Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Action Movies
  4. moon

My Movie Life: Duncan Jones

Features
By Andy Lowe published 9 July 2009

The Moon director on the films that shaped him...

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

First Movie I Ever Saw

First Movie I Ever Saw

Probably wasn't the very first, but it was certainly one of the earliest I remember.

Weirdly, I don't have a really strong memory of it. But I do remember going to visit the Chaplins' house in Switzerland as a little kid, and having the lovely Una Chaplin project prints for us... some Charlie Chaplin films, a few other movies.

I've just remembered - I think I may have seen Kubrick's Barry Lyndon there!

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
Movie All Kids Should See At School

Movie All Kids Should See At School

I'm not a fanatical devotee of Ferris - like a lot of people seem to be. I just love the idea that kids have their own world with their own prioritie - away from the adult realm.

That's a big validation for kids and maybe a shock to some adults.

Another film kids should see is Peter Brook's 1963 version of Lord Of The Flies - as a warning about how cruel we can be and how quickly we can fall into chaos.

It'd be a great double bill! I'd say Ferris first, then Lord Of The Flies ...

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
Movie I Should Have Seen But Haven't

Movie I Should Have Seen But Haven't

Most of the French New Wave films, really. I haven't seen much of Godard or Truffaut. I always feel a bit guilty about that. I've seen Truffaut's 400 Blows but that's about it.

I think Breathless is the big one, though. Yes, I'm sure Quentin Tarantino would be shocked...

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
Movie Everyone Hates But I Love

Movie Everyone Hates But I Love

This is a bit embarrassing... But it's great. Honestly!

It's an early Ed Harris film about renaissance fairs in the American mid-west. Ed is the leader of a motorcycle gang who are all medieval re-enactors.

They travel to these ren-fairs and run jousting competitions on motorbikes. They think they're Camelot in the modern era.

His crew are just living their dream but, yes, Ed is a bit deluded and disturbed. I think it's hugely underrated.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
Movie That Always Makes Me Cry

Movie That Always Makes Me Cry

It's the ET thing.

Anything where there's a small child who gets separated from his companion is an instant blub.

I'm an easy target, though. I'll bawl at anything.

With Moon, we only had one character to draw out all the emotion. There's a version where we see more of what happens... being careful not to give anything away here... after the end.

We even shot something, but it seemed so out of character with the rest of the film, we didn't use it.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
Movie I'd See As A Last Request

Movie I'd See As A Last Request

I love this film sooo much. The relationship between Trapper John and Hawkeye Pierce is incredible.

Although it's not in the film all the time and it's not always up-front, they're such interesting, smart characters - deep, clever guys.

And you really get a sense of who everyone is - even with very little going on. It all feels so natural - a masterclass in seemingly effortless characterisation.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Movie I'd Love To Remake

Movie I'd Love To Remake

I think this might actually be out of copyright now. I recently got it for free - legitimately - from somewhere online.

It's such a weird and wonderful story - criminals helping the police to catch a child-killer because - but it's so old now that you're not going to attract a new audience to the original, unless they're film-school types.

I'd love to have a go at remaking it. But my next movie is going to be another sci-fi called Mute - it's basically my love-letter to Blade Runner . It's a thriller that takes place in a future Berlin.

It's the flipside to Moon , which is about isolation and alienation. Mute is about trying to maintain your identity when you're surrounded by people.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
Movie I'd Take To A Desert Island

Movie I'd Take To A Desert Island

It'd have to be something upbeat to keep my spirits up.

Being British, it is a film that's a little bit outside of my sphere of reference, but because I've travelled so much I don't feel strongly connected to one place.

So even though it's a film set in the American college system, it still feels sort of native to me.

Animal House is just one of those films that makes you feel happy. I never get bored of it.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Obscure Movie I Love But No-One's Heard Of

Obscure Movie I Love But No-One's Heard Of

This is written by David Peoples, the guy who wrote Blade Runner and Twelve Monkeys .

It stars the inimitable Rutger Hauer and my teenage crush, Joan Chen.

It's a very low-budget film with no real special effects but it's a well played take on the Rollerball idea - a brutal futuristic sport. And Rutger Hauer is as magnetic as ever.

It's another one ripe for remaking. Maybe when I'm done with Mute and M , I'll take a look at it. My first film that doesn't begin with 'M'...

Moon opens on Friday 17 July. Read the Total Film review here .

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
Andy Lowe
Share by:
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Whatsapp
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Latest in Action Movies
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel in The Marvels
Nia DaCosta holds no ill will towards Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios after The Marvels flopped
 
 
Henry Cavill as Superman
On its 15th anniversary, Zack Snyder unveils rare first photo of Henry Cavill's Superman in old school suit
 
 
Shuri and M'Baku in Avengers: Doomsday's Wakanda trailer
Avengers: Doomsday thanks fans for over 1 billion trailer views as the countdown officially begins
 
 
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1
James Gunn says there won't be two Batman movies in the same year, so we won't see The Brave and the Bold before 2028
 
 
James Gunn once again pumps the brakes on The Flash casting rumors
 
 
Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Kathleen Kennedy has "no regrets" over Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
 
 
Latest in Features
Resident Evil Requiem gameplay reveal
Seeing Leon's finishers in Resident Evil Requiem has pushed me to replay the series' most misunderstood title
 
 
Pragmata screenshot showing Diana, an android who looks like a little girl with long blonde hair, using what appears to be a hacking ability
In a games industry dominated by safe bets, Capcom keeps getting weird with it
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 Drunken Master Monk in the House of Hope screenshot
Baldur's Gate 3 reveals Larian's commitment to perfecting its RPG recipe
 
 
Drywall Eating Simulator
Art imitates life, so I'm munching through walls while an AI chatbot tells me to buy a gun in Drywall Eating Simulator
 
 
The poster for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring with a close-up of Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
25 years later, and I'm fully convinced there'll never be a greater adaptation than The Lord of the Rings trilogy
 
 
Key art for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 showing a Blood Raven Space Marine in front of a montage of other factions including orks, necrons, and the adeptus mechanicus - with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 frame branding
Dawn of War 4 has its sights set on "gameplay that feels authentic to the fantasy of each faction" in Warhammer 40k
 
 
  1. Origin Story box and cards laid out on a wooden surface
    1
    Looking for a good 2-player board game? This superhero adventure is worth suiting up for
  2. 2
    Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
  3. 3
    This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy
  4. 4
    Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
  5. 5
    Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
  1. Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
    1
    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
  2. 2
    Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
  3. 3
    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
  4. 4
    Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
  5. 5
    Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
  1. Holly Hunter as Captain Ake in Starfleet Academy.
    1
    Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
  2. 2
    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
  3. 3
    Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
  4. 4
    Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
  5. 5
    Fallout season 2 review: "A hell of a lot of fun despite being overcrowded and convoluted"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...