A Celestial Voyage for the Ages, Interstellar is a Flawed Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (11 November 2014)

Interstellar defies ordinary description. With its profound narrative differences and unparalleled ambition, comparisons to other films are maddeningly difficult. Taking the viewer on an epic celestial journey, Nolan confidently navigates the physical wonders of our universe. The stunning visuals, chilling score, and gripping story are seamlessly woven together with an impressive devotion to scientific accuracy. Interstellar looks and feels like an honest effort to create a flawless masterpiece. Nolan very nearly succeeds.
"Do not go gentle into that good night."
The film opens at an unspecified point in the near future. The consequences of our unsustainable actions have ravaged Earth, rendering it nearly uninhabitable. As we are introduced to our protagonist, Cooper, we learn that society has regressed to rely on agriculture once again for survival. An engineer in a world of farmers, Cooper is the last of a dying breed. McConaughey is once again in top form, completely captivating the viewer for the entirety of the film. His performance is magnificently diverse, combining the elation of scientific exploration with the emotional dissonance of a heartbroken father.
After an enigmatic gravitational force leads him to NASA, Cooper says a tearful goodbye before leaving on his mission to save humanity. With a small team of physicists and intelligent machines, they chart a course for the mysterious wormhole orbiting Saturn. Even this early in the film, I was pleasantly surprised by Nolan's dedication to getting the science right. The planets are massive and stunningly beautiful, space is expansive and hauntingly silent, and most importantly, time is anything but constant, easily manipulated by relative differences in speed and gravity. With smartly written dialogue and a convincing setting, the first act of the movie successfully sets the stage for our intergalactic journey.
In addition to McConaughey, the rest of the cast is also excellent. Anne Hathaway in particular shines as Dr. Brand. To be honest, I've never been a fan of her work, but she was perfectly cast for this role. Bill Irwin, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Caine are also outstanding in their respective roles, providing a solid supporting cast for McConaughey and Hathaway. I also really enjoyed Wes Bentley and David Gyasi as Doyle and Romily, but their characters are sadly underutilized by the film's script.
"Old age should burn and rave at close of day."
The second act focuses on exploring the uncharted galaxy beyond the wormhole. Our team struggles to survive the perils of foreign planets, while also worrying about the mind-bending effects of gravitational time dilation. It is plot devices like this, rooted in theoretical physics, that make Interstellar so unique and exciting. By relying on actual science to craft its story, we end up with a tale that's crazier than anything someone could have otherwise made up. With gorgeous visuals, stellar acting, a beautiful score, and stimulating dialogue, Interstellar's middle act is science-fiction of the highest caliber.
After an unexpected and mostly enjoyable cameo from Matt Damon, the film transitions into its final act. Sadly, this is also where Interstellar begins to struggle. As Cooper crashes towards Gargantua's singularity, the writing takes an unfortunate turn. The excellence of the first two acts is replaced by tonal inconsistencies and over-emphasized sentimentality. The unnerving score, so carefully used early in the film, starts to endlessly repeat itself, drowning out the dialogue. Instead of confidently building to an epic conclusion, the film falters. It almost feels like Nolan hesitates, rather than delivering a masterful knockout punch.
The end result is a film that, like our understanding of the universe, is imperfect. Despite its flaws, Interstellar is mostly an incredible viewing experience. Superb performances, smart dialogue, and immersive visuals make for a thrilling odyssey through space and time. Save for an unfortunately flawed final act, Interstellar is a masterpiece.
I do not think this film will be remembered as the classic it could have been, but Interstellar's colossal ambition is admirable. Nolan aims well past the stars, and even though it wasn't a perfect success, he should at least be commended for that.
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light." – Dylan Thomas
RATING: 9/10