Review of Interstellar (2014) by Corey S — 10 Aug 2017

Interstellar aka Spaception.

A film review by: Corey J Smith.

When Christopher Nolan, the creator of the film, "Inception", decided to take his next adventure to the stars, there was no question that it promised to be mind blowing and spectacular. That's what "Interstellar" does. It doesn't go gentle into that goodnight. It goes where lead actor Matthew McConaughey has never been before. It's two and half hour runtime explores strange new worlds that are masterfully rendered.

As with all journeys into space, Interstellar finds it's beginning on a stricken Earth. An agricultural blight has wiped out most of the world's capacity for food production, except corn. Massive dust storms plague the planet. The number one form of employment is farming. This results in Depression Era like state where Joseph Cooper (Mcconaughey), a former NASA pilot, struggles to get by and provide for his family. Through a series of mysterious events, he's recruited into a last ditch effort by the remnants of NASA to travel into deep space via worm-hole and save the world. To do so, though, means he must leave behind his family, especially his precocious young daughter, Murphy (Murph).

The story is both familiar and exploratory. In the face of great hardship, an individual must take extraordinary measures to save not only his family but countless others as well. Cooper is often confronted with instances where he must choose between what he wants and what would be best for others. Nolan weaves both a story of personal hardship and a foil for the challenges which face humanity on a greater scale. As Cooper states at one point in the film, "We used to look up and wonder about our place among the stars. Now we look down and wonder about our place in the dirt." In light of all that goes on in our day, Interstellar asserts that the best way is always forward and upward. It sparks the imagination and the possibilities of what more is 'out there'.

From the start, Cooper is clearly a devoted family man. He abandoned his former passion of being a NASA test pilot so he could better care for his children after the passing of his wife. It's clear he has a distaste for farming life, but does so because he loves his children. This is what makes Cooper relatable. Nolan takes Cooper's relatability a step further as he introduces Professor Brand (Caine) and Amelia Brand (Hathaway), the top minds at NASA who appeal to Cooper to take on the dangerous mission to save humanity. Knowing that he's probably the only one capable of carrying out the mission, Cooper accepts, keeping in mind that his efforts would not only benefit humanity but also give his children a future.

His election to depart on the mission puts a strain between him and Murph's relationship as he leaves without reconciling the costly nature of the journey, realizing it could take years to return. After he leaves, his family moves on and he can only watch and wait eagerly to return home. Meanwhile, their mission is confronted with various challenges which put in jeopardy Cooper's ability to return home to his family, putting his resolve to the test. Cooper's struggle mirrors the complexities of contemporary life as challenges abound in our lives and we strive to satisfy the demands asked of us by various parties. The question in the end is whether or not we can reconcile the differences between those parties in light of the challenges we have to overcome. On a side note, seeing as how I don't like spoilers, I won't say how it works out for Cooper.

Interstellar is by far one of the most visually and scientifically picturesque films to date. A central feature of the film is human deep space travel is enabled by a worm hole that appears next to Jupiter. On the other side is an expansive solar system dominated by an appropriately named black hole called "gargantuan". These central features of the film were rendered by physicists and artists. Their efforts yield a dazzling panorama of space, which offers a glimpse into the most complex form of human travel available. The immensity of such scenes is sure to captivate and amaze.

Interstellar also manages to put a proverbial cherry on top of its freeze dried ice cream sundae of cinematic mastery. Hans Zimmer's musical prose in Interstellar shines brightly as he too embarks on an odyssey with his composition. His selection of the organ as his instrument of choice stands out from his other notable film scores, which often featured large brass and string sections. Its range of tone enhances the overall intensity of the film from moment to moment, from the tranquil to the chaotic and the melancholy to the joyful. Much like Nolan's writing, Zimmer's score acts as a portal through which one may reach out and touch the raw emotion of the film. A prominent scene in the film shows Cooper and Brand landing on a watery planet beset by perpetually reoccurring tidal waves the size of mountains (which they mistook as mountains). As Cooper and Brand look about, Zimmer's piece is quiet and supports the feeling of exploration. Upon realizing something isn't right, the music builds until it reaches a deep crescendo that is synonymous with Cooper and Brand's realization that the mountains aren't really mountains at all. Who wouldn't want their day to go by without Hans Zimmer's musical accents?

If there ever was a film that was both deep in nature and well-rounded with intensity and action, it would be Interstellar. The combination of genius script writing, heart pounding music, visual effects, and complex creates a tapestry worthy of space. From exploring the concept of a fifth dimension (yes, it really does), to simply making you sweat with anticipation because a few particular scenes are just so suspenseful, Interstellar does just that. It aims for infinity and beyond and makes it. You'll leave having travelled among the stars and will not simply go gentle into the good night.