The imminent fading out of the sun is an intriguing premise for a sci-fi film and the ambitious and visually arresting Sunshine draws us in, even if it ultimately flames out in the final act.

Drawing upon genre classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien and Solaris, the futuristic tale centers on the interactions of a group of astronauts on a perilous mission to save the planet. These eight scientists are humanity's final hope for survival.

Director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) creates a dreamlike atmosphere that suits the cosmic subject matter. Boyle's style is intimate, even claustrophobic at times, and awe-inspiring at others. For the first hour or so the mood is contemplative: The characters fascinate us, and the special effects are mesmerizing. Then things grow bizarre, even a bit unfathomable, and a plot twist leads to the movie's devolving into a generic and overblown thriller.

The story was conceived by Alex Garland, who wrote the novel The Beach, which also was made into a movie by Boyle. While venturing further into deep space, the scientists also plumb the depths of their own psyches and even delve into the spiritual realm. Meanwhile, the crew is carrying a critical payload: a bomb that they plan to shoot into the sun to reignite it.

Cillian Murphy plays Capa, a physicist and the only crewmember who knows how to operate the complex bomb. His fellow explorers and would-be heroes include a medical officer (Cliff Curtis) a biologist (Michelle Yeoh), an engineer (Chris Evans), a navigation officer (Benedict Wong) a pilot (Rose Byrne), the captain (Hiroyuki Sanada) and his second in command (Troy Garity) in quarters that occasionally look cramped and other times seem to stretch into vastness. The astronauts are chafing under the confinement and anxiety about their mission.


The pressure to save mankind is enormous, and our attention grows as the tension mounts. Light is used in haunting and powerful ways throughout. But as the film ultimately deviates from its course, the entire undertaking suffers.