Every time I watch "Sunshine", without fail, I am left utterly speechless and breathless, flailing for purchase in a reality that has been fundamentally altered. If this film doesn't affect you in some way, you must be a numb creature, and no friend of mine.
Lately, the treatment science fiction films recieve in the film industry is pretty apalling, and the way that "Sunshine" was treated was no exception. It's release date kept getting pushed back due to a "lack of interest" in science fiction, and finally lasted maybe a week in theaters with little promotion at all. It's a true shame because while it's true the sci-fi genre is pretty hit and miss, "Sunshine" is much more a psychological and philosophical journey than a straightforward sci-fi tale.
Set in 2057, we find the earth in a deep freeze due to the dying of the sun. The last hope for humanity is the crew of the Icarus II, a ship carrying a bomb that will
re-ignite the dying star. What really drives the film are the interactions of the crew, and they way that they deal with arising crises. Cillian Murphy is fantastic as usual, playing the role of the physicist who created the bomb and ultimately, the only one who can set it off. The mission starts out well enough, but the closer the ship gets to the sun, the closer everyone is brought to insanity. The amazing special effects help to convey the godlike qualities of the sun, qualities that have different effects on all the crew members, from violence to fear to worship. All sorts of philosophical questions are raised, reality is questioned, and sanity is just barely held onto with quaking fingers. When the mission becomes more and more jeopardized, you will find yourself literally on the edge of your seat, eyes glued to the screen until the credits roll. The last twenty minutes or so of the movie will blow you away.
To get the performances he wanted for the film, Boyle had the actors live together during the filming, and the sets were intentionally claustrophobic. The filming affected all the actors differently, and Cillian Murphy has claimed that the experience turned him from an agnostic to an atheist. Boyle himself has declared that he will not return to the sci-fi genre, calling the production a "spiritually exhausting experience". Boyle's most recent film, "Slumdog Millionaire", has just gotten a limited release, and already the positive reviews are pouring in. With a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's evident that the guy isn't going to slow down anytime soon.
Go and watch this movie now, and be prepared to be blinded by the sun...
