Review of Sunshine (2013) by John P — 10 Jul 2012

Danny Boyle has become the number one UK film director, and it is interesting to revisit Sunshine which was on the Eve of Slum dog, which shot the director to an A list Film maker.

Sunshine is probably his most visually stunning picture yet, stylish in the use of light and dark, the full impact and use of the centre piece sun is brilliantly visualised. Being Danny Boyles first Sc-fi outing and being a massive fan of the genre there are influences of 2001 to Alien everywhere.

Strong performances and sharp dialogue shines though, but the real star is the great use of CG that enhances the set pieces.

The slight flaws lie with the characters themselves which is unusual for Danny Boyle as these are normally his strong points. The problems are that you never feel for the characters, despite character development used for most of them at some point of the film. The good performances can not really hide how cold you feel towards them, and as events happen which in danger this characters you just don't really care much.

The sudden horror genre type twist for the closing act of the film, which is very similar to Event Horizon, spoils the feel and tension slightly.

Still the last sun pinnacle scene is just blinding and a real visual feast and ultimately satisfying.

Oh and the influences Sc-fi nods etc, look out for 2001 first, The lead silently screaming in his space helmet, and at the end of the film with a number of black shaped objects on the frozen Sydney landscape.

The Alien ones the crew sitting around the dinner table at the beginning of the film, also dialogue in Icarus 1 "don't go wondering off and get picked off by aliens".