(2007, 107 min) In his latest endeavor, Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Millions) pays homage to (and, of course, steals from) a plethora of popular cinematic outer-space excursions. Included are 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, Solaris and even the less heralded Event Horizon. Combining some of the best of what each of these films has to offer with an original premise, Sunshine plays like a greatest hits compilation of the cosmic thriller genre while establishing a place of its own within the canon.
The journey begins 50 years in the future aboard the appropriately named Icarus II, an artificially intelligent spacecraft (imagine a female HAL 9000) designed to deposit and detonate a Manhattan-sized bomb – referred to as “the payload” – inside the Sun. If all goes according to plan, the payload will regenerate particles and destroy a fusion-stopping form of matter left over from the big bang which is causing our natural light to fade. If the Sun dies, so will all Earthly life. Seven years prior, the Icarus I made the same journey, but lost all contact with Earth shortly before reaching its destination. The crew of Icarus II (capably portrayed in part by Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Rose Byrne, Troy Garity and martial-arts mega-star Michelle Yeoh) are both fully aware of the fatal dangers that their mission presents and prepared to give their lives in an effort to save the human race. Their plans are eerily altered, however, when they receive a distress signal from Icarus I. This presents them with two options – they can stay the course with no guarantee of triumph or investigate the ill-fated Icarus I – and face a wealth of potentially disastrous variables – in hopes that salvaging the original payload will duplicate their chance of success.
As is the case with most space-based genre films, a suspension of disbelief is required to truly enjoy Sunshine. Nuclear physicists – both established and aspiring – may find it difficult to accept a man-made vessel that can withstand the Sun’s heat or a scene in which humans – wrapped in makeshift thermal insulation, mind you – survive in temperatures more than 2,000 degrees below Celsius. Less nitpicky fans, however, should find enough engrossing qualities to forgive Boyle and frequent screenwriting collaborator Alex Garland’s creative licensing. They employ captivating cinematography and visual effects set to a perfect other-worldly score by John Murphy and electronic/techno staple Underworld to showcase their sci-fi allegory’s many compromising twists and turns – some of which are sure to please horror fans as well. This is a must-see for any of many with state of the art home entertainment centers. Dim the lights, flick on the surround sound, (spark up?) sit back and let it sink in.
© TLA Entertainment Group
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