I was leery of this science fiction film; I didn’t like the sound of the plot. The year is 2057, and the sun is dying. Well, first of all, according to all the science I’ve read, Earth’s sun isn’t in danger of dying, going supernova or expanding into a red giant and engulfing the planet anytime soon (put the latter on your calendar for, oh, about five billion years from now). My best friend got irritated with me when I raised this objection; his response was, “Just shut up and watch the movie.” I did, partly because the director is Danny Boyle, and I’ve enjoyed several of his other films, including Trainspotting and the smart zombie horror flick 28 Days Later. But how would Boyle handle science fiction?
The answer is brilliantly. A crew of eight is sent on a mission to detonate a huge bomb and restart the sun (I still don’t like that, but I went along with it). To ratchet up the tension, the premise is that this is the second such mission. The first one failed and never was heard from again. Saying anymore would spoil the viewing experience for those who haven’t seen the movie. But Boyle does what should be done with science fiction; he tells a story about people, not just gadgets. The visuals are stunning, the musical score powerful, and the performances – especially that of Cillian Murphy – outstanding. It's February, so get some Sunshine. Highly recommended.