Sunshine (2007)

Sunshine (2007)
Directed by Danny Boyle
Written by Alex Garland

Apparently sometime in the future, the sun will start to die. In attempt to save the world, a crew consisting of young attractive white Americans, a few Asian-Americans, and an Indian-American psychologist will make the second trip to the sun -- with intention of shooting a gigantic bomb into it in hopes of creating a star within a star. If I wasn't scientifically inept I would try and explain more, though I can tell you that it's a pretty awesome idea (also something the folks at CERN are currently trying to figure out as well). But that is not my place -- my place is to tell you what is right and what is wrong with the latest film from English heavyweight Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later). Re-teaming with the 28 Days Later crew, including writer Alex Garland and producer Andrew MacDonald, Boyle has managed to create two-thirds of a possibly great film.

In theory, the faults of Sunshine are in no way the work of Boyle, who has established himself as an always interesting (at least visually) director over the past decade. His visual flair has been there from day one (Shallow Grave), and Sunshine is no exception -- this is a beautifully shot and constructed film, which combined with some modest special effects prove particularly interesting (especially in the psychedelic, I'm looking right at the sun way). Boyle, as competent as ever, also continues his love-affair with electronica group Underworld, who composed much of the impressive ambient/techno score which was more than enjoyable. For at least two thirds of the film, Sunshine is engaging -- it weaves in and out of varying sci-fi styles, and one hopes that it settles in -- unfortunately it never does. Granted Andrei Tarkovsky and Stanley Kubrick have covered almost all there is to cover metaphysically when it comes to space, Sunshine only slightly explores it's most interesting aspect: seeing/experiencing closeness to the sun as metaphor for God/Heaven/Death/Immortality.

Unfortunately, it seems Alex Garland held his How-To-Write-Dramatically-For-The-Screen book a bit to close this time around. The kick-ass visual aesthetic and score are helped very little by Garland's script, which at times is nothing short of brilliant, but ultimately resorts to the most pathetic and predictable usage of cliched characters / sci-fi archetypes. Sadly, Sunshine had a chance to be something special, a sort of chaotic mixture of all the sci-fi cinema that has come before it, but it's third act burns out faster than the dying sun of the not-so-near-future (oh damn!). Worth a look, but don't be surprised if you leave just a bit disappointed.

[In English. 107 minutes. Rated R.]