Certificate:

Director: Danny Boyle

Release Date: 5 April 2007

Tagline: Dark days are coming.

Main Cast:

Cliff Curtis … Searle

Cillian Murphy … Capa

Michelle Yeoh … Corazon

I missed this film when it was on at the cinema and wish I hadn’t. Sunshine is perfect for the big screen. Most films set in space are, but this film has a certain feel to it that makes it especially true. There’s a real sense of isolation and vast expanse that is reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The plot is very simple and feels, for the most part, very plausible. I didn’t find myself having to suspend belief to get anything out of it. The acting is very good, and I liked the characters. Although there are traces of the usual stereotypes, it’s not overbearing and cheesy like so many others before it.

The pace of the film worked well. It’s not a typical space action adventure, so unless you like a slow and steady build up, then you may get a little bored. Again, it’s not unlike 2001 in that respect (although there are few films as painfully slow as that!).

It’s not faultless though. There is an inexplicable horror type twist that is totally out of place. There was a perfectly reasonable option open, but the writer/director chose to go down the crazy route. It ends up in a confusing mass of blurred shots and some rather incomprehensible cuts. The last few minutes are ruined as it is a struggle to understand what is going on. Which is a real shame.

I liked it though, and it’s well worth a look.

Rating: