Grade: B+
The eternal void. The endless vacuum. The suffocating blackness.
In other words, space.
There is nothing more frightening than the fear of the unknown. Well, that and spiders, but that’s beside the point.
The universe is just that: a vast stretch of unexplored planets, galaxies and many other anomalies that have yet to be seen, if they can be seen.
That certainly hasn’t stopped countless individuals from harnessing their imaginations and trying to capture the foreboding splendor and potential hostility of the darkness above.
Hundreds have tried, few have succeeded.
Christopher Nolan, the man behind “Inception” and the “Dark Knight” trilogy, stands only a hair’s width away from the latter with “Interstellar.”
Set in a time where an anemic Earth is becoming more so with every passing day, with dust storms and dying crops being the norm, the ultimatum for humanity is dependent on a barely existent NASA, which sends an ex-pilot father, Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, and his new cohorts on an expedition to find a hospitable planet for future generations.
Shockingly, that’s easier said than done.
Clocking in at just less than three hours, “Interstellar” is not a film to be taken in strides, nor is it another brainless sci-fi blockbuster.
Though it’s not inaccessible, there are numerous instances where having a dictionary for space jargon wouldn’t hurt.
Granted, you can barely hear a good portion of said terms because they’re so buried in the sound mix or McConaughey’s gravelly voice.
In fact, there are scenes where supposedly important plot devices are blatantly overshadowed by the sound effects and even the film score.
“Interstellar” is also weighted by the paradox that, even with the film’s extensive running time, there are moments and sub-plots that seem rushed and poorly handled, leaving nothing but half-baked answers and cheap climaxes in their wake.
Thankfully, the same can’t be said for the continuation and summation of the main story, which provides a myriad of raw, unadulterated emotion, suspense, spectacle and jaw-dropping beauty.
And speaking of beauty, when Nolan’s imagination kicks into overdrive, the blunt force and impact hits just as hard.
When space and its supporting cast takes center stage, you don’t see it, you’re in it.
Obviously best viewed in IMAX, the scope of the immersion and intensity of the space sequences are beyond comprehension and are undeniably the most essential parts of the entire film.
What’s almost as big, however, is the disappointing feeling when you find out those scenes are few and far in between.
With those ailments aside, “Interstellar” is another satisfying triumph from Christopher Nolan’s broad array of exceptional ideas and talents.
It’s a mind-bending, extravagant piece of cinematic art supported by equally impressive special effects, great acting and a whirlwind of an ending with an emotional impact that’ll shatter the rib cage and pierce through the soul.
In layman’s terms, I liked it.
