Rated R

Directed by Duncan Jones

Starring Sam Rockwell, Benedict Wong, Malcom Stewart (II), Dominique McElligott, Kevin Spacey

Heidi’s Illustrious Rating: 4.5

This movie has been open in limited release since June 12, but just hit Colorado theaters last weekend. The only place to see “Moon” in Northern Colorado is at Lyric Cinema Café, at 300 E. Mountain, in Fort Collins.

This movie had the potential to be boring with a capital B. For almost the entire hour and 37 minute running time, Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), shares the screen only with a computer named Gerdy, voiced by Kevin Spacey. Watching one character for any length of time can be tiring. However, two things save this movie from becoming a snooze fest and that’s great acting and a tight, well-written script.

Sam Bell is an employee of Lunar Industries, an energy company mining helium-3 on the moon. Bell is nearing the end of a three-year contract as the lone engineer manning this far outpost. His only company has been Gerdy the station’s computer, reminiscent of Hal in “2001: Space Odyssey.”

Bell is anxious to get home to his wife and daughter. For the last three years, he has only been able to receive and send recorded messages from earth, because the station does not have live feed ability. With only two weeks to go until he returns to earth, Bell is becoming more and more restless for human contact. He’s started talking to himself and chatting up the plants in the station’s arboretum. He’s also beginning to feel fatigued and his thoughts are becoming less and less lucid. When the hallucinations begin, Bell become truly worried.

The movie opens with a grating piano piece, setting an uneasy tone. Thankfully, the erratic music transforms into a classical piano soundtrack, but a tense atmosphere prevails throughout the film.

Virtual unknown, Duncan Jones, son of pop star, David Bowie, directs “Moon.” He does a beautiful job with the flow and pacing of the movie, never losing the intensity of the unfolding story.

Sam Rockwell is one of those actors you may recognize, but just can’t place. He’s primarily acted in independent films, though he has appeared in some mainstream films, including “The Green Mile,” and last year’s critically acclaimed “Frost/Nixon.”

Rockwell gives an Oscar worthy performance in “Moon,” portraying a troubled man, trying to make sense of the seemingly inexplicable situation in which he find himself. If “Moon” is able to make waves among the throngs of mainstream moviegoers, Rockwell will likely becomes a much more sought after leading man.

Thoughtful, intelligent writing and attention to ambiance are the two key ingredients of a first-rate sci-fi, and “Moon,” delivers on both account. If you’re a fan of the genre, you need to see this one in the theater.

This review also appearing in the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor.