Review of Sunshine (2007) by Charles H — 18 Jan 2016

I remember first learning about this movie from an online article at the time of its release, rather than the usual t.v. spot or some other more visibly placed form of advertisement. After reading about the movie's intriguing plot-line and discovering that Danny Boyle was its director, I wondered why the film had received virtually no publicity here in America.

Now, having seen the film, I can write that this is not Boyle's finest effort. In fact, the film is flawed in several noticeable respects. But, in spite of its failings, this remains an interesting science fiction story to experience and is certainly much better than your typical entrant in that genre.

The first half of the movie was even good enough to have me thinking that it might accomplish something truly memorable, only to be marred by a mis-delivered final act. Watching the crew, under intense pressure, plot the approach intended to give them the greatest opportunity for success and then deal with the calamities that arise is perfectly established and delivered.

The movie is brimming with high tension and suspense. Who cares about the many practical and scientific liberties that the screenwriters take throughout the movie? That is what the genre is all about -- stretching one's imagination and challenging the mind to ponder what was perhaps unthinkable.

I just wish that their ambition had resulted in a better movie. They really did almost have something here, but the effort comes up just shy of achieving greatness.