Moon (2009)

How’s this for a compliment: Duncan Jones’ 70s paranoia twister “Moon” is the sci-fi mind screw that David Cronenberg never made, or hasn’t yet made. And I love me some Cronenberg. "Moon" -- as with Cronenberg's best -- will be a cult fave years from now.

The entire film takes place in the distant future on the lunar body and focuses on one Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell), a mid-30s contract worker overseeing energy excavation for use back on Earth. Sam has been alone for nearly three years, apparently hoping for a big payday that will help save the marriage to his estranged wife. His only reliable source of comfort: The robot Gertie (voiced by Kevin Spacey) that runs the moon base’s computer operations. Sam deals. He talks to himself. A lot. He talks to his plants. A lot. He obsessively details a diorama of his hometown. For 987 hours. More or less. He cries. A lot.

Then one day after an accident, Sam finds himself. Literally. He finds himself. There are two Sams. This is where the Cronenberg duality vibe kicks in. You will wince, and be in awe of the path we fall on.

One-person films live and die on the actor/actress, and “Moon” has found a great solo pilot. Rockwell is awesome as a man who learns whole new meaning of learning to live with yourself, and wears a good bit of nasty makeup quite well. (This film has some Cronenberg-like gore too.) Spacey, in voice only, provides goose bumps galore as a robot whose mantra is “I’m here to keep you safe. I’m here to help you.” Gertie can only be seen as a happy face, a sad face, etc., and it’s funny and off-putting. You think, what is this robot thinking?

Jones, son of David (ne Jones) Bowie, provides a slow-burn fascinating film about what it really means to look yourself in the eyes. He answers nearly every nagging question, such as why on moon is Sam watching “Bewitched” and “Mary Tyler Moore,” and why is he alone? A bold, unsettling, quiet, mind-blowing film that’ll make you think twice about what makes you you. All set in space. One of the year's best.A