Sunshine Movie Review (2007)

An riveting sci-fi thriller about astronauts trying to save the sun before the extinction of humanity, Sunshine has an incredible ensemble and a tension that never lets go.

There are some excellent films out there with wonderful ensembles. The Big Chill and Steel Magnolias are the first two that pop into my head because no one is the star and everyone is the star. They are truly each pulling their weight for themselves and the middle, because that is the point of the piece. That is where the strength lies.

Sunshine is about a group of astronauts (each a scientist in their own right) who have been charged with flying to the Earth’s dying sun to reignite it with a bomb. This was attempted once before, but all communication was lost with the former ship and they did not complete their mission with the sun. This new group must succeed or extinction is the consequence.

I had always heard of Sunshine as a Cillian Murphy vehicle. It is, of course, listed among his movies, but it is also talked about as “his movie.” And while he is fantastic, I would argue that this is much more of an ensemble piece. With a cast including Rose Byrne, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, Mark Strong, Benedict Wong, Chris Evans, and Hiroyuki Sanada, how could it not be?

This is an incredibly engaging film right from the beginning. Between the story, the cinematography, and the score, it has an exceptional way of building tension bit by bit so that it never fully lets up. I felt it in my body each time another level of anxiety was achieved and I loved it.

There are a few specific things that stuck out that I have to mention. First, the reverence for the sun in this film is almost godlike. Visually, it is unbelievably beautiful, and it made me wonder – if we could look directly at the sun, would we feel the same way? Like, do we feel detached because we can’t connect? Because, when you really think about it (and why don’t we think about it?), we would not exist without the sun. It seems elementary to say that, but it won’t when you watch this film.

Second, Chris Evans is so dynamic in his role that he almost steals the movie. I loved seeing him as a weighty character with his eyes on the prize, knowing exactly what needs to be done no matter what anyone else says. He is kind of a jerk and I loved every second of it.

Third, there is a touch of horror in the third act of the film along with a twist. I tend to be a huge fan of twists (particularly if I don’t see them coming), but this is maybe the first time where I left a film going, “That was so great, but I’m not sure the twist was needed.” I have nothing bad to say about any choices involved, I think it would have been a really successfully written film either way.

Overall, Sunshine is a top-notch science fiction thriller that everyone should watch. The cast is phenomenal, the story is relatable, and it’s just a really good time.

Runtime: 107 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Available: Free on Hulu, to rent on Prime Video, or may be available for free on other streaming platforms