Set in the near future, this slow-burning sci-fi tale follows emotionless astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) as he embarks on a voyage across the solar system in search of his missing father who may be at the centre of Earth-threatening power surges. Beginning with an extraordinary outer space sequence showing off the film's impressive visual effects, as well as establishing its matter-of-fact approach to portraying the dangers of space-work, it's a bar that proves too high for the remainder of the movie to match. The first half plays like a thriller, building suspense and an enigmatic tone through dream-like visual storytelling and drip-fed information; the second half swerving away from the mystery in favour of deeper psychological drama. It's an admirable change of direction but one that ultimately disappoints, as intriguing first act questions aren't given satisfying answers and the ethereal disposition throughout is undercut by a simplistic and clichéd finale. It looks amazing without doubt, director James Gray combining beautiful CGI vistas with faded transitions, overlapping images and spliced frames of chameleonic shots to create an uneasiness that subtly hints at tragedy. Pitt is an engrossing presence as always, his calm demeanour and measured dialogue not allowing easy access to what is going on in his mind (or heart); however, his narration is occasionally too on the nose. Not as viscerally entertaining as Gravity, as provocatively convention-bending as Arrival or as intellectually stimulating as Interstellar, Ad Astra is a stunningly photographed and initially interesting intergalactic fable that suffers from a final act that fails to stick the landing.
Review of Ad Astra
Ad Astra
(2019)
Stunningly photographed but suffers from a narratively disappointing final act.
21 September 2019