“Eight astronauts strapped to the back of a bomb. My bomb. Welcome to Icarus II.” —Dr. Robert Capa
Today’s quick review: Sunshine. Years in the future, eight astronauts launch into space with a massive bomb to reignite the dying Sun. Near the end of their trip, they pick up a distress beacon from the previous mission. Physicist Robert Capa (Cillian Murphy) makes the call to reroute and investigate in the hopes of recovering a backup payload. His decision sparks a chain of events that jeopardizes the crew, the mission, and all of humanity.
Sunshine is a science fiction thriller from director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. Sunshine follows the crew of the Icarus II as they mount a last-ditch effort to kick-start the Sun and save the Earth from freezing. The film features a suspenseful tone, a well-structured plot, and credible character dynamics. The combination of plot and characters gives Sunshine a solid base to build on, leading to a satisfying watch from start to finish.
Sunshine’s plot follows the same pattern as other sci-fi thrillers but shows much more care. The trouble kicks off with a botched maneuver that puts the entire ship at risk, and the news only gets worse from there. The film does a good job moving its pieces around the board, including the ship’s systems, the crew’s psychologicial state, and the mystery of the failed Icarus I mission. The end result is a plot that’s well-paced and fits tightly together.
Much of Sunshine’s appeal comes from the Icarus’ crew. The film strikes an excellent balance between conflict and cooperation. The distinctive personalities of the crew shine through clearly, and their differences in opinion lead to plenty of tension. But no one onboard is incompetent, and the film includes a number of acts of heroism. The talented cast includes Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, and Benedict Wong.
Watch Sunshine when you’re in the mood for a serious, well-executed thriller with a dash of sci-fi. Sunshine’s solid fundamentals and careful planning make it an unusually skilled take on its genre. For a sci-fi action movie with a similar plot and a lighter tone, check out Armageddon. For an even more grounded tale of survival in space, check out The Martian. For another tense space mission with a touch more speculation, check out Interstellar.
7.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for taut sci-fi adventure that delivers everything it promises.