Masterpiece is a word much too often thrown around when discussing certain filmmakers' filmographies, however, Christopher Nolan's Interstellar is not only his best movie to date, but his masterpiece. I have rated so many films five stars that I adore and can rewatch for ages but there are only a select few that I think are able to fully reach the depth and vast wonder that this film does. From the outstanding performances to the gorgeous cinematography to the phenomenal script written by the Nolan brothers themselves, this movie is utterly perfect. I have not watched this movie in a few years and thankfully it still holds up since I have not been this emotionally punched by it until now. While there is so much about this film to gush about, there is really nothing I can say that hasn't been said before. I do not have any issues surrounding this extraordinary film and I, along with many others I assume, believe that this is undoubtedly the greatest space movie since 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former pilot for NASA, is living in the distant future with his son Tom (Timothée Chalamet) and daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy), where all the crops are slowly perishing and the future of humanity seems uncertain. After stumbling upon coordinates and discovering a secret NASA base, he is tasked with going out and finding a habitable planet for the human race, a mission that will take decades and test the love and generational strength of his family. This script, written by Christopher and Jonathon Nolan, is the absolute strongest part of this entire film. Most space films that I have seen focus on one particular aspect of its plot, whether it be personal issues with a father or a simple spaceship malfunction. Interstellar, on the other hand, has various subplots going on that could be seen as distracting but are brought together flawlessly by Nolan's direction. While Cooper's mission is the main plot of this film, the side stories with the older versions of Murph (Jessica Chastain) and Tom (Casey Affleck) prove to be just as interesting. The way Nolan combines these stories and juxtaposes them together to reflect how all of his characters are feeling is masterful. The theme of familial love is what brings this entire movie together and the sheer complexity of emotions that Nolan is able to get out of these stories is phenomenal. The loving bonds that parents share with their children span generations, lightyears, and even dimensions, and the representation of this through Cooper's relationship and influence on his children is what gives this story so much heart. I also really enjoyed how Nolan touches on the future of agriculture, as it almost feels like our current world with Murph and Tom's generation being our own.
This family of characters would not have been as believable, however, without the help of the stunning performances. McConaughey gives his best performance of his career in this movie and I was so involved in his devastating journey, feeling every bit of regret and doubt that Cooper did. The supporting performances from Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Casey Affleck were also fantastic and they stole their characters right off the page. The young performances from Chalamet and Foy were the standouts, however, and they carried every scene that they populated. The chemistry shared between this whole cast and the others I did not mention is incredibly believable and makes this family's story surprisingly personal. I was so invested by the end of this film that I never wanted to leave and even found myself getting infuriated that Cooper couldn't get his past self to stay. I have seen this film a few times back when it was released and know of its impact on today's culture but I have not been this personally affected by it until now. The sheer magnitude of emotion and spectacular adventure that is conveyed is unmatched by any other movie I have ever seen and while I am definitely not the first to give this movie a perfect score, I know that I will not be the last. What also makes this film so memorable, along with the wonderful script and emotion, is the plot twist at the end. Plot twists can be very hard to pull off and usually end up being incredibly cheesy but the realization that Nolan incorporates into this movie is one of the most deserved and respectable story points of any science-fiction film. Once again proving that love is the most powerful thing in the universe, this twist helps to wrap up this story into such a satisfying and poignant ending. I also adore how Nolan avoids relying on aliens for this film. That would have massively cheapened its message and the way that he utilizes Cooper's presence as the ghost is pure genius.
Hoyte Van Hoytema's cinematography throughout Interstellar is god-tier and he is able to capture space like no one else. The way that he frames these different planets and Cooper's loneliness traveling through the wormhole is beyond gorgeous. This will forever be one of the most beautiful sci-fi films of all time and the subtle nods to Kubrick's 1968 classic are great. One of the most memorable parts of this film, however, is the sound design and absolutely transcendent score from Hans Zimmer. The legendary composer once again works his magic in what might be my favorite score of his to date. It is amazing what a score can do for a film and while Zimmer's is laid over this entire movie, it helps to pick up every little beat of the story and make it even more impactful. All of Interstellar's technical elements are handled expertly and work together so fluidly to make this movie hit you like a punch in the gut. I would strongly recommend watching this film in the highest quality possible with the loudest surround sound experience that you can garner to really feel the otherworldly emotions that Nolan creates. Every beat is perfect, every performance is unforgettable, and every frame of this film contributes to making one of the most extraordinary stories ever.
Interstellar is the quintessential space film for our modern age and one that will undeniably stand the test of time. The interweaving stories of generational families and the bold adventure that Cooper and his crew go on make for such a compelling narrative and the direction from Nolan only enhances that. Along with war films, space films have the tendency to put all of their energy into the sound design and visuals but the fact that this movie delivers on all of its fronts only helps, even more, to make it one of the best films of the 2010s.
My Rating: ★★★★★
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