Flying Close to the Sun

2057: why is a spaceship called Icarus II flying towards the Sun? What is the gigantic platform the spaceship is carrying on its tip, like a golden shield? the Sun is dying, and the Earth is slowly sloping towards a new ice age. So a handful of astronauts have to re-ignite the Sun again by throwing a mega-payload, that is the golden shield, in its core. Of course the mission leaves not much chance of survival for the crew, whose elements are striving to keep their cool. But as sunstrokes seem to affect everybody’s mind, causing human mistakes, psychological stress and self-sacrifice, the Icarus I comes into the radar. The first spaceship, gone astray seven years before in the same attempt, carries a deadly surprise for the astronauts, only to make things even harder. When you cast Cillian Murphy as a lead actor, this means two things: you’ll enjoy lots of close-ups on his eyes, and his character is not going to die soon. Sunshine keeps both promises. Physicist Robert Capa (probably named after the famous photographer?) is the nominal hero of the film and Murphy’s skilled acting effectively shows the burden of responsibility he carries on his shoulders: the Icarus II is “his" mission and from its success depends the destiny of mankind. Capa is often countered by Chris Evans’ engineer Mace, aggressive and hyper-rational – a different kind of sexy, for those who don’t want to drown in Murphy’s eyes but would rather sink in a Real Man's arms. The rest of the crew is generally well characterized and the acting is good, but what is mesmerizing of this film is the visuals: the golden palette floods the screen as the haunting presence of the Sun (a symbol for God) floods the astronauts’ minds and bodies; "proudly shot in East London", as the end credits boast, the film keeps you thrilled from the very start thanks to a chain reaction of misadventures that will stay in your memory and in your eyes for long.

Where : Most Cineworld, Odeon and Vue cinemas

When : Every Day

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