Moon

If you know me, odds are that you also know that I am a huge fan and advocate of science fiction (SF) and fantasy (F) in different art forms. The artistic value of SF and F are often ignored. This is probably due to the overwhelming number of poorly written, poorly worked, poorly designed pieces that exist out there. And maybe even almost entirely because of Ed Wood.

I was in seventh heaven to see best picture Oscar nominations for not one, but two SF movies this year--Avatar and District 9. While I thoroughly enjoyed both films--finding each one highly entertaining, new twists on old favorites, and ground breaking in their own right--I was sad to see that a little known but amazingly beautiful SF movie called Moon was ignored by mainstream awards. The film has done well internationally (The director, Duncan Jones, is from the UK) and the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards dubbed it "Most Overlooked Film". ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/  see this link for more info and trailers)

Actor Sam Rockwell nails the character of Sam Bell, the lone caretaker of a lunar mining facility in the final weeks of his three-year contract. Duncan Jones wrote this script specifically for Rockwell and the collaboration has immensely paid off. Rockwell's performance is simultaneously funny and haunting, pulling you into the story in the vein of Tom Hanks' performance in Castaway. The story is fresh and exciting. It keeps you guessing but also reveals itself in a satisfying way. The art direction and cinematography are also amazing. The team managed to make the dry, gray craters of the moon appear beautiful and highly realistic.

Please go out and watch/rent/buy this movie. There are so many things to love about it. And above all, don't be afraid of the words "science fiction" or "fantasy." Keep an open mind, don't prejudge based on the stereotypes of the genres.