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THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES
‘I'M GLAD MY DAD LIKES IT'
Star
Cerebral science fiction thriller Moon heralds the arrival of an impressive new . filmmaking talent in Duncan Jones, the son of David Bowie. Miles Fielder meets him
i e and Sam wanted to go back to the kind Mof science fiction we loved.‘ enthuses the
man-boy formerly known as Xowie Bowie. who wrote the film specifically for star Sam Rockwell. ‘which is so different from what people are seeing these days. Films like ()uiluml and Silent Running and Alien have a very different pace and depth to science fiction films today. And those three films in particular are about blue-collar working men out in space. They‘re very human-centric. That's so different from the lantern-jzm'ed heroes you get in science fiction today.‘
Working with a relatively tiny budget. Jones struck a series of deals and took advantage of a window at Shepperton Studios during a quiet period in the midst of last year‘s screenwriters' strike. .»\ccordingly. the set design of the moon-base and special effects used to create the lunar surface belie the budget. ‘We were
making a film that referenced and had the feel of
those old l‘)(i()s and 70s films.‘ say Jones. ‘so we used model miniatures rather than (‘0. And we were able to find some of those old timers who worked on the original films — Bill Pearson. for example. who built the Nostromo for Alien. We brought all these old geniuses back together.‘
Cleverly conceived and smartly executed as Moon is. the film nevertheless relies upon the central performance of its star. For much of its running time
46 THE LIST Sir-93 Jul 900‘.)
Rockwell is the only performer on screen. and the majority of his character‘s interaction is with the moon-base’s artificially intelligent computer (iliRTY. a soft-spoken cousin of 2001's HA1. voiced by Kevin Spacey. '1 don‘t know if anyone other than Sam could have pulled it off.‘ says Jones. 'He hates the word "quirky". but he is. He‘s quirky. but he‘s empathetic. too. You care about him. And with (iliR'l'Y. everyone's going to think of HAL. because that’s where Al computers started. So I wanted to play with audience expectations. and Kevin's very distinctive voice really helped me do that.‘
Winning the Michael Powell Award for Best New British Film at lidinburgh last month underlines the universal praise .Wmm has received. L'nsurprisingly. Jones is delighted. not least because the 28-year-old has aspired to make films ever since he graduated from the London Film School around the turn of the millennium. ‘lt took me a really long time to work out what I wanted to do in life.‘ Jones says. ‘but when I decided to go to film school I became very focused.‘
And finally. what does Jones‘ father. the man who fell to liarth. think of his son’s filmmaking debut‘.’ ‘He was incredibly proud.~ Jones grins. ‘and I‘m very relieved that it's a film he loves.’
Moon is on general release from Fri 17 Jul. See review, page 48.
* Bruno The world of fashion will never be the same as Sacha Baron Cohen strikes again. See review. page 47. General release from Fri 10 Jul. =i= 35 Shots of Rum Claire Beau Travail Denis' most heart- warming film to date is a portrait of a father‘s bond with his daughter. Plus Tinderstick Stuart Staples provides a killer soundtrack. See profile and review, page 48. Cameo, Edinburgh and selected release from Fri 10 Jul.
=14 Frozen River People- smuggling Canadian style in this gripping thriller set on the frozen St Lawrence River near Quebec and New York State. See review. page 49. GFI', Glasgow & Fi/mhouse. Edinburgh from Fri 77 Jul.
=l= Moon See preview, left and review, page 48. General release from Fri 17 Jul.
=l< Burma VJ Fascinating documentary about Burma's brave video journalists. See Also Released, page 49. Cameo, Edinburgh, Tue 74 Jul; Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 17 Jul.
* Soul Power lnfectiously funky documentary chronicling a 1974 R&B concert in Zaire. See review, page 47. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 10—Thu 76 Jul.
* Lake Tahoe Deadpan Mexican auto-comedy in search of a spanner. See review, page 47.
GET, Glasgow, Fri lO—Thu 76 Jul.
* Public Enemies Michael Mann’s original gangster epic. General release, out now.
>l< Rudo y Cursi Cheeky Mexican football fable reunites Gael Garcia Berna! and Diego Luna. Selected release, out now.
=l< Momma’s Man Azazel Jacob’s subtle family drama. Last chance to see. Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 70—Mon 73 Jul.