There is so much to like here and with Nolan's previous track record, the incredibly high expectations for this film would have been hard to meet. The visuals are outstanding and this deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Like its obvious influence, 2001, Nolan has captured the vastness and beauty of space as well as the danger and isolation of working in this environment. The sequences on each of the planets are equally awe inspiring, building to a tense resolution each time. The final act is sure to divide opinion, though Nolan does drop hints in the first part of the film and it does fit within the core humanist themes that the film is driven by. McConnaughey and Hathaway are great as the two central astronauts in the film. Having said that, it is not perfect. Perhaps, in a sense, Nolan has overreached. Not since Spielberg's A.I, has there been a film with an identity crisis quite like this - is it an emotional involving character-driven story that hinges on the father/daughter relationship ? Or is it the more plot-driven story that captures the fascination of space exploration and the human drive for scientific discovery and evolution ? It seems that Nolan wants to have both and whilst there are moments and sequences within the film that fulfil this grand ambition, equally the film as a whole neither fully satisfies either element. But with sequels and franchises dominating the film year, here we have a film with ideas and themes that are sure to provoke some discussion and for that it deserves a lot of credit.
Review by Simon MasseyVIP 11BlockedParent2014-11-15T20:35:09Z
There is so much to like here and with Nolan's previous track record, the incredibly high expectations for this film would have been hard to meet. The visuals are outstanding and this deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. Like its obvious influence, 2001, Nolan has captured the vastness and beauty of space as well as the danger and isolation of working in this environment. The sequences on each of the planets are equally awe inspiring, building to a tense resolution each time. The final act is sure to divide opinion, though Nolan does drop hints in the first part of the film and it does fit within the core humanist themes that the film is driven by. McConnaughey and Hathaway are great as the two central astronauts in the film. Having said that, it is not perfect. Perhaps, in a sense, Nolan has overreached. Not since Spielberg's A.I, has there been a film with an identity crisis quite like this - is it an emotional involving character-driven story that hinges on the father/daughter relationship ? Or is it the more plot-driven story that captures the fascination of space exploration and the human drive for scientific discovery and evolution ? It seems that Nolan wants to have both and whilst there are moments and sequences within the film that fulfil this grand ambition, equally the film as a whole neither fully satisfies either element. But with sequels and franchises dominating the film year, here we have a film with ideas and themes that are sure to provoke some discussion and for that it deserves a lot of credit.