This is, or maybe was, a pretty good example of an “Oscar bait” film. In case you never heard of that term, it’s a film that has grade A acting, directing, writing, etc. It pretty much has to make critics swoon about some aspect of the movie if not the whole thing, and then come awards season, it racks up the nominations to various other awards and may get close, if not winning, the Academy Award itself.
Well, when this movie first came out, I remember it had some of that buzz going for it. But now that the nominations have since gone out, there isn’t as much buzzing about it these days. Don’t get me wrong, it picked up an adapted screenwriting nod, but that’s it. No noms for Gosling, Hoffman, Giamatti, or Clooney (for acting or directing, but he did get one for writing), or Best Film. Perhaps they’d be well deserved if some of the other better films weren’t chosen or released last year. Perhaps. (more…)
I wanted to start this review by stating plans or the possibility of this film having a sequel. But I’ll get to that later. Honestly, I don’t have a problem with Hollywood wanting to follow up a hit money maker if there is more story than can be told. But without seeing the film and knowing the premise is about employees plotting to kill their employers, it leaves you wondering.
I personally feel this is a hidden gem of a film. I only know of a few people who have seen this film, and those that have seen it, really love it. The blame game as to who’s at fault for it’s awesomeness I think is shared between writer/director Duncan Jones and underrated actor Sam Rockwell. I may have said this before, but I’m saying it again: doesn’t Sam Rockwell have a great name? But seriously, his acting is great. I liked him since Charlie’s Angels. Seriously. And as for Mr. Jones, that is, son of legendary David Bowie, the film he made after Moon was Source Code. He’s now on my list of directors to keep an eye on.
