Sunshine (2007)

A team of international astronauts are sent on a dangerous mission to reignite the dying Sun with a nuclear fission bomb in 2057.

Director:

Danny Boyle

Writer:

Alex Garland

Stars:

Cillian Murphy, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans

1 win & 20 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

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

---

Plot Keywords:

spacecraft | sun | spaceship | mission | astronaut | 

---

Taglines:

If the sun dies, so do we.

---

Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent content and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the biggest challenges facing the visual effects team was to create the sun itself. This was done with CGI and turned out to be the longest CGI sequencing ever done by a London production house.

---

Goofs

(at around 29 mins) Cassie turns the Icarus II to 'generate shadow' for the repair to take place, but the computer animation on the screen indicates the intended maneuver won't take any part of the shield out of sunlight.

---

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.

---

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits the sound of the distress beacon of the Icarus can be heard in the background.

---

Connections

References Event Horizon (1997)

---

Soundtracks

Peggy Sussed
Performed by Underworld
Written by Karl Hyde & Rick Smith
Published by Sherlock Holmes Music Publishing Ltd. / Chysalis Music Group USA
Licensed courtesy of Smith & Hyde Productions t/a Underworldlive.com

User Reviews

Danny Boyle successfully reignites the sci-fi genre!

After reanimating the zombie genre with 28 Days Later, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland now turn their attention towards science fiction - with equally startling results.

Sunshine is unequivocally the best sci-fi movie in a very, very long time. I'd echo the other comments on here - it mixes elements of 2001: A Space Oddessy with Event Horizon, then adds the tension of Alien. This is NOT the gung-ho action of Armageddon, The Core et al.

The film just throws you straight into the space mission, there's no background to worry about, only these 8 crew members headed towards the sun. The great thing about this cast is that there's no "superstar" billing, so you're never sure who is going to make it alive to the end of the film! The actors are uniformly good, with Chris Evans in particular deserving much praise. Michelle Yeoh delivers a very understated performance, very different from her ass-kicking Asian roles!

Danny Boyle has always been good with characters but with Sunshine he really steps up a level. Visually this film is astonishing and literally had me open mouthed at times. The production design, costumes, the sound design, the music from Underworld... they all combine to give the viewer an amazing cinematic experience that you'll want to watch for a second time, just to take it all in.

Whilst it's an exciting, tense film to watch there's no denying the serious point of Sunshine's message. It's a film about preserving the future of mankind and the sacrifices that have to be made in order to do that... and it will make you think long after the credits have rolled.

A fantastic achievement - one which deserves to be seen on the big screen when it opens worldwide. 9/10

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sunshine

Filming Locations:

Stage 12 - Three Mills Studios, Three Mill Lane, Bow, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$242,964, 22 July 2007

Gross USA:

$3,675,753

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,806,360

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