Moonwalkers (film)

Last updated
Moonwalkers
Moonwalkers Movie Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAntoine Bardou-Jacquet
Written by Dean Craig
Produced byGeorges Bermann
Starring
CinematographyGlynn Speeckaert
Edited byBill Smedley
Production
companies
Distributed by Alchemy
Release dates
  • March 14, 2015 (2015-03-14)(SXSW)
  • January 15, 2016 (2016-01-15)(United States)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$135,622 [1]

Moonwalkers is a 2015 British crime comedy film directed by debut director Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, written by Dean Craig, and starring Ron Perlman, Rupert Grint and Robert Sheehan. The film, which is based on Moon landing conspiracy theories, had its world premiere at SXSW on March 14, 2015. It had a limited release on January 15, 2016 and was available through video on demand by Alchemy.

Contents

Plot

In the days leading up to the Apollo 11 Moon landing, CIA agent Tom Kidman is tasked with hiring Stanley Kubrick to film a fake moonwalk, in the event the astronauts fail in their mission. The CIA views the Moon landing as a potential ideological victory over the Soviet Union, necessary for American morale. The CIA gives Kidman a large sum of cash as an incentive for Kubrick, and orders him to murder Kubrick when the film is complete to prevent the story from leaking. Unbeknownst to the CIA, Kidman is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to his time in Vietnam, and responds to any frustration with extreme violence.

Kidman travels to England to speak with Kubrick's agent, only to accidentally hold a meeting with the agent's cousin, Jonny Thorpe, a struggling band promoter in debt to an East End gangster named the Iron Monger. Jonny agrees to arrange a sit-down between Kidman and Kubrick, then convinces his stoner roommate Leon to pose as the director. Leon and Kidman meet, and Jonny accepts the briefcase of money, promising the movie will be made. Thinking Kidman is simply a Hollywood producer, the pair go on a spending spree before the Iron Monger's henchman break into Jonny's house, beat him, and steal the briefcase.

Kidman sees Stanley Kubrick on television and realizes he's been duped. He confronts Jonny, who confesses his scheme. Seeing an opportunity to establish himself as a success, Jonny promises that a friend of his, a director named Renatus, can film a fake Moon landing. Jonny takes Kidman to meet Renatus at the director's mansion, which he has turned into a commune. Thinking he's being hired for an art project, Renatus accepts. Meanwhile, a hippie girl named Ella takes an interest in Kidman.

Kidman takes Jonny to confront the Iron Monger and get the briefcase of money back. Rather than negotiate with the Iron Monger, Kidman murders several of his henchmen and takes the briefcase back. Production is stalled when Renatus insists on approaching the film as a piece of performance art, intending to include several artistic flourishes. To show off his alleged immunity to marijuana, Kidman takes a hit from a bong, which turns out to have been laced with opium. To help him recover from its effects, Ella gives him LSD, sending Kidman on a bad trip, after which he has sex with Ella. In the throes of his trip, Kidman tells Ella and Leon he no longer feels compelled to solve his problems with violence. Afterwards, he makes an incoherent call to the CIA, attempting to update them on his status.

Alarmed by Kidman's call, the CIA sends several agents to England. They take the commune hostage and force everyone to begin filming the fake Moon landing. Jonny and Leon take on the roles of the astronauts; Leon, nervous at the prospect of being on television, gets high and begins having a trip on set, stumbling around the fake Moon surface. The Iron Monger's gang arrive and engage in a deadly shoot-out with the CIA. During this the fake footage is relayed to CIA headquarters where they are shocked by the badly acted moon landing recreation. Jonny goes to help Kidman defeat the Iron Monger gang but only manages to distract the last CIA agent who is about to kill Kidman. After Kidman kills the Iron Monger and the last CIA operative he lies to a dazed Jonny 'you got him'.

Now wanted by the CIA, Jonny, Leon, Kidman and Ella flee England. A montage shows news clips of American life through the 1960s, culminating with Apollo 11 reaching the Moon. In Spain, Jonny, Leon, Ella and Kidman enter a bar in time to watch the Moon landing with several villagers where they are unable to tell if they are watching the real or fake footage.

Cast

Production

In June 2014, it was announced that Ron Perlman, Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan, Stephen Campbell Moore, Kevin Bishop and James Cosmo had joined the cast of the film. [2] It was also announced Antoine Bardou-Jacquet would be directing the film, from a screenplay by Dean Craig. [2] It was also announced Kinology had signed on to finance the film and handle international sales. [2] Principal photography began on May 14, 2014. [3]

Release

The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 14, 2015. [4] On March 16, 2015, Alchemy picked up distribution rights to the film. [5] The film was released in the United States on January 15, 2016, in a limited release and through video on demand. [6]

Critical reception

Moonwalkers received mixed reviews from film critics. It holds a 42% "Rotten" rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 38 reviews, with an average score of 5.06/10. [7] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 39 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews. [8]

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a mixed review writing: "Too much faith has been put in the comic value of Dean Craig's screenplay, which offers plenty of mishaps and shocking violent outbursts, but not so many laughs. Aside from a look at Renatus's pretentiously goofy most recent film, the funniest thing here is the most predictable scene, a sequence in which crew-cut, all-business Kidman gets dosed with acid. For a moment, Johnny turns into the grown-up of the bunch — a terrifying prospect for a plan that was counting on having a perfectionist cinematic genius at the helm." [9] Susan Wloszczyna of RogerEbert.com gave the film a negative review, writing: "Forget a fake moon landing. "Moonwalkers" is a fake comedy, one that mistakes an endless bloody splatter-fest of a finale for the height of hilarity and never quite gets off the ground after takeoff." [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Kubrick</span> American filmmaker (1928–1999)

Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, screenwriter, producer, and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or short stories, spanning a number of genres and gaining recognition for their intense attention to detail, innovative cinematography, extensive set design, and dark humor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moon landing conspiracy theories</span> Claims that the Apollo Moon landings were faked

Moon landing conspiracy theories claim that some or all elements of the Apollo program and the associated Moon landings were hoaxes staged by NASA, possibly with the aid of other organizations. The most notable claim of these conspiracy theories is that the six crewed landings (1969–1972) were faked and that twelve Apollo astronauts did not actually land on the Moon. Various groups and individuals have made claims since the mid-1970s that NASA and others knowingly misled the public into believing the landings happened, by manufacturing, tampering with, or destroying evidence including photos, telemetry tapes, radio and TV transmissions, and Moon rock samples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rupert Grint</span> English actor (born 1988)

Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint is an English actor. Grint rose to fame for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film series, for which he was cast at age eleven, having previously acted only in school plays and his local theatre group. He portrayed Weasley in all eight films in the series, beginning with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) and concluding with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). Since then, he has continued his work on film, television, and theatre.

<i>Canadian Bacon</i> 1995 film by Michael Moore

Canadian Bacon is a 1995 comedy film written, produced, and directed by Michael Moore which satirizes Canada–United States relations along the Canada–United States border. The film stars an ensemble cast featuring Alan Alda, John Candy, Bill Nunn, Kevin J. O'Connor, Rhea Perlman, Kevin Pollak, G. D. Spradlin, and Rip Torn. It tells the story of a struggling President who is persuaded by his confidantes to fight with Canada, when a local sheriff and his friends get involved.

<i>Dark Side of the Moon</i> (2002 film) 2002 French mockumentary by director William Karel

Dark Side of the Moon is a French mockumentary by director William Karel. It originally aired on the Franco-German television network Arte in 2002 with the title Opération Lune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rupert Friend</span> English actor

Rupert William Anthony Friend is an English actor. He first gained recognition for his roles in The Libertine (2004) and Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005), both of which won him awards for best newcomer. He portrayed George Wickham in Pride & Prejudice (2005), Lieutenant Kurt Kotler in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008), Albert, Prince Consort in The Young Victoria (2009), psychologist Oliver Baumer in Starred Up (2013), CIA operative Peter Quinn in the political thriller series Homeland (2012–2017), Vasily Stalin in The Death of Stalin (2017), Theo van Gogh in At Eternity's Gate (2018), and Ernest Donovan in the series Strange Angel (2018–2019).

Vivian Vanessa Kubrick, also credited under the pseudonym Abigail Mead, is an American former film composer and director. She is the daughter of filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apollo 11 in popular culture</span> Cultural aspects of the first manned Moon landing

Apollo 11 was the first human spaceflight to land on the Moon. The 1969 mission's wide effect on popular culture has resulted in numerous portrayals of Apollo 11 and its crew, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins.

<i>Hitman</i> (2007 film) 2007 film by Xavier Gens

Hitman is a 2007 action-thriller film directed by Xavier Gens, based on the video game series of the same name. The film stars Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47, a professional hitman engineered to be an assassin by the Organization. He becomes ensnared in a political conspiracy and finds himself pursued by both Interpol and the FSB. Dougray Scott and Olga Kurylenko star in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Sheehan</span> Irish actor (born 1988)

Robert Sheehan is an Irish actor. He is best known for television roles such as Nathan Young in Misfits, Darren Treacy in Love/Hate, and Klaus Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy, as well as film roles such as Tom Natsworthy in Mortal Engines and Simon Lewis in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.

<i>Iron Sky</i> 2012 science-fiction comedy film

Iron Sky is a 2012 comic-science-fiction action film directed by Timo Vuorensola and written by Johanna Sinisalo and Michael Kalesniko. It tells the story of a group of German Nazis who, having been defeated in 1945, fled to the Moon, where they built a space fleet to return in 2018 and conquer Earth. Iron Sky is one of the most expensive Finnish films.

The notion that the Apollo Moon landings were hoaxes perpetrated by NASA and other agencies has appeared many times in popular culture. Not all references to Moon landing conspiracy theories are in support of them, but the ideas expressed in them have become a popular meme to reference, both in humor and sincerity.

<i>Company Business</i> 1991 film by Nicholas Meyer

Company Business is a 1991 action film, written and directed by Nicholas Meyer and starring Gene Hackman and Mikhail Baryshnikov. The film follows the exploits of Sam Boyd, a former operative for the CIA who is reactivated to escort Pyotr Ivanovich Grushenko, a captured KGB mole, to a prisoner exchange in recently reunited Berlin.

Rhian Sheehan is a New Zealand composer and producer born in Nelson and now based in Wellington. He is known for his fusing of orchestral chamber music and piano, with ambient electronic and post-rock cinematic atmospheres. He has also written music for film, television, video games, exhibitions, advertisements, roller coaster rides, and planetarium dome shows.

<i>Room 237</i> 2012 film

Room 237 is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Rodney Ascher about interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's film The Shining (1980) which was adapted from the 1977 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The documentary includes footage from The Shining and other Kubrick films, along with discussions by Kubrick enthusiasts. Room 237 has nine segments, each focusing on a different element within The Shining which "may reveal hidden clues and hint at a bigger thematic oeuvre." Produced by Tim Kirk, the documentary's title refers to a room in the haunted Overlook Hotel featured in The Shining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicole Kidman on screen and stage</span>

American-born Australian actress and producer Nicole Kidman has appeared in numerous film and television projects, as well as in theatre productions. She made her film debut in the Australian drama Bush Christmas in 1983. Four years later, she starred in the television miniseries Bangkok Hilton, for which she received the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama. Her breakthrough role was as a married woman trapped on a yacht with a murderer in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm. She followed this with her Hollywood debut opposite Tom Cruise in Tony Scott's auto-racing film Days of Thunder (1990). Her role as a homicidal weather forecaster in Gus Van Sant's crime comedy-drama To Die For garnered Kidman a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 1996. She worked with Cruise again on Ron Howard's Far and Away (1992) and Stanley Kubrick's erotic thriller Eyes Wide Shut in 1999.

<i>Don Verdean</i> 2015 American film

Don Verdean is a 2015 American comedy film directed by Jared Hess and written by Jared Hess and Jerusha Hess. The film stars Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan, Jemaine Clement, Danny McBride, and Will Forte. The film had a limited theatrical release and was made available through video on demand on December 11, 2015, by Lionsgate Premiere.

<i>Atomic Blonde</i> 2017 film by David Leitch

Atomic Blonde is a 2017 American action thriller film directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Kurt Johnstad, based on the 2012 graphic novel The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart. The film stars Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan, Sofia Boutella, and Toby Jones. The story revolves around a spy who has to find a list of double agents that is being smuggled into the West on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

<i>Operation Avalanche</i> (film) 2015 conspiracy thriller film by Matt Johnson

Operation Avalanche is a 2016 American-Canadian found footage conspiracy thriller film directed by Matt Johnson, who co-wrote the film with Josh Boles. Johnson and Owen Williams star as CIA agents who infiltrate NASA to expose a potential mole, only to become embroiled in a conspiracy to fake the Moon landing portion of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

Stephany Folsom is a screenwriter best known for her work on Toy Story 4 (2019) and Paper Girls.

References

  1. ↑ "Moonwalkers (2016)". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Elsa Keslassy (2014-06-06). "Kinology Boards British Action-Comedy 'Moonwalkers' With Ron Perlman and Rupert Grint (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  3. ↑ "On The Set For 5/19/14: Christoph Waltz-Starrer 'Tulip Fever' Starts For The Weinstein Co". SSN Insider. 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  4. ↑ "Moonwalkers | SXSW 2015 Event Schedule". Schedule.sxsw.com. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  5. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (2015-03-16). "'Moonwalkers' Action Comedy Lands At Alchemy". Deadline. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  6. ↑ Bibbiani, William (November 10, 2015). "Exclusive Poster 'Moonwalkers' Says Moon Landings Were Groovy, But Faked". CraveOnline.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Moonwalkers (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Moonwalkers Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  9. ↑ DeFore, John (March 19, 2015). "'Moonwalkers': SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  10. ↑ Wloszczyna, Susan (January 15, 2016). "Moonwalkers". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved January 15, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.