Sunshine

With all of this talk of “God” and science and whatnot, I thought it appropriate to post my recent review of Danny Boyle’s Sunshine, a deep space psycho-thriller that makes us question what our maker would look like if we were to meet it.

The following was originally published as my January 19 Edge review.

Although ultimately a story of optimism and heroism amidst the infinite expanse of outer space, Danny Boyle’s Sunshine is dark to its core. Boyle adds to his ever-expanding repertoire as director, having broken into the scene in 1994 with his acclaimed Shallow Grave, and since giving us disturbingly satisfying spectacles like Trainspotting and 28 Days Later.

This latest masterpiece pits Boyle against such sci-fi powerhouses as Peter Hyams and Ridley Scott, proving the genre’s longevity with a seminal psychological space thriller that raises as many philosophical questions about man’s origin and his future (do we as human beings have the right to go against the course of nature?) as it does the human equation; it’s a beautiful analogy of man’s ultimate meeting with the giver of life some might call “God.”

Earth’s sun is dying and mankind faces extinction. Eight astronauts are sent on a mission “redux,” after the first mission failed seven years earlier, to plant a bomb the size of Manhattan Island in the core of the sun; an act that will create a star within a star, subsequently pulling the Earth out of a catastrophic solar winter.

When a series of disasters compromises the mission, it becomes a matter of survival not only for the crew, but for all of mankind. If this sounds familiar, think about all of that against the backdrop of one of the most powerful forces in the universe, in the most inhospitable environment known to man. The likelihood of survival is not great, so the psychological dynamics are such that the crew prepares for the end (an echo of Hollywood’s current obsession?–think Deep Impact, I Am Legend.

Boyle fills in the cracks with another signature soundtrack by John Murphy and Underworld; Boyle teamed up with Murphy in 28 Days Later to deliver a type of post-apocalyptic homesickness that made us want to cry and kick some ass at the same time.

Alex Garland’s screenplay boasts some of the best characterization ever seen in the genre. Back stories are well constructed and an all star cast makes every line believable. Cillian Murphy 28 Days Later) heads the cast which features Rose Byrne (Troy, FX’s Damages), Michelle Yeoh, Hiroyuki Sanada, Cliff Curtis, and Troy Garity. State of the art special effects boast spectacular renderings of Mercury and the Sun, and such film highlights as the stunning spacewalk scene and a climactic descent into the Sun.

Spoiler Alert:

Perhaps the only confusing element of an otherwise flawlessly executed story is the ambiguous return of the Icarus 1 captain, whose seven year conversation with God has mutated him physically as well as blinded him morally. It’s not clear as to whether he is introduced purely for plot advancement or as a significant addition to the story. Yet, there exists a sort of associative pattern in Garland’s story, ultimately expanding the audience consciousness from the purely literal to a more poetic narrative of man vs. God.

Despite this unexplainable plot twist, Danny Boyle’s latest masterpiece illustrates man’s fragility through opposing rational and emotional forces, forcing us to ask the question: will we survive?

~ by cdelatorre on April 9, 2008.