Interstellar (2014)

At last, a science fiction film that’s made with real physics in mind. At last we get to experience the way speed and gravitational forces can affect time. What director Christopher Nolan has done with this ambitious and tremendous work of speculative cinema is wondrous to behold. Fortunately I was able to experience this as it was meant to be seen and that was in an IMAX theater (a true IMAX theater with the 4 story tall screen). The word ‘awesome’ is overused a lot but here I really felt in awe. The special effects are bigger than life. The music my Hans Zimmer feels holy as if resonating inside a great cathedral. I really loved this film. If not for Birdman this would be an automatic best film of the year for me; it’s truly wonderful. The story follows an ex-astronaut named Cooper living on a farm in the near future, a future that no longer desires to explore space (or so it’s believed) and that’s going through an environmental crisis that could risk the lives of everyone on the planet. Cooper and his daughter will uncover a secret NASA base that is about to send a team to a wormhole near Saturn which will take them to a distant galaxy where there are three possible planets that can sustain human life. Now they need Cooper to pilot the space ship. Yet it’s a long mission that could last many years and Coopers daughter doesn’t want him to go. But he sees no other choice but to leave this family to save humanity. This father and daughter relationship is the center piece of the film and is beautiful and exciting to witness. And ultimately what makes this drama so rewarding is that it’s not about explosions and killer robots (the robots here are actually good and geometrically square and scene stealing characters) but about the human heart and the demand to explore beyond what we know and can see. It is a long film so for those who hate films being longer than two hours, be warned. I never once felt bored watching it and could have actually watched more. The end for example felt a bit rushed, as if Nolan could sense that it was going long and didn’t want to test his audience anymore. I think this was a mistake, a very minor one of course. There was some closure at the end that could have been elaborated. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and Michael Cain star and all give fine performances. Maybe this film will inspire some people to read some Kip Thorne or Brian Greene. Maybe this film will inspire a world to look up with curiosity and joy. The universe is a big scary place but that should never stop us from braving to explore it. Regardless how long it might take, it’s an important quest that will take many generations to face. Let us hope we embrace the challenge. If not we’re doomed to someday blink out of existence sooner than I think we are capable. Grade: A