Interstellar (2014, dir. Christopher Nolan)

The “Dust Bowl” has gone global. Mankind is on the brink of extinction. Underground NASA scientists have devised a Plan A and a Plan B ….

… that is where I will start with Christopher Nolan’s latest feature Interstellar.

 

I was having a hard time deciding where to start with this review and finally settled on just listing my overall impressions; they are in no real order assigned, just thoughts/observations off the top of my head (see the bold):

The least Nolan of Nolan films – sure it had its twisty, not to be so predictable moments, but there were a few unsatisfying trappings (ending is all I will say, for example) that left me feeling a bit meh at times. This also leads me to another point …

… while it is cool to allow your audience to interpret stuff for themselves … – sometimes it is nice to give the viewers a wink and a nod in a particular direction.  Yes I know that this is not stock and trade with Christopher Nolan’s oeuvre (keep ’em guessing), but in what I have observed and subsequently read about others’ reaction to the film, my conclusion is such – Houston we may have a problem. In my opinion, part of the mixed response may have something to do with the fact that there is no general consensus/conclusion for folks to hold fast to and discuss post screening. I for one found myself post-screening not really having much to say. Maybe that is me processing the details, maybe it was indifference. A couple of days out of the experience, and I am still not sure.

Nuttin’ like the love of family – the core relationship between father and daughter drives the narrative; the nature of which comes full circle with some level of satisfaction.

Buckle your seats, ladies and gents, you are in for a long one – a nearly three-hour running time means that like it or not, you are in it for the long haul.

Let me consult my science book –while I do like the chatter of relativity, wormholes, event horizons and such, sometimes the talk was hard to keep up with. My read? Maybe just a bit too clever (inaccessible) for its own good at times.

A little bit o’ this, a little bit o’ that –most films borrow from others, that is a well established fact that I think we can all agree with. Here in Interstellar you will find a lot of cinematic “shout-outs” to feast on. A couple of standouts for me – the healthy helping of Contact with a bit of 2001/2010 heaped on for good measure.

Some of these cats is unlike the other – hate dragging the observations to this level, but a lot of what makes a film is the cast and your ability to connect with the principals character. On more than one occasion, I felt a bit indifferent/impatient with whatever emotional turmoil a character was going through …

… that said (a slight contradiction), I generally liked the performances – but really, how could you go wrong with so many top-shelf talent at your disposal?

The view is lovely from where I am seated – No, I did not see it in 70mm/IMAX or whatever, but rather in the comfy confines of a reclining movie theater seat, which was well enough. The scale of the film is astonishing, remarkable and beautiful. I really did feel like I was in outer space traveling across space (and time, perhaps?). Especially in the moments where our explorers were traveling to parts unknown, the emotional and visual tension lined up very well.

 

So what does this all mean? Am I recommending Interstellar or nah? Well, if I am to be quite honest, I am not 100% sure where I stand. I mean I am glad that I saw it in the cinema, but I am sure not everyone would derive the same degree of pleasure from seeing it as I did. This is definitely one that I put in the category of a toss-up.