Possibly my longest review title till date but I had to do justice. Yes, it is nothing like I have ever seen and yes, Nolan does bring another mind bender..but this time perhaps it’s the visuals and the scale, the sheer ambition and guts to show what was shown rather than the intricacies of the plot or the mind games or even the writing, that deserve all the kudos
Confession time – I haven’t seen 2001 A Space Odyssey so alas! I cannot compare how this one turns out against what I hear was a visionary masterpiece ( I plan to correct that very soon though). However, for the visuals I did see, I can tell you that Nolan’s sheer ambition will win you over. Its not just another outworldly adventure. Its not about breaching the boundaries of gravity and the earth – it goes far beyond that. It doesn’t talk of separation, pain and angst over months – it goes far beyond that. It’ll even expect you to understand wormholes, blackholes and multiple dimensions and give you lessons on these concepts as you watch it. For Nolan, the entire universe becomes his sandbox and our good old earth is but a tiny piece in a gargantuan puzzle. For that vision and ambition, and that alone, I would recommend this movie be watched in an IMAX theater, no less
In terms of plot and storyline I am probably less ecstatic. While he attempts to weave an emotional tale, with all the weaving and interconnected threads he ultimately manages, the story from being one of hope, sacrifice, belief and courage adds an extra layer of corn (and I am not talking about the expansive corn fields destroyed in the movie) that just doesn’t sit right by the end of it all. Maybe I couldn't fathom the multiple ‘dimensions’ that Nolan is willing to explore, but for me that extra effort just seemed forced, a desperate attempt to take the story in the direction he wanted to.
What he does manage though, is a breath-taking visual journey that not only captures the imagination – it challenges it. Whatever you think you might see next, Nolan takes it to greater heights and offers a dazzling spectacle. So much so that actors and performances, credible though they are, pretty much get relegated to the background – the canvas and the storyteller themselves have so much to offer.
Matthew McConaughey gets it exactly right, his act while watching video messages being particularly convincing. Anne Hathaway gets a pretty simple character given her abilities and she pulls it off fairly well but all that is secondary. There are some new additions to the standard Nolan cast but its best you discover them as the movie progresses along
Interstellar also manages a wonderful communion of sound and visuals. Hans Zimmer has been oft accused (unfairly, in my opinion) of offering very similar soundtracks. Well, this one should easily silence his critics. Whether it’s the scenes in the cornfields or those of exploration - the background score is an integral part of this movie and would not be half the experience it is, without it.
For, in a nutshell, that’s exactly what Interstellar offers you - an experience. It’s a journey not only to the stars but beyond. Sure the storyline gets a more than a little warped and (unconvincingly) convoluted but for its sheer vision, ambition and stellar presentation, Nolan’s Interstellar should not be missed
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