Movie Description
Danny Boyle has excelled in nearly every genre he's touched from the family film (MILLIONS) to the zombie movie (28 DAYS LATER) to the drug-fuelled drama (TRAINSPOTTING). With SUNSHINE, he brings his style and verve to the futuristic world of science fiction to great success. In a mere five decades in the future, the sun is dying, and Earth is running out of time. After the failure of a previous mission, it's up to the crew of the Icarus II to reignite the star with a stellar bomb. But the crew faces more than just the blistering heat of the sun and the freezing cold of space as they grapple with the limits of the human mind and heart.
As in Boyle's previous work, the visuals in SUNSHINE are stunning. It's a beautifully shot film filled with contrasts, juxtaposing light and dark, sound and silence, and life and death. SUNSHINE resides in the respected realm of smart science fiction films such as 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and SOLARIS. Alex Garland's fine script never dwells on the specifics of the technology, but instead spends its time on the characters. For these roles, Boyle has assembled an excellent cast that includes Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh, and Cliff Curtis. Like the classic 2001, SUNSHINE's appeal extends beyond its genre. Though it's packed with special effects and heart-stopping action, it's an intelligent film that should be enjoyed by everyone who loves movies, not just those who like science fiction.
| Credits | | Producer: | Andrew MacDonald | | Cast: | Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Troy Garity |
Editorial Reviews
4 stars out of 5 -- "[E]legance permeates nearly every frame, Boyle's honed craft seeping like morning rays through a Venetian blind. The production design is exquisite."
Total Film - Jonathan Dean (05/01/2007)
"Boyle and ace DoP Alwin Kuchler exploit elemental contrasts of darkness and light, heat and cold, with the CGI and model work beautiful but mostly unobtrusive..."
Sight and Sound - Henry K. Miller (04/01/2007)
"Boyle and his team ground the story in details chosen for their sophisticated, underplayed authenticity." -- Grade: B+
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (07/27/2007)
"[A] spooky and spookily beautiful science-fiction thriller..."
New York Times - Manohla Dargis (07/20/2007)
5 stars out of 5 -- "[A] film that will leave you wide-eyed, heart racing, on the very edge of your seat."
Ultimate DVD - Nikki Baughan (08/01/2007)
4 stars out of 5 -- "[An] entertaining sci-fi thriller....It's intense, paranoid and bathed in golden glows..."
Uncut - Chris Roberts (10/01/2007)
3 stars out of 4 -- "Overall, a surprisingly meditative sci-fi epic."
Rolling Stone - Peter Kenis (02/07/2008)
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