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In the middle of all of the summer blockbusters, it's certainly refreshing to go see a movie that's a little bit more low-key. Moon is just that - it's so low-key that it all happens pretty much in one building and starring one person, Sam Rockwell. His character is also named Sam, and he is the lone worker in a space station on the moon. Sam is in charge of maintaining the automated mining of resources that are sent back to earth to feed its power supply. He is nearing the end of his three-year stint on the moon, and can't wait to get home to his wife and daughter. But, as the end of his work draws near, some odd things start to happen in the space station.

When I say odd things start to happen, let me reassure you: this is not another Sunshine. Thank goodness for that (although I know a few of my readers were able to go along with the last act when I couldn't). In fact, what I liked about Moon is that I kept thinking I knew what it was doing based on other movies I had already seen, but then was pleasantly surprised that it would always do something different. For instance, the "character" of GERTY, a speaking and thinking computer that helps Sam with his tasks, is instantly reminiscent of the famous Hal of 2001. Thankfully, though, the only similarity is the uncertainty of the computer's loyalties.

There are other examples I'd give about how Moon could be similar to others, but they'd give more of the plot away than I'd prefer. In fact, I'd like to spend some time praising Sam Rockwell for his performance, but if I get too specific (and I don't know how much the trailer does or doesn't reveal because I haven't bothered to research it), I'd reveal too much as well. Suffice to say that Rockwell is almost completely alone for the entire movie, and he carries the film wonderfully.

I loved the setting of the movie. It's on the moon, with the Earth in sight, constantly reminding Sam of how far he is from everyone back at home. The inside of his station is stark and white and big enough to make him look even more alone. And then he goes driving out in these machines across the surface of the moon, which looks so big and so deserted that one can't help but think about what it would be like to live in that kind of solitude for such a long period of time.

This is just another one of those reviews I can't keep writing because I just want people to see the movie and experience it for themselves without knowing any of the spoilers. I love where it goes, the topics it explores, the emotions it causes, and the questions about the validity of those emotions. It's full of striking visuals and awesome acting, and was definitely one of my favorites for the year. Its quiet intensity is a definite highlight in the middle of the fun but sometimes overwhelming summer noise. I'd recommend that you at the least add it to your queue, but also consider seeing it in the theater if you have the chance (it's still in Anaheim and Orange, and probably more).