“Sunshine”
“Sunshine” (or “Alerta Solar” in Spanish) was the second movie that I attended in Panama City. Walking into the film I had no idea what it was, only that it was directed by Danny Boyle, (“Trainspotting,” “28 days later”) Cillian Murphy was in it (28 days later) and, from the movie poster, it seemed to be happening in space. Well, anyways, being my second movie going experience in Panama, I was now savvy to the temperature change. Incredibly warm and humid year round outside, the inside of a Panama City movie theatre necessitates me wearing wool socks, brought in my backpack because they would be unbearable nearly anywhere else in the country.
Then there is the release date. It seemed to me that “Sunshine” was a film already released in the U.S. that I had completely missed. Now it seems it had been released somewhere (perhaps the U.S.?), then Panama, and is now enjoying a re-release of sorts in the U.S. making this review all the more timely (if not timeless, though that depends on the prose rather than the release date).
On to the film. The sun is dying, or melting or getting too close to the earth and everyone in the whole wide world is gonna die unless this team of scientists, astronauts, etc. can complete a second attempt at a very risky mission to blow the sun back into working order. Chances are they will die and fail, but they would like to at least succeed, save the world and die themselves and they sort of hold out hope at succeeding and living. They are aboard a ship called Icarus two. Icarus one was the first ship sent to fulfill the mission, but it failed, disappeared, the whole nine yards. Their Icarus (and presumably the first one) is a talking ship a la Hal from that other famous space movie. But back again, to this one. “Sunshine” shines early. Right away we find this is no big budged run-of-the mill space action film. Or at least we think it isn’t. Okay, to explain, this film is two films in one. The first half, or maybe even two thirds of the film is in narrative, psychology, philosophy, and visuals just damn good. The last third is a real let-down. And something about space movies always gets me ready for the let-down. But, still, on the basis of its wonderful start we still have a film worth watching.
The psychological and philosophical is provided right away by our ship shrink Searle (Cliff Curtis). He is fascinated by the sunlight and has Icarus run his simulations of the sun which are visually stunning (nice sound too). But he also seems quickly, or at least quietly, unstable. This isn’t so good because the other astronauts, especially Chris Evans’ Mace and Cillian Murphy’s Capa, are also showing wear. The implications of the mission, of arriving at the sun, and events that occur to make it less likely they will return, dawn on them slowly. And can this ship really be trusted? Astronauts send their last messages home.
Corazon (Michelle Yeoh) dotes over a greenhouse designed to provide oxygen for the return trip. Crew members share quiet conversations about their chances, mission etc. The film unfolds like something approaching art. Everything is going beautifully until they get a beacon from the assumed lost Icarus one. Actually, things still go well for a bit, then (all of the sudden) all of these implications, possibilities, psychological wearing, etc. fall to the side for a by-the-numbers murderer is stalking the spaceship climax. Whoa! Where did that come from? And thus extreme disappointment in a movie headed at first towards sci-fi immortality. Even the visuals suffer in the latter third, or at least the editing. O well, Danny Boyle has showed us his adeptness in yet another genre, he just should have demanded a third act re-write from scribe Alex Garland.
Story: C One shot to save the earth. Great early tone and psychology but the outlined idea isn’t so original.
Acting: B Solid all around.
Visuals: B Looks very good, very often.
Originality/Innovation: B Gets much less original as it goes on. Over edited later as well. B
Enjoyability Grade: B So involving and intriguing early on that despite its lame ending it gets a B
Overall Grade: B- Well, the first half was an A, the end a D +, so we’ll average to a B -
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