Reel Rewind: Sunshine
My first Reel Rewind article at RadNerd examined Funny Games, a 2008 film by Michael Haneke. Now Danny Boyle’s Sunshine graces my television screen, a movie I’ve briefly discussed at my old blog. You can view my latest recommendation here.
We all fall prey to the same popcorn-stained habit every once and awhile. We pop in an old favorite or discover a gem that originally eluded us. And while Netflix queues everywhere continue to grow with movies fresh out of the microwaved bag, pausing to explore flicks from years past shouldn’t be a shunned endeavor just because it’s not the latest and greatest on the silver screen. If you’re on the same wavelength, then welcome to RadNerd’s new Reel Rewind movie review feature, brought to you by a whim and the sweet smell of nostalgia.
WARNING: SPOILERS!
Sunshine, which cast its rays on 2007, often struggles under unappreciative response and critical confusion. Simply put, the film could use more love. Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire) directs a visually momentous work in which Earth’s future astronauts, on board the Icarus II, must successfully deliver a payload to our dying sun. The future allows from some comfortable luxuries, such as cooking in space and therapeutic virtual reality rooms. Cruising on solar power and breathing enough oxygen to support the return trip, the crew expects few hindrances besides possible malfunction of the lone payload. Of course, the fate of the previous Icarus fleet remains unknown, and like all science-fiction movies occurring in the inky expanse of space, our merry astronauts aren’t alone in the universe. Chances are, though, you won’t suspect the enemy. Although the film accomplishes impressive visual feats and provides a superhuman aberration, the real strength can’t be found “on the surface of the sun,” as Cassie (Rose Byrne) muses, but within the characters’ souls.
