A head wrecking space adventure

Rating: 10/10 (3 December 2014)

Holy astrophysics, Batman! Christopher and Jonathan Nolan's "Interstellar" covers almost every aspect of an entertaining and ingenuous movie. The film is a visually fantastic and epic odyssey that goes along true human emotions, as well as deeply psychological ideas. What else could you ask for?
Nolan is well known for his open to interpretation and unorthodox storytelling. "Interstellar" is not the exception, as it is a mind- blowing journey through different dimensions of space and time. The viewer can only applaud the exceptional work by Nolan and the outstanding cinematographic achievement by Hoyte Van Hoytema, in addition to the art direction team. It was inevitable to stop and admire the brilliant imagery and incredibly detailed portrait. Some shots were very much alike Stanley Kubrick's shots in "2001: A Space Odyssey" It must be a great feeling for Nolan to be compared to one of the all-time greats in directing, especially after being so influenced by his movies.
The Nolan's made the right casting choices by starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and, unsurprisingly, Michael Caine. Their performances were top-notch. McConaughey portrayed brilliantly the lead character, Cooper, throughout his mission to find a potentially habitable planet that will sustain humanity.
This film is somewhat similar to "Elysium". In both movies, the planet Earth has become almost inhabitable because of the human non- stopping pollution. Nonetheless, "Interstellar" goes deeper, as humans try to find a salvation for the human race, not only to look for a better place to live.
The first third of the movie takes place on Earth, building the story and preparing the viewer for a jaw-dropping journey. It is not a fast-paced film, and it is almost three hours long. Three hours of surprises, mixed feelings and overwhelming information.
The adventure starts when Cooper, a former test-pilot, and his 10- year-old daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy) follow some paranormal coordinates found at their house and find the hidden NASA headquarters. Professor Brand (Michael Caine), which works for NASA and is also Cooper's old boss, is in charge of an extremely difficult, but possible, mission in the need of an experienced pilot. Humanity will become extinct unless everyone moves to a different planet, for this reason, Brand asks Cooper to lead the mission along a special team (one of them is Anne Hathaway). This is when the viewer is introduced to space travel, wormholes, and other puzzling astrophysics theories. It may be just another way to remember you are watching a Christopher Nolan's film. You have to think about what are you watching and what is happening.
The physics lessons shown in this film did not come from old physics classes taken by Nolan. Executive producer and Cal Tech professor Kip Thorne helped as a consultant with the reasoning and explanations.
As Cooper and the team advance with the mission, they realize that time is advancing too, and at a faster rate, on Earth. Cooper is able to communicate with Murph (Jessica Chastain, now adult) and his son Tom (Casey Affleck, now adult) through video messages. Chastain's performance was excellent. There is a strong and clear chemistry between McConaughey and her.
It is incredible how time can be that relative. A couple of years for the team in space meant many more years for the people at Earth. How a few hours could mean many years. These are all theories you have to think about and understand to be able to appreciate the film way better.
"Interstellar" brings a different side from Nolan. A hopeful and heartwarming side that it is not common to see in his other films. This feeling that humans need each other to overcome extinction. Showing that love can trespass any dimension, and push you to fulfill your goals. Human emotions transcended during the movie making it easier for some to relate. However, love is emphasized not in a romantic way, but in a familiar one, which can show the viewer what a father can go through to get back to his daughter and son.
The amazing thing about this science-fiction film, is that everything is very understandable. You do not have to be a genius to understand the science or any of the theories explained in the movie. Everything is very well put, in order to make everyone understand.
This masterpiece will surely be considered one of 2014's best films. It will also be considered one of Nolan's best-directed films. It was not only beautifully made and crafted, but also a scientific gem. "Interstellar" is a complete movie theater experience. It is a must-see.