Part Alien, part 2001, Boyle’s latest is a terrific sci-fi thriller.
The name Danny Boyle may not ring a lot of bells for most movie fans. But it should. Although he’s best known as the director of Trainspotting, most have probably enjoyed one of more of his other works such as Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later or maybe even lesser known gems like Millions and A Life Less Ordinary.
For more than a decade now, Boyle has operated on the fringe of Hollywood. He briefly dabbled in mainstream to the mixed results of 2000’s The Beach, but quickly realized that, while his movies will often have a loyal following, they generally attract a different demographic than your local megaplex fair. Boyle’s films are undeniably entertaining, but they are also think-pieces that challenge viewers more so than the latest mindless shoot ‘em up.
Sunshine is just such a movie. Set in 2057, the sun is dying, threatening man's extinction. A small crew boards a ship called Icarus II, which carries a massive bomb intended to re-ignite the sun. The cast includes Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins), Rose Byrne (28 Weeks Later), Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha) and Chris Evans (Fantastic Four).
The Icarus II is the second ship to be sent on the same mission after the crew of Icarus I mysteriously dropped communication. Although they have been assumed dead, the possibility that they are still out there somewhere, drifting in space, has not escaped the crew of Icarus II, a hopeful bunch who are trying hard to believe that this is not a suicide mission. 
As a fan of nearly all of Boyle’s previous work going into Sunshine, my expectations were probably already unfairly high. And yet, as so many times before, Danny Boyle didn’t let me down. Part Alien, part 2001, Sunshine is a fascinating, thrilling and exhausting journey from start to finish. It didn’t just meet my expectations, it exceeded them.
Sadly, most people probably don’t even know this movie is coming out. In the midst of a continuous onslaught of mindless summer blockbuster fare, Sunshine is a diamond in the rough that demands viewing on the big screen. If the fiercely loyal sci-fi crowd were to go out and give this one a chance, I’d bet they’d find themselves pleasantly surprised. The problem is, with the limited promotion around the Sunshine, it may never even be on their radar. An afterlife of DVD is a possibility, but that’s sad considering what an exceptional cinematic experience this movie is. It’s positively breathtaking.
Going off pure visuals alone, Sunshine is masterful. From the opening scene in which Cillian Murphy’s character, Capa, sits in the viewing room of Icarus II looking at the massive fireball of the sun through a shaded window, I was enraptured. The sun becomes a character in the movie and the visuals are so exceptional as to make viewers nearly feel the need to shield their eyes from the glow.
Boyle starts the movie with a quiet calm that slowly builds tension. You quickly learn the serious nature of the crew’s mission, but before that all comes to a head; you are introduced to their world and familiarized with it.
Alex Garland’s script is a lean and mean. As the story builds very methodically, it doesn’t waste time, giving us only the necessary info and highlights to set up the thrills that are about to come, relentlessly one after another.
Boyle always does a great job casting his movies, and Sunshine features his largest ensemble since Trainspotting. Cillian Murphy, who previously worked with Boyle on 28 Days Later, re-teams with the director. Murphy is quickly becoming one of the most respected actors of his generation, and he’s great in this emotionally draining performance. Michelle Yeoh probably wouldn’t have occurred to me as a casting choice, but she’s great as well. Chris Evans is an actor I’ve always felt underwhelmed by, but Boyle plays to his strengths, proving that Evans can impress with the right material and the right direction. Rose Byrne in another up-and-coming young actress, the emotional counterpoint of the story.
Sunshine is an exhausting but rewarding cinematic experience. It has some unforgettable moments and some truly riveting action. Admittedly, it takes a somewhat questionable turn in the third act that some critics have problems with. It worked for me and, as with all of Boyle’s work; I think there is more there than initially meets the eye. This is the kind of movie that warrants multiple viewings, likely revealing new clever subtitles each time around.
I wouldn’t even go so far as to call Sunshine alternative summer fare, because it really is a perfect summer thriller with blockbuster-level effects and visuals. It is escapist fare, but not the variety that requires the detach-your-brain-at-the-door philosophy of so many other June, July and August releases from the major studios. If you aren’t paying attention, Sunshine will lose you. But if you do go along for the ride, I’d be willing to bet that this is a movie you’ll be talking about and remembering for years to come – a rarity this time of the year.
ReelzChannel Rating: 