Jameson’s Cult Film Club returned last night at London’s Royal Institution for a screening of Duncan Jones’ BAFTA winning sci-fi Moon, as chosen by the readers of Empire magazine. Jameson, of course, sponsors the annual Empire Film Awards and this was a fitting conclusion to a season of screenings arranged in uniquely cinematic locations.
Moon, an excellent British film that unfortunately did not receive a wide enough release the first time round, seems destined to become precisely the sort of film Jameson has been promoting throughout this film club season. Despite earning the critics’ approval it didn’t get the audience it deserved on release, though inevitably many will see it later and realise what they missed. On entering the lecture theatre (dubbed ‘Bay One’ on the night) the audience was serenaded by David Bowie’s Space Oddity (fitting, given the singer’s familial connection to the director) and others as an actor moon walked suspended above the crowd. The film was preceded by an amusing short film with cameos by famous British comedians including Martin Freeman and Johnny Vegas, and a message from Dominique McElligott (who plays Tess Bell in Moon).
As for the location, the Royal Institution’s libraries and hallways looked the part lit up in green and draped in silver, whilst the presence of the actual space suit from the film gave a pleasant authenticity to proceedings. Ultimately, this was a satisfying and distinctly contemporary conclusion to Jameson’s Cult Film Club. Its popularity will hopefully see another season of unorthodox screenings unveiled later in the year.