Moon

It's nearly impossible to discuss Moon without spoiling the movie for those who haven't seen it. And if you haven't seen it, I would strongly recommend not reading the plot description on Wikipedia, because part of the joy of the film is in relishing the unexpected turns that it takes. Even the plot synopsis on the film's official Web site gives a bit too much away.

Directed by Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie, Moon evokes memories of past science-fiction classics like Silent Running, 2001, and Blade Runner, but at the same time is completely original. The basic story is simple. Sam Bell, the lone crewman on a mining station located on the dark side of the Moon, is within two weeks of fulfilling his three-year contract when strange things start happening - headaches, hallucinations, and an encounter with what appears to be a younger version of himself, one who believes he has just landed to begin his own three-year contract. All the while, Sam's only companion is a computer named Gerty (eerily voiced by Kevin Spacey) who appears to be helpful but can't always answer the most important questions.

It's essentially a one-man show, and Sam Rockwell - one of those actors who always seems to be just on the verge of becoming a big star - is terrific in the role. It's a great pleasure to see a film that is worthy of his talent, and even though it is a low-budget film appearing mostly on the art circuit, it could be the role that takes Rockwell to that next level.

It's a great movie - probably the best I've seen this year.