Cillian Murphyhas featured in a supporting role on numerous occasions for Christopher Nolan. But now, with the highly anticipatedOppenheimer, Murphy finally has his place as the leading actor in a Nolan movie.Oppenheimerwill show the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in creating the atomic bomb. Often referred to as the “father of the atomic bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer is one of the most important people to ever live. It is a role of a lifetime for Cillian Murphy, and his performance has been highly praised by his fellow cast members and Christopher Nolan.
However, it is not the first time that Cillian Murphy has played a physicist directly involved in creating a bomb that will have a lasting effect on humanity. In 2007 Cillian Murphy played the role of physicist Robert Capa in theunderrated filmSunshine, and it is essential viewing beforeOppenheimer.
Cillian Murphy, The Physicist
The sci-fi thrillerSunshineis set in the year 2057, and the sun is dying. On board the spaceship Icarus II, a crew of eight undertakes the mission to essentially jumpstart the sun by launching a stellar bomb into it, which is the last hope the human race has at saving Earth. As they venture towards the sun, everything seems to be going smoothly until they receive a distress beacon from Icarus I, the ship that previously attempted the same mission but failed and has been missing for seven years.
Although the crew doesn’t know the condition of the Icarus I, or its crew, who are presumably all dead, the distress beacon causes debate among the crew members of Icarus II. There is a possibility that the Icarus I payload, a stellar bomb, could still be intact. While some are in favor of taking a detour to retrieve a second payload, others oppose it due to the risks.
The decision comes down to the crew’s physicist Robert Capa, played by Cillian Murphy, as he is the most qualified to know how effective a second payload could be. Ultimately he decides that it is a risk worth taking.
It’s interesting that early on in his career, Murphy would play a character that could help inform his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, his biggest role yet. While working onSunshine, director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland brought inBritish physicist Brian Coxto be the film’s scientific advisor. The goal was to have Cox help with keeping a sense of plausibility about the science in the film.
Cox also worked with the actors, specifically Cillian Murphy. And when you watch Murphy’s portrayal of Robert Capa, you’re able to see hints of Brian Cox in there. Murphy put in one ofhis best performancesand possibly learned some helpful knowledge for hisOppenheimerrole. Sixteen years from when Murphy played the role of Robert Capa, things seem to have come full circle. After once working with a famous physicist to prepare for a role, he is now set to play his most significant role yet, as one of the most famous physicists ever.
Why Is Sunshine Underrated?
However, it isn’t just Cillian Murphy that is great in this film. The cast is made up of well-known actors such as Michelle Yeoh, Rose Byrne, Benedict Wong, and Chris Evans. Each cast member brings something different to their roles and makes each of their characters unique. With most of the film being set on board a spaceship, the personalities of the crew members and their interactions are critical in getting the viewer invested, and this cast does that perfectly. After being introduced to each of them, we get to see their personalities clash when it comes to the decision to retrieve the Icarus I payload.
It is after Robert Capa makes that decision that the film really gets going. Like most films you see involving a crew in space, things start to go wrong. But with Danny Boyle’s excellent direction and Alex Garland’s brilliant script, the film becomes much more than other run-of-the-mill sci-fi thrillers.
Sunshine definitely takes inspiration from films likeAlienand2001: A Space Odyssey, as well as having all sorts of different horror, thriller,and sci-fi tropes. Something that could cause a film to feel a bit bloated. But for Sunshine, it is a mix that works really well and results in a really ambitious and unique film.
Unfortunately,Sunshineflopped at the box office. It is likelySunshineflew under the radar after being released the same summer as massive films such asTransformers,Spider-Man 3, andHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. However,Sunshinedid receive positive reviews, and the film has aged very well. The cinematography is exquisite, as Sunshine is full of beautiful shots. The CGI is better than a lot ofthe poor CGIwe see these days. The 2007 film wouldn’t look out of place if released now; in fact, it would probably be praised.
Not only does it hold up because of how good it looks, but with the performances and Danny Boyle’s direction, the film is elevated to another level.Sunshineis a sci-fi thriller that does much more than use the typical tropes of the genre. It is a film that explores themes of humanity, science, and faith. And it packs an emotional punch. If it has flown under your radar then now is the perfect time to watch this underrated Cillian Murphy movie.
