Inspired, but only looks and sounds great

Rating: 6/10 (25 December 2015)

Overall, this movie looks and sounds amazing. The cinematography is excellent, with good use of many different kinds of shots. Sound mixing and sound design highlights good use of sound effects, including for the spaceships. This movie contains numerous visual references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, from the presence of the robot on-board to the way in which the space travel is filmed. The immaculately created visual world lasts until Mann's outburst. At this point, the movie becomes a nest of clichés and tropes. The way in which Mann goes crazy and tries to kill Coopers seems tired and familiar, while the entire ending of the movie reeks of deus ex machina, as if there was no real ending to the book and an ending needed to be added to the script at the last minute. Overall, a good film ruined by lack of attention to plot, and too much attention spent on visual effects.