"Ad Astra" is an Epic, Dazzling Space-Opera With Brad Pitt
By: Keaton Marcus
DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 13, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!
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85/100 “sweet”
Well, now it’s safe to say that Brad Pitt has had a terrific year. With James Gray’s undeniably slow, but mesmerizing space epic “Ad Astra”, we have one of the best films of the year. Thought-provoking and sporting a high-concept plot, while backed up by terrific production value, Pitt’s first journey through the solar system is something to watch. I’m warning you: it’s no blockbuster and more of a study of how dazzling special effects are these days. If you’re a fan of films such as “Blade Runner 2049”, and “2001: A Space Odyssey”, this could be the weekend ticket, however, if you are looking for a film to help you wait for the next ”Star Wars” installment, perhaps it's not the choice. ”Ad Astra” is entertaining in its own way, interesting, and beautifully put together. Featuring one of Pitt’s best performances, and a compelling father-son story, it succeeds in almost every way.
In the near future, Earth has started to collapse because of several power surges, which the Government creatively calls ”The Surge”. That's when the opening scene hits. We have built a massive skyscraper type antenna that rises all the way to the stars. One of those surges suddenly hits the tower, knocking Roy McBride (Pitt), back down to the soil. Some may call it an excuse to show off incredible visuals, but you cannot deny that cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema, known for “Dunkirk” has a knack for wowing audiences, which is especially showcased in the enthralling beginning. Roy is then informed that his estranged father, Clifford (a peculiar outing for Tommy Lee Jones) has possibly survived after a long while in space looking for intelligent life for something dubbed the Lima project.
Things start to get really spicy when Roy is ordered to take to the stars to search for his father, and not to draw attention to himself, telling the public that it’s a commercial trip to the moon, and nothing more. After the trip, Roy is traveling by rover across the lunar surface, only to be attacked by space-pirates in another scene of many that catch your attention with tension, and excellent uses of sound editing. After a narrow escape, it’s off to Mars. Motivated that his old man might be out there, Roy begins to suit up for Neptune, which is the cause of these power surges. Loneliness is the key factor of the last half, all alone in the outer reaches of space, deadly quiet, eerie and crazing.
Gray’s newest film recalls the hypnotic slowness of “Gravity”, or even Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”. From there on out, the audience is sitting alone with Roy McBride, regarding his epic journey to find the father that never really loved him. It’s the cinematography, special effects, direction and the impeccable performances that keep the common person invested in this brilliant space-opera. Gray has really kept a solid directorial style, excellently shown in his last film, “The Lost City of Z”, a study of exploring based on true events. The filmmaker focuses more on exploring the main character’s feelings, and less on excitement, or thrills. It’s not for everyone, but it’s something different, and unique in his own way, so it indefinitely works.
To complete the picture, Gray got star Brad Pitt to portray McBride, and the 55-year old actor was the right choice, whether you like it or not. Earlier this year, Pitt starred in the excellent Tarantino film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, which was a throwback, in his latest effort, it’s all about the outcome of the future. No matter how different the two pictures are, Pitt never had a bad scene. Two films in one year, a possibility of an Oscar nomination, and a pair of amazing outings, things are getting better and better for the middle-aged guy. He digs deep into the seemingly emotionless Roy, it’s just as tear-inducing as it is incredible. Maybe the long quest to find his jerk of a dad gets a little annoying, but Gray weaves the tale in with a picture that can make the cinema cry, wonder, and be lost in awe.
The final opinion is: “Ad Astra” is a slow, but thrilling, father-son embankment that features emotional storytelling, dazzling visuals, flawless cinematography and a one-of-a-kind performance from Brad Pitt…$PLURGE IT
By: Keaton Marcus
Opening Weekend: 19m
Domestic Total: 50.1m
Worldwide Total: 132.8m
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