Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Moon is a very interesting science fiction movie starring Sam Rockwell as an astronaut reaching the end of a solitary three-year stint working on the surface of the moon. It was directed by Duncan Jones, who just so happens to be the son of singer David Bowie. This movie has been nominated for a wide variety of film awards, and I think die-hard science fiction fans will love its originality.

Imagine working a job where you are under a three-year contract in an isolated compound with absolutely nobody else around. Now, imagine if that job was on the surface of the moon. This movie is about an engineer/astronaut who works for a mining company that is harvesting Helium3 from the surface of the moon and sending it through space back to Earth. Helium3 is the main energy source used on Earth, and it takes somebody running the harvesters and shipping devices full time in order to keep up with production demand.

Sam Rockwell plays the main character who is already going a little stir crazy from his extended time up there alone, and he is hallucinating a bit. When he has an accident and winds up in the infirmary, he seems to be getting back on track until something crazy happens. Basically, he finds another person in a wrecked vehicle near the base, and that person is him. What follows is a twisted tale that reminded me of Jeckyll & Hyde as well as Tyler Durden of Fight Club.

As the time to finally go home gets closer, how is Sam going to explain to his wife and kid that there are two of him? Is he going insane or is something else going on that neither one of them realize? The somewhat creepy computer at the station seems to be withholding information, too. The movie slowly reveals the truth and just moments before the credits roll you will finally get the big picture. I thought that was awesome.

I have always enjoyed Sam Rockwell's work and still think it's a shame that he's not an A-list star. The guy has been in some great movies, but it's like his best work tends to be in unnoticed movies and his most high-profile movies tend to be bombs. Check him out in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind to get an idea of his work, then see him work his comedy chops in Galaxy Quest. Although a couple of other actors make brief appearances, this is Rockwell's movie from beginning to end and he's most impressive when two of him are on screen interacting. Kevin Spacey provides the HAL-like voice of the station's talking computer system.

In the end, I really liked Moon. It's science fiction of the non-action kind and I found it rather refreshing to see such an original movie as this get made these days. If you dig science fiction that makes you think, definitely check this one out.

Recommended: Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older