Sunshine
                               
Director: Danny Boyle
Year: 2007
Rating: 7.5
It won't happen tomorrow or next week or next year. But some day our sun - the giver of all life - will shut down and say good night. It will of course mean the end of all life. Since scientists predict that this won't happen for approximately five billion years it isn't something that keeps me up at night. Lots of other things do, but not this. Chances are good I won't be here to see that. Nor most of you. But in this grim sci-fi film directed by Danny Boyle and scripted by Alex Garland, the sun throws us a curve and begins to flicker and fade in only a few decades from now. The end of all we know. For our entire universe. Serious shit. Our only chance is to reignite the sun by dropping a nuclear device into the sun. Not as easy as it sounds. The first mission on Icarus One went missing seven years ago and the second mission with eight astronauts is on the way. The last best chance.



This is sci-fi for grown-ups - desperate, terrifying and final. There is no light speed, no black holes to take short cuts, no aliens, no miracles - just these eight astronauts and the immensity of space. The cold merciless expanse out there where every mistake can kill you. The spaceship is well on its way when the film begins. No problems yet other than boredom and anxiety. Though no one will admit it, the chances of them returning are small - so many things can go wrong - even if the mission is successful and if it isn't, what is the point of going back. A fine cast of actors portray these eight people - a few well-known names - Michelle Yeoh, Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Hiroyuki Sanada and a few lesser known - Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis, Troy Garity and Benedict Wong. A few get more time than others, but it is basically an ensemble film - professionals at work.



There was a part of me that just thought - just finish the mission with no dramatics - all good people willing to sacrifice their lives for the world. But now that we are witnesses it all starts to go to hell. And you begin to cringe in anticipation. How bad will it get. Will your favorites survive. The film holds nothing back. This isn't Star Trek or Star Wars where heroes will show up. It is just endless space - unwelcome, forbidding and the sun can nourish but also kill. Much of this is a gut punch - so well-designed and played out that it grabs you and never let's go. It is amazing to me that this was made for 40 million dollars - it looks much more expensive - but it bombed sadly. Audiences want heroes and easy answers. None of that here. The science may be a little wonky, but I am not smart enough to judge - I just hope they are wrong about the sun going out any time soon.