Movies: Ad Astra

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - Traveling in space is dangerous but also full of wonders. This is the message I got from watching the science fiction action movie "Ad Astra", which is now running in US cinema theaters ( imdb). Major Roy McBride, incarnated by Brad Pitt, travels to planet Neptune to meet his father, who stranded on the planet`s orbit many years ago (this is a spoiler free plot. You can read a synopsis here wikipedia ).

The plot is ridiculous, full of inconsistencies and does not care about logic & the laws of physics. "Ad Astra" is more fantasy than real science fiction but that doesn`t matter. The ludicrous plot gets recouped by the film`s awesome esthetic. Director James Gray, cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema and the special effect teams created mesmerizing pictures. The audience gets breath taking views of the earth below a space station, is amazed by the desolate landscapes of Moon & Mars and marvels at  bizarre & claustrophobic space ships (with greetings from "Alien"). And the well choreographed action scenes amplify the optical pleasures. The movie is a piece of visual art - with very strong influences from Kubrick`s "2001: A Space Odyssey" & Cuarón`s "Gravity".- and I wouldn´t be surprised if New York´s Moma or other ambition contemporary art museums will integrate the movie into their programs. 

"Ad Astra"circles around planet Brad Pitt, who also produced the movie. There is almost no shot without him. Rightly so. Mr. Pitt`s stoic performance, which reminded me of Neil Armstrong in "first Man",  made even the most hilarious action spectacle look almost real. I had much fun watching this movie, science fiction or not.

P.S. Just in case if you wonder, there exist indeed some recent real science fiction movies, for instance "The Wandering Earth, based on physics & cosmology,  "Ex Machina" & "Her" about artificial intelligence, "Arrival" founded on linguistic & "Europa Report" based on evolution science.