“Interstellar” ventures into the unknown and inspires awe

“Interstellar” takes its viewers on an emotional roller coaster through the voids of space and beyond

Directed by Christopher Nolan, “Interstellar” is a gorgeously directed and shot mixture of personal sacrifice and theoretical physics that leaves its viewer breathless. Nolan fans and movie fanatics have been patiently waiting and now the wait is finally over. “Interstellar,” Nolan’s newest venture is a drama set in the depths of space that deals with the trouble of being away from home and the complexity of interstellar (flying between the stars).

Because of the movies’ scientific theories like the Theory of Relativity, mainly Time Dilation, this film is extremely convoluted. In a nutshell Time Dilation means that time on one planet with one gravitational mass can be different than on another planet with a different gravitational mass. Time isn’t only a large force in this film but it quickly becomes a resource.

When we first meet Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) we see that Earth is dying. It’s plagued by drought and famine, causing a scarcity in food and extreme changes in climate. Cooper lives on a farm with his two children, Tom (Timothee Chalamet),  Muprh (Mackenzie Foy) and his deceased wife’s father Donald (John Lithgow). “Interstellar” is full of fantastic performances by talented actors. McConaughey is great as an ex-pilot turned in to everyday farmer. His quick and intelligent quips coupled with his tough attitude made for a convincing role. Nolan does a great job of harmonizing a group of big-name actors, giving each character a well-rounded and important role. Hans Zimmer has yet again delivered a powerhouse score ranging from dark and powerful to elegant and airy, pairing beautiful shots of space with classical music.

My one issue with “Interstellar” is its willingness to throw away its ambiguity and mystery to spoonfeed its audience. One of the most beautiful things about this film is its ambiguity, wonder and broad scope. But once we hit the end of the film, Nolan seems to abandon this by explaining everything that just happened. I believe this is partly because he was too afraid to leave the audience hanging and somewhat uninformed.

Needless to say, this film does a lot of things right. Its scope and scale is unmatched by any film of recent years. Many parts of this film left me in awe, and as a film lover I couldn’t ask for more. “Interstellar” was an experience all in itself, and Nolan has set a new bar for modern day films. I give “Interstellar” an A-. Masterfully scored, directed and filmed, this movie left me contemplating and wondering for days after.