Sunshine (2007)

A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writer:

Alex Garland

Stars:

Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Michelle Yeoh

1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cillian Murphy	...	Robert Capa
Chris Evans	...	Mace
Michelle Yeoh	...	Corazon
Rose Byrne	...	Cassie
Troy Garity	...	Harvey
Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Kaneda
Benedict Wong	...	Trey
Mark Strong	...	Pinbacker
Cliff Curtis	...	Searle
Paloma Baeza	...	Capa's Sister
Archie Macdonald	...	Child
Sylvie Macdonald	...	Child
Chipo Chung	...	Icarus (voice)

Storyline

50 years into the future, the Sun begins to die, and Earth is dying as a result. A team of astronauts are sent to revive the Sun - but the mission fails. Seven years later, a new team are sent to finish the mission as they are Earth's last hope.

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Plot Keywords:

sun | icarus | earth | astronaut | future | 

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Taglines:

50 years in the future, Earth's Sun is dying.

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Genres:

Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sunce

Filming Locations:

Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

£26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$242,964 (USA) (20 July 2007)

Gross:

$3,675,072 (USA) (12 October 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DNA Films, Ingenious Film Partners, Moving Picture Company (MPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The role of Searle was originally written as a slightly stuffy British character. Cliff Curtis was really interested in playing the character and was given an audition on the strength of his performances in Training Day and Whale Rider.

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Goofs

In the final scene, the western side of the Sydney Opera House is seen in the background, viewed from a parkland. There is no parkland west of the Opera House. That area is the old suburb of Sydney called The Rocks. While set 50 years in the future, The Rocks would not be converted to parkland as it is full of national heritage buildings. This error is due to the fact that the scene was filmed in Stockholm, Sweden, and the Opera House added later.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Capa: Our sun is dying. Mankind faces extinction. Seven years ago the Icarus project sent a mission to restart the sun but that mission was lost before it reached the star. Sixteen months ago, I, Robert Capa, and a crew of seven left earth frozen in a solar winter. Our payload a stellar bomb with a mass equivalent to Manhattan Island. Our purpose to create a star within a star.
[long pause]
Capa: Eight astronauts strapped to the back of a bomb. My bomb. Welcome to the Icarus Two.

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Crazy Credits

The Fox Searchlight logo runs backwards at the beginning of the film, then zooms into the setting sun, which then turns out to be the Icarus II.

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Connections

Referenced in Top Gear: Episode #15.9 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"To Heal"
(uncredited)
Performed by Underworld
Courtesy of Ato Records / Red

User Reviews

Fascinating Film

I am not a sci-fi fan. I've seen a few sci-fi films, but I don't flock to the nearest cinema to check them out. The only one I own on DVD is Alien vs. Predator, and that's only because it was three bucks at the video store and I needed a fifth one. I haven't seen 2001 or Event Horizon, and I don't remember anything about Alien. I saw Armageddon in 1998, when I was eleven years old, and I just remember being embarrassed at that scene with the animal crackers.

That being said, this film may have turned me into one of the sci-fi fans. If nothing else—if seeing a film that explores more than just "action" on screen isn't your kind of thing—the film is gorgeous. The shots of the sun are some of the most fascinating bits of effects I have ever seen in any sort of film, not only sci-fi. The film is set only fifty years into the future, and therefore the technological aspects of the set are relatable rather than hard to imagine.

The characters are well developed, and the actors are top-notch. Every single performance is phenomenal, and I was even a bit taken aback by how much I enjoyed Chris Evans's portrayal of Mace. Everyone seems to have taken the time to learn about the science and about the psychological factors of being with the same people for so long (most likely due to the fact that Danny Boyle sort of forced them to), and it shows on screen. The characters are all real, and although none of us know what it would be like to be in space and alone for sixteen months, there are aspects of them all that are immediately relatable.

The plot is secondary. That doesn't mean that it isn't well thought or anything like that, but the human drama and psychological journey of the characters is the primary concern in the film, and the fact that they are going to re-ignite the sun is merely the background story that puts them all together in the first place. There are far more triggers that ask the audience to think about their life and the life of mankind and of the universe itself than there are for the audience to question, "Well, how did that just happen?" The film asks us to have a brain and be willing to use it.

Sunshine is a religious experience. It is very personal and is a very unique experience to each member of the audience. It is incredible, awe-inspiring, intense, and one of the most beautiful pieces of film I have ever seen. Danny Boyle, Alex Garland and Andrew Macdonald have done it again. A+.