Interstellar (2014)

 Interstellar (2014)

7/10

Starring

Matthew McConaughey

Anne Hathaway

Jessica Chastain

Bill Irwin

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Interstellar is a thought-provoking, emotional space opera with stunning visuals and excellent effects. The movie revolves around an ensemble cast, and while the plot can be a bit brainy and sometimes far-fetched, it pulls you into the drama. The idea of science advancing to this level in the future feels like something we can’t entirely debunk until a few decades from now.

The concept of time and its relativity adds a layer of excitement. At first, you observe it from a distance, but a small error in judgment by one of the characters brings its effects up close and personal. However, the movie isn’t without flaws. Some lines lack impact, and there are moments where the pacing drags a little too much.

Written by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan, with the latter directing, Interstellar doesn’t play it safe with its ideas. The story takes place in 2067, where Earth is dying, and humanity suffers from a severe food shortage. Corn is the only crop that grows, and most people have become farmers as jobs like engineers or scientists have essentially disappeared.

We’re introduced to Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a widowed ex-NASA pilot who lives on a farm with his two children: his son, Tom, and his brilliant daughter, Murph. One of the intriguing elements early on is Murph’s claim that there’s a ghost in her room. Eventually, it’s revealed that the disturbances in her room are actually messages leading Cooper to a specific location. Following the coordinates, Cooper arrives at the site, gets arrested, and is separated from Murph. He wakes up in a government facility, where he’s interrogated by a military robot. The questioning is interrupted by Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway), whom Cooper recognizes as the daughter of his former boss, Dr. Brand (Michael Caine).

Cooper is shocked to learn that NASA is still operational, even though most resources have been diverted away from space exploration. Dr. Brand explains that there’s hope for humanity beyond Earth—they’ve identified 12 planets near a black hole called Gargantua that might support life. NASA sent 12 explorers, one to each planet, and they’ve received promising data back from three of them. Cooper is asked to pilot a mission to investigate these three planets and determine which one could become humanity’s new home.

Despite Murph’s strong objections, Cooper decides to go. The movie then follows the emotional journey of the crew, the betrayals, lies, and the immense challenges they face along the way. It also explores the profound effects of time dilation on their mission and the people they left behind on Earth.