Stellar Visuals, Questionable Science, Lackluster Characters in Nolan’s Interstellar

Photo+Courtesy+of+IMDb

Photo Courtesy of IMDb

Maggie Piotrowski, Columnist

In the not so distant future, humanity’s time on Earth is coming to an end, ravaged by an environmental disaster known as the Blight. To find a new planet to call home, former NASA pilot Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a farmer and father of two, teams with a group of explorers, leaving behind his two children, Murph (Mackenzie Foy) and Tom (Timothée Chalamet) to set out on a daring journey into space in order to save the world.

Director Christopher Nolan captivates audiences with impressive visuals. The film’s scientific background and reasoning behind plot events are accessible to even those audience members who think a worm hole can be found in someone’s backyard. The story still allows the viewer to add in their own reasoning and insight on the issues, too. Anyone who has watched the movie Space Odyssey 2001 will agree that Interstellar alludes to Stanley Kubric’s 1968 iconic film. Even TARS, Interstellar’s resident robot that helps the explorers on the intergalactic mission, hints at the Monolith from Space Odyssey 2001.

There has been much circling debate on the portrayal of theoretical events in this movie. Scientists, such as astrophysicists, are either fascinated or frustrated by Nolan’s interpretation of the wormholes and space time relativity. Some viewers might question the film’s scientific theory, and many critics cited plot holes, when in reality, these critics simply didn’t understand the film’s science. It’s a controversial topic, and it has been backed up by many renowned astrophysicists, Neil DeGrasse Tyson for example. The movie’s science is not the film’s biggest problem. The biggest problem is Nolan’s storytelling skills. It lacked character development, and the plot was a little uncertain in some parts. There were also some parts where it left the viewer saying “wait, since when did that happen?” But those moments are few and far between.

On a positive note, the movie keeps viewers on the edge. The movie’s plot provokes thought, forcing audiences to think about why certain interstellar events occur and wondering could these things actually happen in real life? Plot twistsand turns in the plot keep the story moving along smoothly. The actors, Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, to name a few, bring their characters to life. The film not only addresses science, but it combines family, loss, love, adventure and mystery. I recommend anyone with even an ounce of interest in the sci-fi genre to watch this movie. It is truly gripping, and even two weeks after watching it, I still think about it and what it taught me.

 

I give it a B+