Interstellar

Hollywood is simply fascinated with films based in the future where the Earth is or was going through some devastating event, war, pestilence, famine, alien attack, etc. The list of these films is as endless as the films are commonly rueful. Yet, we all still come back to the multiplex to catch a glimpse of these epics, in some cases. "Interstellar" certainly can be added to that ever popular list, and the results are cerebral as well as interesting and refreshing.

In the distant future Earth has been devastated by drought and famine, causing a scarcity in food and extreme changes in climate. When humanity is facing extinction, a mysterious rip in the space-time continuum, or wormhole, if you will, is discovered by Professor Brand (Michael Caine) and his daughter, Amelia (Anne Hathaway), giving mankind the opportunity to widen their lifespan for generations to come. One of the past's pilots, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) along with Amelia, Doyle (Wes Bentley), and Romilly (David Gyasi) as explorers, must travel past our solar system in search of a planet that can sustain life. The crew of the Endurance are required to think bigger and go further than any human in history as they embark on an interstellar voyage--into the unknown. Cooper, the pilot of the Endurance, must decide between seeing his children again and the future of the human race. Can this work, and if so, how could it possibly be achieved?

Others to round out the cast are Jessica Chastain as Older Murph, Cooper's daughter, Matt Damon as Dr. Mann, Mackenzie Foy as Young Murph, Casey Affleck as Older Tom, Cooper's son, Topher Grace as Getty, Ellen Burstyn as Old Murph, John Lithgow as Donald, Cooper's Father-in-law, Leah Cairns as Lois, Tom's wife, Timothee Chalamet as Young Tom, Bill Irwin as TARS (voice), and Josh Stewart as CASE (voice).

Christopher Nolan ("Memento" 2000, "Insomnia" '02, "Batman Begins" '05, "The Prestige" '06, "The Dark Knight" '08, "Inception" '10, "The Dark Knight Rises" '12) directed this epic piece. One thing that can be said for Nolan is he typically gives us films that will cause a great deal of thinking. These films just aren't high-budget, high explosive films with amazing visual effects, but rather they are vehicles sparking a barrage of thinking--cerebrally in some cases. He consistently goes out on that ever extending limb breaking all the rules without giving us 'fluff' as with so many other films that mostly market on being explosive, highly visual where story certainly takes a back seat to effects. This was written by Jonathan Nolan and again, Christopher Nolan. This could've been so easily convoluted in plot sequence, but these consummate pros simply pulled it off. The only thing that puzzled me a bit was that, at times, the film's music had a tendency to overtake some of the voice over sequences, otherwise this production was spot on. I saw this in a pre-released 35mm cut version which was stunning, and I'm sure when it's formally released on Friday, the IMAX version should be captivating, to say the least.

Nolan is such a talented filmmaker and anything he's connected with is quality with a capital 'Q'. I recommend this film to one and all, because if the premise throws you a bit, the visual effects, acting, directing and cinematography will keep you glued for that 169 minute running time.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                Rated: PG-13                                  169mins.