Moonwalkers

Set against the background of the 1960s, during the high octane Cold War period, Moonwalkers thrusts viewers into a rambunctiously weird and yet fascinating blend of comedy, crime, and a bevy of unexpected turns. Released in 2015, directed by Antoine Bardou-Jacquet, and written by Dean Craig, Moonwalkers is an amusing romp that very creatively parallels the realm of possibilities if the legendary moon landing had been faked.

At the core of the story, are three uniquely offbeat individuals – a CIA agent, a rock band manager, and an eccentric and unstable film director - played skillfully by Ron Perlman, Rupert Grint, and Robert Sheehan respectively. The film effectively couples high-stakes covert operations with the subculture of psychedelic rock and roll, shaping a spirited narrative that blurs the lines of reality while maintaining an ironic commentary on both societal contexts.

Ron Perlman stars as Kidman, a brutish and rather taciturn CIA agent who suffers from PTSD from previous Vietnam War experiences. He is enlisted by the agency with a clandestine and ridiculous mission that none other than the US government could conceive - to stage a fake moon landing in case the Apollo 11 mission fails. His quest leads him to the vibrant scene of swinging London where he crosses paths with Johnny, a wastrel rock band manager who is knee-deep in debt. Rupert Grint injects a wonderful pathos into Johnny, offering not only a hysterical performance but a character with depth and charm.

Robert Sheehan shines as they eccentric, volatile, and doped-up film director, Leon. He is the wildcard that completes this troika. His character is the strange yet necessary ingredient in the conspiracy stew that they’re cooking up. While Perlman and Grint’s characters initially seek him out to create a fake moon landing, they stumbling upon his innovative vision which is laced with a unique blend of paranoia, conspiracy theories, and psychedelic insanity.

The trio’s comedic misadventures lead them from encounters with hardened criminals to run-ins with the seemingly placid yet dangerous psychedelic English counterculture. And above all, the recurring dilemma - can they actually pull off faking a moon landing? The overarching theme of the movie is the dichotomy between reality and illusion, wrapped in a ribbon of dark humor and satire. It's a relatively unexplored topic that Moonwalkers delves into, poking fun at conspiracy theories and government deceit while touching upon the cultural zeitgeist of the time.

There is something inherently engaging about the contrast between the gruff, no-nonsense Kidman and the more airy, bumbling Johnny - and even more so with the chaotic frenziness of Leon. They’re a trio of misfits embarking on a wild ride that echoes with the essence of 60's counterculture - bubbling with seething paranoia, boundless creativity, and a chaotic sense of freedom. The film enmeshes the trajectory of the characters with the pulse of the era, painting a vibrant mood board of an unforgettable epoch.

Visually, Moonwalkers is a treat. The color palette is both grim and radiant, be it the shoddy pubs of underbelly London or the psychedelic whirling chaos of a drug-fueled party. The costuming and set design effectively recreate the era, further amplifying the film’s surreal, underlying theme of illusion versus reality.

The director and the scriptwriter manage not only to play with historical narratives but also create a delightful chaos at every turn the story takes. They push characters into seemingly absurd situations which enhance the comedy and highlight their charms and quirks. In this regard, Moonwalkers is considerably more character-driven than one might expect of a period comedy with its premise. This especially due to the solid performances and the layered personalities of the main characters.

Combined with an energetic soundtrack that perfectly encapsulates the band's unruly spirit, Moonwalkers is an entertaining take on one of history's most iconic moments. It is a deliriously offbeat comedy that melds some of history's greatest conspiracy theories with a unique narrative spin, leaving viewers entertained, intrigued, and asking for more.