In a film industry dominated by sequels, prequels, and remakes, it’s refreshing to see Christopher Nolan make blockbuster films from original stories, even if his bold attempts don’t always hit the mark. Although most widely known as the director of the recent Batman trilogy, Nolan has become notable among critics for original works such as Memento, Inception, and now, Interstellar.
Likely to be the most breathtaking and bloated film you’ll see in 2014, Interstellar takes on the massive challenge of combining a cross-generational and intergalactic journey to save mankind, a character drama exploring the human condition, and a shell-shocking blockbuster with explosive visual effects.
The film is set in the near future, where Earth can no longer sustain the demands of human beings. As food runs out, it becomes clear that in order for the species to survive, it must leave Earth in search of a new home. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), an accomplished pilot, is recruited by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) to man a mission through the stars to find a habitable planet. While this goal is within scientific and theoretical grasp, the largest obstacle faced is time. Can these brave astronauts complete their mission before everyone on Earth has perished?
Nolan, as director, also runs into time constraints. Though he builds a coherent and complete story, the film runs for nearly three hours. This length, however, is necessary. In order for the audience to appreciate what’s at stake, Interstellar explains the complex theoretical science behind trips through wormholes, the relativity of time, and the unknowable centers of black holes.
The vibrant scenes of interstellar travel, combined with an overwhelming score by Hans Zimmer, are enough to make your head spin. Even so, knowledge of the science ensures that the audience feels the full impact of the enormity and complexity of what is occurring onscreen.
While the visuals are impressive in their own right, the heart of the film is found in its examination of human nature. The emotional journey ventures to the well of tearful breakdowns a few times too many, but any weaknesses in the script are outweighed by performances that are uncharacteristically formidable for a science-fiction feature. While character development is often eschewed in favor of visual intensity and theoretical explanations, the cast is able to exude the urgency needed to keep the audience invested and propel the film along in its lengthy narrative.
McConaughey’s Cooper is a conflicted, accessible every-man, but his work here would be more impressive had it not come on the heels of his award-winning roles in Dallas Buyers Club and HBO’s True Detective. In the midst of what is commonly referred to as “the McConaissance,” performances like these from the former rom-com star have become the norm.
The most impactful performances, then, come from Jessica Chastain and Mackenzie Foy, the actresses who share the role of Murph, Cooper’s daughter. The film’s emotional core rests on the relationship between Murph and Cooper that crosses space and time, and the strong work from Chastain and Foy ensures that the audience remains invested in this relationship. In their development of this pivotal character, the two tether the audience firmly to Earth and the pressing issues there, when it would be easy to get lost in the intergalactic narrative.
Ultimately, there’s a lot going on in Interstellar, even for a science-fiction film. Not all elements connect well enough for the film to join Nolan’s best works, but it is clear that he has secured his legacy as an innovative and independent-minded filmmaker in world of money-grabbing big budget films. Interstellar is a thought-provoking exploration of the vast universe we live in, and represents the premium of what today’s blockbusters have to offer.
