Moon

In the not-too-distant future, Sam Bell (played by Sam Rockwell) is the sole operator of a moon-based facility that mines Helium 3 - an alternative power source - so that it can be utilised to cater for the vast energy needs of Earth. He's coming to the end of his three-year contract with Lunar Industries, and can't wait to get home to see his wife and daughter. The opening scenes are beautifully paced, as much an exploration of human loneliness as an entry into the science fiction genre, as Sam goes about his daily routine, which reveals the isolation he is forced to endure as part of his job. Not only is he alone on the station, but the lines of communication that would enable live conversation with people back home have never worked, meaning that he's limited to the recorded broadcasts sent to him. And his only companion is Gerty, a talking computer voiced by Kevin Spacey.

The similarities between Duncan Jones's directorial debut and 2001: A Space Odyssey are more than just superficial, but Moon cleverly plays upon the expectations Kubrick's masterpiece have raised - about a third of the way in, there is a significant twist that takes the film down an entirely different route. Of course, the problem with films that employ this kind of narrative shift is that they're difficult to talk about without ruining for anyone who hasn't already seen them. Moon is no different - the first twist is just the beginning, as the truth unfolds slowly, one reveal after another, until the true nature of Sam's contract is revealed.

Whilst it might be difficult to discuss the plot without giving anything away, it certainly isn't difficult to recommend the film. Sam Rockwell's performance is magnificent. Tasked with carrying proceedings almost single-handedly (Spacey's role is minimal, although full credit to him for getting the tone of Gerty spot-on), he excels, giving further evidence of the reasons he's spoken of so highly. Well worth a viewing.