I haven’t seen everything that Sam Rockwell has ever been in. He’s got 66 credits, and many of them run to the incredibly obscure. However, with the exception of Welcome to Collinwood, I’ve liked every movie of his I’ve seen, and I even dug Rockwell in Collinwood. He’s not an actor that’s easy to dislike, even when he plays deplorable bastards (Snow Angels). Moon is the lone exception — I disliked the movie, and I even felt that Rockwell was far too restrained in it (for my money, I have no desire to see a restrained Rockwell, not when he plays unrestrained so well). Nevertheless, I do respect the hell out of the guy’s movie choices — he doesn’t pick easy-money projects, unless they’re worthy of his talents (see upcoming Iron Man 2).
I was, however, in the minority of people who didn’t like Moon, among the several of us who saw it at SXSW. I’ll just chalk it up to the fact that it’s an overly cerebral sci-fi flick and not just a slow-moving snoozer that built, interminably, toward an anti-climactic finale (I felt similarly about Steven Soderbergh’s Solaris, though I can concede it was a well-made film).
Moon was directed by Duncan Jones and, in addition to Rockwell, included the voice of Kevin Spacey, who did the voice-work for the film’s robot. Here’s the trailer.
I'm totally not ashamed that I ordered the travel mug over the phone this week after the store closed before I could get back to it last month. Why aren't there more astronaut movies with Gary Sinise? WHY?
Stop this talk of travel mugs! We must discuss how cool the movie looks.
Posted by: Cindy at April 9, 2009 10:28 PM
It's a cool looking space travel mug, you see. I'm being germane! But yeah, I just watched "2010" again a few days ago. This stuff is totally my candy.
I love the idea of this. Is he a clone? A robot? A twin?
Posted by: Cindy at April 9, 2009 10:35 PM
Did I spot a HAL 5000 cameo in that?
Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at April 9, 2009 10:57 PM
It's like Wall-E on the moon, but with humans and freakiness!
Posted by: Odnon at April 9, 2009 11:26 PM
omg, robot kevin spacey gave him a flobee haircut.
just like my dreams...
Posted by: gp at April 9, 2009 11:52 PM
Nevertheless, I do respect the hell out of the guy’s movie choices — he doesn’t pick easy-money projects, unless they’re worthy of his talents
Unfortunately, I only remember his face as the bad guy from Charlie's Angels. Worthy of his talents, indeed.
Posted by: The Pink Hulk at April 10, 2009 12:45 AM
Um, George, I hope you aren't honestly saying that Galaxy Quest is Tim Allen's best work to date?
I have four words for you: For Richer or Poorer. Best movie...ever?
In all seriousness, I liked Tim Allen in Big Trouble. It's a damned funny movie
Posted by: The Pink Hulk at April 10, 2009 12:49 AM
The Pink Hulk, part of For Richer or Poorer was filmed in the town where I currently reside. That's all I know about that movie.
And this movie looks suspiciously similar to Sunshine which was 75% amazing and 25% cliched suck. The disappointment I suffered at the hands of that film means I'm probably just going to rent this one.
Oh, and if you liked the movie Big Trouble you should read the book which is hilarious even if you have experience with life in Miami and know how little of it is actually fiction.
"I'm the guy who dies to prove the situation is serious!"
"Don't open that! It's an alien planet! Is there air? You don't know!"
Loved Galaxy Quest and that character. And this trailer looks awesome. I'm a sucker for sci-fi.
I also love how they have a highly advanced robot capable of carrying on intelligent conversation with humans that uses emoticons to express how it thinks it should feel. Throughout the trailer it goes from happy face to worried squiggly face to frowny face.
Posted by: DeadBessie at April 10, 2009 7:34 AM
Sam Rockwell's greatest role was that of "Head Thug" from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
WHAAAAT?! How did I miss this?
The first time I remember seeing Rockwell was in Charlie's Angels, and he just annihilated poor Drew Barrymore when they were on screen together.
He's hard to place - his roles are always somewhere on the XYZ axes of sexy/charming/pychotic - like a slightly fey Edward Norton.
Posted by: marya at April 10, 2009 9:19 AM
like a slightly fey Edward Norton
Then of COURSE Rowles likes him. He, himself, is like a slightly few version of me. :)
Posted by: The Pink Hulk at April 10, 2009 9:33 AM
FEY, not few. Damnit, I should never attempt humor just as I'm waking up. On the plus side, though, Pajiba is always on my list of things to read first thing in the morning!
Posted by: The Pink Hulk at April 10, 2009 9:34 AM
Hahahahaha, I might watch this for the emoticon computer alone.
Posted by: SaBrina at April 10, 2009 9:35 AM
I don't care, that trailer looks awesome.
Posted by: Stella at April 10, 2009 9:38 AM
I might leave my husband for Sam Rockwell. I'm just saying. I'm not saying this movie will lure me to the theater (HD flatscreen has ruined me forever) but I'll tell other people to see it. That counts, right?
Posted by: Clarence Boddicker at April 10, 2009 10:33 AM
Marya, Sam Rockwell was the main bad kid (head thug). He was the one who said, "We have a loyalty to the Shredder!" toward the end of the movie. And he tried to mug April O'Neil at the beginning. He was awesome.
Ah, Galaxy Quest... it's hard to believe it now, but it's Tim Allen in a good movie.