Lower your expectations, go along for the ride, and enjoy the view

Rating: 8/10 (23 January 2015)

When I approached Interstellar, I was very excited about the film. There is a certain amount of expectation attached (consciously or unconsciously) to a film that you're excited for. I recalled my anticipation for The Dark Knight Rises, and how Nolan had failed to meet my expectations. I had a certain amount of fear that Interstellar might follow suit, but I held onto hope.
Right from the beginning of the film, the apprehension and fear kicked in. The film began with awkward out of place interviews. They were redundant and unnecessary. The early moments in the film, on Earth, felt sort of awkward and forced. Some of the individual moments worked well - the dynamic between the father and daughter. But the bigger picture felt very forced. It was hard to gather the bigger scale, to see that the "end of the world" was really happening. So the stakes were in an awkward place; implied to be high but not visually represented.
As the film progressed, and later took to space, my fear was left behind at Earth. All of the context and craft in constructing the space scenes surpassed my expectations. I was lost in the wonder and excitement of the ideas presented in space. I was able to get past some of the perhaps painful dialogue. It helped guide me through this film about ideas. The practical effects only further enhanced the story. The case on the ship was all at 100%. Hathaway, Bentley, and McConaughey were all up to par. The tension was kept at an all time high, as space movies so often can achieve at their highest capacity.
As the film came to its climax, and my apprehension started to creep back in, I wondered how Nolan could possibly close the journey he had brought us on. The ending left much to be desired. It pushed the protagonist into a magical plot box, in a way, that made everything happen that was convenient for McConaughey.
The whole film was beautifully shot and well acted. The script was far from perfect. As with all the most recent Nolan films, I found plot holes throughout. Nolan still has a ways to go with his storytelling. I fear the more control he gets, the worse his storytelling grows. But I found the film to be entirely worthwhile, and worth repeat viewings. The spectacle alone was stunning.
BREAKDOWN: Cinematography - 10/10 Acting - 10/10 Story - 7/10 Art/Design - 9/10 Effects/Spectacle - 10/10