A Revolutionary Picture

Rating: 10/10 (22 November 2014)

What creates a film worthy of being dubbed, revolutionary? To me, it's an extremely rare film which sets the new standard for it's respective genre or the styles and themes being portrayed in the movie. Films like The Dark Knight, The Godfather, Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings were films that, in my opinion, revolutionized their respective genres and styles. To me, Interstellar has achieved that coveted rank: revolutionary.
As, at heart, a space exploration film, Interstellar not only delivers, but nearly perfects all aspects you'd expect from a movie of this style. The sense of unending possibilities beyond our solar system, an enthralling depiction of outer space, the beauties and dangers it brings, and a story and set of characters that grasps your heart and mind, tugging at every emotional string your body has to offer. These features are what, at it's core, make Interstellar the masterpiece that it is.
The story focuses on the eventual demise of Earth and the intergalactic voyage of a team of astronauts to find a new home for all mankind. While it's more or less a simple premise to start, the events that follow our time with the movie on Earth are anything but simple. Watching the epic travel into the great unknown is nothing short of captivating, showcasing an incredible display of art, wonder and powerful emotion. The visuals and CGI are exceptional enough to make you believe that you're watching live footage from outer space, topped off by what scientists called the most accurate depiction of a black hole ever perceived in film. A black hole that provides some of the most beautifully dangerous scenes in science-fiction film history. Few films truly make me feel wonderfully lost in its magic, but Interstellar does it with ease. By the end of the nearly 3 hour run time, that simple story premise transforms into a mind-bending space epic, one that will leave you searching for answers to the inconceivable ending and also, searching for a breath of air.
What sets Interstellar apart from other space stories is not only its phenomenal space en devour, but its equally strong cast. This story is not just one of surviving in space, it's much greater than that. Being tasked with exploring another solar system to save your planet carries heavy, heavy risk, and with that comes heavy emotions. Lead actor Matthew McConaughey has finally turned me into a fan, with his performance as Cooper rightfully giving him a sure nomination for Best Actor this year at the Oscars. Cooper is faced with the decision to potentially never see his children again or to save the human race, with no guarantee of either happening. It's a position for a character that few actors could pull off in a convincing and powerful manner, and McConaughey nails it. Surrounding McConaughey is a magnificent supporting cast. Anne Hathoway, Michael Caine David Gyasi and one other surprise actor all give tremendous depth to an all ready sterling film, with each providing an even deeper sense of emotion, which after all, is one of Interstellar's greatest strengths. The cast successfully prevents the film from becoming dull during human interaction, and instead creates a piece of art that gives you every reason to care about the wonders on screen.
No film could be complete without the director, the person whom's vision is the overall goal in making a movie. Luckily for this film, Christopher Nolan is in the chair, and his vision for this picture has furthermore solidified himself as one of the greatest directors of all- time. Nolan is easily my favorite director, with my top movie of all- time, The Dark Knight (along with the entire trilogy) being his creation. Nolan has proved over and over again that his creativity and innovation refuses to quit. Interstellar represents a genuine masterpiece, and one of the most brilliantly executed and written films of recent time. Nolan's brother, Jonathan, also receives high praise for his work as a writer on this film, further progressing his path into greatness. As with previous films such as Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight Trilogy and Inception, Nolan has stepped into a new space in film, set a new standard for that specific genre or style and planted himself as a legend. Bravo Mr. Nolan, bravo.
Without a doubt, Interstellar is my clear best film of 2014. No other movie this year even comes close to the sheer amount of emotion and enthrallment that Interstellar delivers. The spectacle of an endless universe with infinite possibilities and mankind's limitations to explore more of those possibilities clash together in this film to make your heart and mind go crazy. You see a sliver of what's beyond our home world, realize its fascinating beauty and danger, then beg to see more. The film captivates, it entertains, it revolutionizes. Sure I've been blown away by movies in the past. I've had my mind twisted and my emotions run high. But I can say, with confidence, that Interstellar is the only film that has literally made me rethink my views on time, space and humanity as a whole. Interstellar is a revolutionary journey, one that will linger in my mind for a long time to come.
10/10