Bask in the light of SUNSHINE

by: bamf 1 year, 2 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 18 hours, 49 minutes ago

 

Bamf here rematerializing from the void..

The cinescape has been devoid of good Science Fiction tales of late.  While the idea of gigantic robots raining down from outer space to fight a war on earth does have a sci-fi edge to it—Transformers is not a proper representation of what I mean.  Science Fiction is the exploration of a scientific idea and the possibilities it can yield in a literary, or for this purpose, cinematic form.  Films such as The Forbidden Planet, Pitch Black as well as one I have a particular affection to, 2001: A Space Odyssey.  The aforementioned are all stories existing in the sandbox of imagination.  Sunshine written by Alex Garland and directed by Danny Boyle is a high concept, sci-fi idea that puts to task the human conceptions of atheism and the greater good, staged in space where Earth faces extinction when the sun’s light fades out.  Sunshine asks—what would happen if?

The space vehicle Icarus II is sent with a crew of eight with the intention to create a new star because of the sun failing.  Set fifty years into the future, when the first mission Icarus I was unable to fulfill its task for unknown reasons, Earth puts all of its resources into the Icarus II, a long pencil like fuselage that connects to the dark matter bomb hidden in the shadow of an immense solar shield. When they approach the planet Mercury for a slingshot pass to their payload delivery point—a distress signal is picked up through solar noise and now the original Icarus is found.  The crew is faced with a choice; attempt to find if any survivors are still on the previously thought lost ship, or defer the heroics in order to continue with the mission?  Ultimately, it does not come down to a vote, rather, a decision based on logic that dictates if their bomb is not successful, the Icarus I can be used as a back up.  This choice falls on the solar bomb physicist Capa (Cillian Murphy), who likens the decision on deciding if a coin will land on heads or tails.  Captain Kaneda (Hiroyuki Sanada) makes it clear that he does not want a fence sitting scientist, choose a side.  Capa falls with “two chances are better then one” and this definitive decision leads the crew towards disaster.

Sunrise is cast for personalities.  Not one actor is given more screen time then another, but Capa certainly becomes the narrative lead as he is the only man who knows how to work the bomb.  Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) plays second in command to Kaneda as Mace, a well versed scientist who understands how every life is expendable on Icarus II if it is to preserve the mission’s outcome—saving billions of lives on the Earth.  Evans brings a charisma to the role along with trenchant criticism to his colleagues that makes him seemingly an asshole, but right at the same time.  The ship’s psychologist Searle played by Cliff Curtis (last seen in The Fountain) gives a standout performance as a man torn between maintaining his crew’s sanity, and going slightly crazy at the same time.  Searle is obsessed with the observation deck of the Icarus II that resides in the center of the heat shield. The film starts with him sitting and looking at the sun watching the fire and gas churn about in the fusion.  He asks the computer, a sexy sounding H.A.L. to decrease the filter on the platform so he can see more light.  The voice of Icarus states if he goes beyond the allotted parameters, he will not survive.  Searle then takes this to task by bringing the filter within decimal places of the critical point, and an explosion of light engulfs his every sense.  Searle has an obsession with this deck, and through the course of the story his face becomes more tattered and burnt by his need to be drenched in sunlight and he chases after the high like it’s a plunger full of heroine.

The film plays in light and shadow.  There are times when the camera gives the impression of an eye that has stared into sunlight for too long.  The sun is a character in itself as its effects on the crew, be it the pressure of the mission’s success or the dependence of the crew on it’s light.  As they draw closer to the finality of the voyage, hard choices must be made on what is one’s logic rather than heart.  As I do not want to spoil more beyond this point, I will tread lightly, and be a bit enigmatic. I certainly suggest this for any Science Fiction fan, so I will pose the question like this.  Imagine you believe in God.  Your God’s celestial kingdom that you have been renting out through faith has decided to take away your planet’s life.  Now by chance of fate, or some other cosmic means, you stand at the precipice of the sun’s death, a place where you most certainly can become the last living man in the universe, since the Earth will die long before your resources will run out.  Forgoing the opportunity to usurp your God by denying life back on Earth, its reprieve from the gallows, you now have become alone, alone with God as the last living person who can praise its glory.  Would you want that?  Who would you be, savior, or the hangman?  The atheist may well choose life, but history shows that some religions may embrace death.

Sunshine has a mind bending score composed by the band Underworld, who had work previously with Boyle on Trainspotting.  Underworld was given the film finished, and was put to improvise an electronica/classic core obviously drawing inspiration from Kubrick’s 2001 and in turn achieving something wonderful.  No expense seemed spared when it came to the full realization of the voyage towards the sun.  The crew really lives in the sets created; close quartered and utilitarian, no space feels wasted.  Visuals created outside the ship look like a mix between practical models and CGI, pushing the budget I am sure to its extremes and never cheating the viewer of spectacle. 

Sunshine succeeds on nearly every level.  The second act’s transition to third lacks a little in originality and could be compared in ways to Event Horizon but this is forgiven.  After all, the ends…they justify the means do they not?

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