scientists and astronauts is launched on a second 93,000,000 journey aboard Icarus 2. In charge this time is Captain Kaneda (Hiroyuki Sanada) with his crew of physicist Capa (Cillian Murphy), pilot Cassie (Rose Byrne), chief mechanic Mace (Chris Evans), lead biologist Corazon (Michelle Yeoh), psych officer Searle (Cliff Curtis), communications officer Harvey (Troy Garity), and navigator Trey (Benedict Wong). Icarus 2 is a sight to behold in and of itself. With its gigantic payload the size of Manhattan Island, beautiful solar shield, and mesmerizing yet spindly ship designed to permit the crew to survive a return journey, it proves to be one of humankind's greatest accomplishments. Of course, in this case, if the crew succeeds in its mission, it truly will fit that billing. All accounts indicate that the reason the first mission failed was due to an assault by tiny meteorites that damaged the ship. So, this crew is more prepared. They are sailing along with everything going just right until they are signaled by the Icarus mainframe computer that they are going to reach the dead zone—a point after which the sun's solar radiation will scramble any of their outward communications preventing them from sending messages back and forth to earth days sooner than expected. To the crew, this means their isolation from earth will be complete. Mace, the level-headed, pragmatist of the group, declares it virtually a non-issue as they are over 53,000,000 miles from earth as it is, they are pretty well on their own anyway. That is until Capa uses up all the transmission time and prevents him from being able to send his own messages home. A fist-fight between the two lands Mace in a psych eval with Searle who recommends a holographic bath in a calming scene, an apology to Capa, and a much needed, mandatory hair cut. With order restored, the mission continues without incident until an exciting discovery is made. The distress signal of the Icarus is located by Icarus 2's computer in orbit around Mercury. And now, the crew realizes a difficult decision lies upon them. Should they attempt to rendezvous with the Icarus to ascertain what happened and see if there are survivors or should they stick to the mission they are on with the intention to save all life on earth? The Captain eventually places the decision on the shoulders of Capa as he must analyze whether the recovery of the Icarus's payload for potential deployment is worth the risk of altering the mission plan. This one fatalistic decision then sets in motion events that reveal some of humankind's darkest traits, most inhumane dimensions, and the drawbacks to one of our most potent driving forces, our innate curiosity. Stellar and blinding special effects, a resonant and stirring musical score, a mind-bending story masking an analysis of raw humanity behind the scientific revelations, and raw yet elegant performances by the cast make for a stunning, surreal, and undeniably beautiful film on many levels.
"… ignites the inner soul of human achievement in light of our drive to survive in a remarkably beautiful cinematic achievement."
At the core of the story is the sacrifice these human beings are making to voyage across the expanse of the solar system on a mission so dangerous and risky as to defy the logic of most people. Their resolve to the success of the mission may cost them their lives, yet each realizes as such this is a very small price to pay in the scheme of saving their world. Committing to the mission in the first place would have taken tremendous courage beyond that of most people. Beyond this though, as they proceed ever closer to the point of payload deployment, they have been given no clues as to the real sorts of sacrifices they will have to make. (see the spoiler for more details if you are too curious to wait until you see the film)While Danny Boyle's previous films have had huge appeal in the USA, from Trainspotting to 28 Days Later…, Sunshine represents, perhaps, his first film with the potential for universal appeal. Not everyone loves films about heroine addicts or pseudo 'zombie' films. While Sunshine is a sci-fi genre film, really it is a film about our inner capacity for great service and self-sacrifice or misguided evil and self-importance. The incredibly diverse cast has immersed themselves in this whole-heartedly and believably. Even Chris Evans who plays a character not far from those he's played in the past demonstrates, ultimately, the potential for true courage and leadership amid virtual catastrophe. All in all, despite some minor computer glitches (see spoiler) Sunshine ignites the inner soul of human creation in light of our drive to survive in a remarkably beautiful cinematic achievement. Who among us would not like to journey to have a look at our sun, that which we know to be responsible for our very existence on this world? And the test to see who can survive and commit to the ultimate sacrifice demonstrated the great good and bad among us.
French Poster | Quad Poster |
Michelle Yeoh as Corazon | Cillian Murphy as Capa |
Cillian Murphy as Capa | Cillian Murphy as Capa |
Cillian Murphy as Capa | Cillian Murphy as Capa |
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Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Sunshine (2007)
Cast Members
Cillian Murphy
• Rose Byrne • Chris EvansMichelle Yeoh
• Troy Garity • Benedict WongCliff Curtis
• Hiroyuki Sanada • Chipo ChungMark Strong
Director
Danny Boyle
Writer
Alex Garland
| DVD | VHS |
While Danny Boyle's previous films have had huge appeal in the USA, from Trainspotting to 28 Days Later…, Sunshine represents, perhaps, his first film with the potential for universal appeal. Not everyone loves films about heroine addicts or pseudo 'zombie' films. While Sunshine is a sci-fi genre film, really it is a film about our inner capacity for great service and self-sacrifice or misguided evil and self-importance. The incredibly diverse cast has immersed themselves in this whole-heartedly and believably. Even Chris Evans who plays a character not far from those he's played in the past demonstrates, ultimately, the potential for true courage and leadership amid virtual catastrophe. Sunshine ignites the inner soul of human creation in light of our drive to survive in a remarkably beautiful cinematic achievement.
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