Stunning on all fronts, a near-masterpiece from Nolan

Rating: 9/10 (7 November 2014)

As I sit and write this review, I wonder about the difficulties that one would encounter when attempting to project their dreams and ideas onto paper, better yet onto film. In Interstellar, Christopher Nolan, (along with his frequently less credited brother Johnathan) does so with the beauty and mind-blowing cinematic genius that is 'Interstellar'. Visual effects that do not fall too short of Cuaron's 'Gravity' along with a screenplay of the highest quality (as expected from the Nolan brothers) help to put together what is THE defining sci-fo film of 2014.
I had the pleasure of catching a viewing in IMAX 70MM (highly recommended for this film) at my local media museum and was blown away by the visuals as well as everything that came with it. The movie is set in the not-so-distant future on the backdrop of an earth stricken by what looks to be the adverse effects of global warming. In steps out protagonist in the form of Matthew McConaughey, a NASA pilot-turned-farmer, ready to search the stars and beyond for any sort of hope for mankind. With a run time of 169 minutes, Interstellar is a literally a space odyssey, faintly reminiscent of Kubrick's '2001'. The vast and endless atmosphere and emptiness is incredible and sometimes even frightening to witness on screen. McConaughey puts in a emotion-filled and believable performance and although there wasn't really an outstanding piece of acting, the young Mackenzie Foy put in a heartfelt performance that solidified the on screen father-daughter relationship with McConaughey. Without giving too much of the plot away, this cinematic experience really does open your eyes to the possibilities of human advancements when survival is the only card left to play. The supporting cast are a solid bunch, in the form of the 'Dark Knight Rises' duo Hathaway and Caine. Bill Irwin adds some well needed comic-relief for the voice of the advance assistant with a personality, TARS. Oh, and lest we forget what the genius composer Hans Zimmer contributes. Zimmer's score for this movie may possibly be his best, capturing the emotion, the stress and the fear felt by the characters. These emotions were then transmitted towards the audience in an overwhelming manner. However, what really lifts the film up as 2014's best (if not one of this decade's best) is the idea Nolan presents to his audience; that love transcends past the barriers of time and space as well as a any obstacles set before it. With this he really does create a wonderful piece of film; in essence a sci-fi with the biggest of hearts. No easy feat has been performed here, with different characters' moral compasses spinning this way and that throughout the film, along with the scientific basis is laid out in a not-so-beginner friendly fashion. Fans of popular fiction such as Doctor Who, Donnie Darko shouldn't find the concepts difficult to grasp. However not everyone falls under this bracket. Moreover, the pacing fluctuates throughout the movie and there are times where some characters' actions and motives can seem silly and questionable. Interstellar is not a perfect film, and perhaps not Nolan's greatest either, however what it is, is a jaw-dropping voyage into the unknown as well as the human heart, and is most definitely the director's most grandeur outing. 9.5/10