Interstellar Review

Christopher Nolan has been the king of reality cinema for quite some time now. The self taught director’s latest offering is no exception, with the team making a remarkable discovery when it comes to the visual representation of a black hole. Besides giving science something new to latch onto, Nolan is also giving audiences a movie that will lead audiences on their own voyage of discovery, emotion and a bit of head scratching thrown in for good measure.

With the Earth devoid of all hope, not to mention starving as food has run out, Matthew McConaughey remains the only hope for survival. Along with a team that includes Anne Hathaway, they travel through a worm hole in the hope of finding a future for the human race. To go into much more detail on the plot would only serve as a major spoiler.

Be warned, Interstellar is not a straight forward watch. If you thought Inception was complicated to watch, think again. Interstellar is a complete and utter mind melt in places. By the time the finale starts to ramp up, complete with fifth dimensions not only will the movie put a smile on your face, but it’s an incredible testament to Christopher Nolan that he has kept this gargantuan film moving, let alone keep it comprehensible. It’s sheer complexity may well put many audiences off, and tragically it may well be it’s downfall, however audiences really need to surrender themselves to this film and give it undivided attention. With a running time, just shy of 3 hours, you’ll need to keep your bladder under control, as there is so much going on here, you really can’t afford to miss anything. Unfortunately though at times, it gets overly complicated and it has the potential to wrap you up in knots if you don’t pay attention.

While you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand what’s going on, Nolan doesn’t do much audience hand holding here, but like Inception before it, give it your all. And then some. It’s captivating, confusing, rewarding and incredibly well put together, topped off with a pitch perfect score from Hans Zimmer.

The visuals are as spectacular and as the story, with the vast emptiness and coldness of space conveyed with long, lingering shots topped off with a cool and clinical look. It’s on multiple viewings that you’ll pick up on all the little touches, from the sands of time to…well, I won’t say. The space scenes and sequences are well rooted in Stanley Kubrick land and it’s safe to say this really is Christopher Nolan’s 2001. The sheer scale of the visuals is jaw dropping, with Nolan opting for as much practical effects as possible. With a near full size Endurance space craft being constructed, this is a very immersive experience. And experience is certainly one way to describe Interstellar. It will take audiences on multiple journeys with different people taking different things from it. Parents in particular will have their heart strings well and truly plucked with a number of scenes firing off some incredibly powerful emotional beats.

The casting here is spot on with Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain looking right at home. Matthew McConaughey gives a stellar (story) performance and is insanely watchable, bursting with presence and passion. And then there is a cameo that, unless you’re obsessed with the credits section of the IMDB, you’ll never see coming and it’ll knock you on your ass.

It’s hard to put Interstellar into words, but overall this is an experience that is a rarity in cinema. For days and possibly weeks afterward, this will leave quite the mark and you’ll be deep in contemplation for some time. It’s not without it’s faults, and this is a movie that is certainly not for everybody. But the way Nolan wraps the movie up and connects the dots together is incredibly rewarding. Be prepared to invest your brain in Interstellar and you’ll be handsomely rewarded with a movie that is not to be missed.