Open the Pod Bay Door, TARS or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Rip Off Kubrick

Rating: 7/10 (29 November 2014)

These days, it doesn't seem to take all that much to be a Stanley Kubrick fan. Hell, both The Simpsons and Family Guy are stuffed full of references to the great filmmaker. In a large way, it makes sense that a revered yet ultimately commercial filmmaker like Christopher Nolan would want to expand upon the pure majesty of 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, 2001's greatness lies in its trademark ambiguity and detachment. Interstellar finds Christopher Nolan, rather uncomfortably, stuck between Hollywood, Blockbuster "fame and glory" and trailblazing artistic merit. While Inception, his masterpiece, showcased Nolan juggling action and art, Interstellar bites off a little more than it can chew. However, this film is not without its moments, and before eventually collapsing under its own weight, is rather magnificent.