Sunshine: Review

Sunshine is Danny Boyle's newest foray into an unknown genre, a metaphysical sci-fi horror thriller that is as frustrating as it is satisfying. Given his shown ability to shape shift throughout his career, I had faith that Boyle's efforts would be successful and for the most part, Sunshine delivers the goods. Unfortunately though, it is plagued by a misplaced third act that dilutes the stirring finale and negatively impacts the film as a whole. Up until that point, however, Boyle crafts a visually stunner, filled with important and interesting questions that will force the viewer to think while dazzling their senses.

Boyle tends to work best with an ensemble cast, getting the best performances from smaller roles. He doesn't stray from that formula here, deciding to focus not on any single character for very long but rather, looking at the overall psyche of the crew. One can certainly understand the stress that they are under as they barrel through the dark expanses of space, towards our dying sun in an attempt reignite its power, saving the planet in the process. The crew is composed of a gathering of different nationalities and genders, with each member having a specific contribution to the greater mission.

Their goal is to guide their ship, the Icarus II, towards the sun and upon their arrival, detonate a massive nuclear device that will hopefully create a chain reaction similar to a smaller Big Bang, thus refueling the warming power of the Sun. While that may seem straightforward enough, the more adept readers will have picked up on the fact that our protagonists are aboard the Icarus II, not I, as their ship's predecessor, which had an identical mission, went missing (with all crew) before it could achieve it's goals. However, as the Icarus II passes the communication cut off point, they locate the distress signal of the Icarus I and, hoping they can salvage the first ships payload, venture towards it in an effort to give themselves two chances at success.

As one can imagine, the mission quickly goes wrong and the ship's crew, led by their captain Kaneda, find themselves in various forms of danger. Without giving much away, they have to conduct ship repairs and fend off a mysterious being that invades their ship after they dock with the Icarus I, all while trying to complete the goals of the mission. If this at all sounds like Event Horizon, rest assured that Sunshine possesses more intelligence in its opening frames than that mistake has its entire running time. Boyle and his screenwriter, Alex Garland, who composed the team behind 2003's masterpiece 28 Days Later..., know how to imbue even the simplest of films with a sense that there is something more than just narrative. Sunshine rather effortlessly tears through its first hour and 20 minutes with one masterful step after another. In fact, the first two acts are as interesting and effective as anything released in 2007. However, for the 20 minutes before the satisfying conclusion, the film loses its way, stumbling towards the finish line, stumbles that will keep it from attaining classic status.

In those 20 minutes, the previously mentioned unknown being (I won't give away anymore) boards the ship and the film sinks into a mediocre slasher territory. The scenes are effective in their intensity and suspense but feel out of place given the first portions of the film. Boyle never gives the audience a full glimpse at the being, relying on blurring the camera to keep the identity secret. The result is something that might have sounded better on paper than it appears on screen. It is one of Boyle's few missteps but ultimately it hurts the overall feeling of the film. Thankfully, the finale races to save the day and provides an emotional climax to the film's wild ride.

It must be noted what a visual miracle Sunshine is as each shot is a stunning blend of color and composition. The visual effects are masterful, lending themselves as a tool to benefit the narrative, not control it. In that sense, the film that most immediately comes to mind is Minority Report, as both film utilize CGI to add texture and flavor to the proceedings but never allow them to overwhelm the main story. The digitally enhanced shots of the sun are staggering in their beauty and realism and reach a peak with a scene in which the crew observes Mercury's orbit of the star. It is a moment that is nothing short of incredible and gave this writer goose bumps as the small planet flew past the giant orange globe. The Icarus is wonderfully realized, each aspect meticulously detailed and defined. As of today, not only the most original and visionary film of the year, but also the best.

The cast performs well here, led by Cillian Murphy and Cliff Curtis. Murphy, who desperately deserves to be a bona fide star, continues to make almost perfect decisions, picking and choosing the finest of projects. In just a few short years, he has performed wonderfully in 28 Days Later..., Batman Begins, Breakfast on Pluto, Red Eye, Cold Mountain, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and now Sunshine, many of which he steals whichever scene he is in. The rest of the cast ably handles the material, giving the overall crew the warmth of humanity and emotion in the cold abyss of space.

Sunshine is not a film for everyone and I suspect, like 2006's Miami Vice, that it will be misunderstood and attacked by many viewers. Fox Searchlight's marketing department has not had the strongest campaign and with it playing in only limited engagements until recently, where it saw a wider, yet still small release, Sunshine may remain an anomaly to many Americans. That would be a shame, as this is a film that demands a big screen viewing, only if to bath in its tremendous visuals. Its epic feel helps as well and by the film's conclusion, I suspect that those who go in with an open mind will leave feeling fulfilled, despite the struggles it encounters in its third act. Writing that off as a minor mistake, the film, as a whole, is another success for Boyle, who continues to show his cinematic prowess. My views has wavered since I saw it recently but the farther removed from the screening I get, the more I find to admire about this ambitious and ultimately, entertaining sci-fi spectacle. If you enjoy a good, intelligent romp, pack yourself up and take in the glorious ray of light that is Sunshine.

****