Interstellar Review: Out of This World 9.5/10

Interstellar is a film that is very difficult to review. The film is polarizing in that it isn’t easily accessible. It contains a depth and ambiguity that may turn off many viewers. But if you’re willing to sit down and focus for three hours, you are in for a ride matching that of space travel.
The story primarily follows Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and his daughter Murphy (Jessica Chastain and Mackenzie Foy) in a journey to save the human race.
What sets Interstellar apart is that it isn’t a battle against nature. The movie establishes that nature has already won that war. Earth suffers chronic dust storms and insufficient resources to support human life any longer and they need to find somewhere else to retreat to.
Through a series of methodical accidents, Cooper finds himself piloting for the underground remains of NASA as the set out on a search for fitting planets. Murphy is repulsed by his decision but as time passes she joins NASA on Earth to assist in the saving of the human race.
There is so much more to this three hour long movie. But as too not spoil anything further- because one of this movies greatest assets is your ignorance on the subject- that is all I will discuss on the plot and bring up the movies excellent execution.
One thing that sets this movie apart from similar sci-fi epics, namely 2001: A Space Odyssey, is the human spirit and characters having an active role in the storytelling. The characters are deep and multi-dimensional having noticeable dreams and intentions.
There is not a single bad performance in this movie; in fact everyone shines, even when there isn’t a lot of dialogue to work with.
Nolan uses a mixture of practical effects and CGI to represent the world he and his brother created with so much substance and detail. Numerous demonstrations of the films visuals left me with jaw dropped and heart racing.
The audio also plays a big hand in the awe-inspiring nature of the movie. Hans Zimmer composes the score of a lifetime. Orchestral booms make up the sounds of action. But there is an expertise shown in the use of silence throughout. Tension is built and acted on all throughout because of a combination with the music and visuals.
Christopher Nolan’s direction perfectly represents the vast unknown of space. As opposed to many of his other works, Interstellar is a very serious, methodically slow-paced, and at some points very emotional. But it shares his exceptional attention to detail, complex ideas, and breathtaking scenery that makes has made him one of the most consistent directors in the market.
Interstellar loses points for its high entry level, but if you are interested in a movie that’ll stay in your mind for weeks analyzing and replaying it mentally then it’s a phenomenal theatre experience.