Pop Culture Buzz

GRADE: B-

Danny Boyle films are hit or miss, some of them are stellar pieces of cinema, and others are trite pieces of garbage. Critic’s and movie buffs alike would agree that Boyle’s best movie to date is the harsh and brilliant “Trainspotting”. His first film “Shallow Grave” is a Hitchcock-esque thriller with substance and style that is also a critical darling.

Danny Boyle’s two biggest film flops “A Life Less Ordinary” and “The Beach” tanked at the box office and with fans. Last year Boyle made another small budget film that many critic’s enjoyed called “Millions”. But it is his zombie masterpiece “28 Days Later” that is my favorite out of all his movies.

“Sunshine” doesn’t have the sharp and tense action of “28 Days Later”, but it isn’t slow or plodding like “A Life Less Ordinary”. “Sunshine” is an intimate and claustrophobic look at a crew of scientist sent on a mission to reignite the sun before it collapses within itself, ultimately ending all life on Earth. The synopsis may sound like it is right out of a Jerry Bruckheimer film, but Boyle takes a more subtle approach to the Sci-Fi genre.

Boyle creates some really beautiful images and themes in “Sunshine” but as a whole the movie doesn’t compare to more intellectually minded Sci-Fi movies like “2001″ or “Alien”. As a pulse pounding action film this movie fails, but as an intelligent and provocative Sci-Fi drama it works. Most of the cohesive feeling this movie has is due to the fine acting from Cillian Murphy as the ship’s Physicist.

There is noticeably a tremendous visual style throughout “Sunshine”. The screen is awash with sparkling explosions and each frame saturated with bright colors and dimmed contrasts. Even though the plot and acting isn’t top notch, the stylistic elements and creepy mood Boyle creates in “Sunshine” make this worth the DVD viewing at home. If you are a Sci-fi fan then this is a great little find, otherwise some people may find this movie slow and confusing.

WATCH THE “SUNSHINE” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW: