Interstellar reaches for the stars but doesn't quite reach them.

Rating: 8/10 (18 November 2014)

Interstellar is a movie that is a bit rare these days. Not only for its subject matter; the very cold and philosophical sci-fi perspective, but for the fact it kept itself secret for so long. For the first time in years did a blockbuster come by that wasn't fully spoiled in the trailers. And that pays off in the end.
To keep the premise short: Earth is doomed and former-astronaut-turned-farmer Cooper finds himself being an astronaut again after a bit of a too-coincidental event that places him in the middle of a top secret NASA operation. Cooper and crew go through a wormhole and then starts the game of deciding what is more important: saving time to be able to see their families if they make it back, or leave everything behind and colonize one of three potentially habitable planets.
An intriguing scenario. Visually Interstellar knocks it out of the park: sterile shots of space and shots harking back to days of crappy stop-motion effects place a very 70's sci-fi mark on the movie. Music is superb and acting in the lead roles is great. In many respects, and this isn't an original remark but still..., this movie is 2001: A Space Odyssee 2.0.
And that is also where its flaws stem from. Whereas 2001 had a real philosophical weight to it, I personally never really felt the urgency in Interstellar was truly important. There is some scientific explaining that feels like the 'just throw around some sci-fi slang' trope, which kind of ruins the immersiveness of the otherwise great movie. Many people praised the movie for the emotional weight it carries between Cooper and his daughter. Me? I didn't feel it. As a kid yes, and there is one scene that does to the relation trouble justice. But in the end the thing felt a bit hollow.
Maybe that is a side effect of Spielberg's legacy on this movie. Something that is a very positive thing in the rest of the 3 hours you'll watch Interstellar. There are the classic Spielberg shots: kids gazing into the distance, and most of all a great sense of wonder and excitement of going somewhere new. The real Nolan touch comes at the very end when he pulls a bit of an "Inception" and plays with time travel a bit.
Overall Interstellar is an absolute joy to watch. A visually strong movie with strong leading roles and an interesting plot. There is little wrong about it...only that in my opinion it has set the bar too high for itself to reach it. It lacks the philosophical weight and emotional urgency it strives for, being a tad hollow in the end.
Still: one of the best movies of this year and a definite watch for sure!
8/10