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Danny Boyle's third collaboration with writer Alex Garland is something of a departure for both of them. Their two previous combined efforts have resulted in The Beach, a disappointing adaptation of Garland's excellent novel, and 28 Days Later, an acclaimed zombie movie that I felt was a little overrated. In my opinion, then, Sunshine is easily the best film to come from their partnership. It takes the form of a science fiction thriller set onboard a spacecraft sent to reignite the dying sun at some unspecified point in the not-too-distant future. Going by that synopsis it appears that it could resemble something like Armageddon in which an asteroid is headed to Earth and a mission is sent to blow it up. Thankfully, it bears very little resemblance to that sort of 'Earth in peril' film, with Danny Boyle instead taking inspiration from sci-fi classics like Alien and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Certainly one thing that Sunshine does not possess much of is originality (as mentioned elsewhere, a certain plot development towards the end does rather closely parallel Event Horizon) but it appropriates well-worn ideas and assembles them in a very compelling way.
The numerous set-pieces are all excellently made, with a pulse-pounding highlight being an early sequence in which two of the crew have to go on a spacewalk to repair a damaged part of the ship. It helps that the special effects are superb, especially considering that the film only has a moderate budget compared to a typical blockbuster. The recreation of the sun itself is extraordinary, with the blinding light used very effectively throughout the film (as are sound effects). Together with the top-notch production design, a very believable, seamless environment is created. Of course, a film like this also needs interesting characters to succeed, and here the casting is spot on. Cillian Murphy again proves his considerable talent and another standout, perhaps surprisingly, is Chris Evans (Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four), who shows that he can certainly handle serious material. Other recognisable, if not hugely well-known, faces fill out the rest of the cast, and all are faultless without exception. I felt the end went on a little long as there was a point that would've been perfect to conclude on, although the final shot is a memorable one. There are a few plot holes, and the film is perhaps not for those who have trouble suspending disbelief, but they would be missing out on an excellent space-bound thriller.
The summary
Original Sunshine definitely isn't. It is, however, a thrilling and intense experience that can only be fully appreciated on the big screen.
