"The answers we seek are just outside our reach." This is at center in Ad Astra. This science fiction adventure film directed by James Gray and written by Ethan Gross and Gray. A paranoid thriller in space that follows Roy McBride on a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.
During the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, Gray first confirmed his plans to write and direct the project, saying he wanted to feature "the most realistic depiction of space travel that's been put in a movie". Further adding that "Space is awfully hostile to us." In early April 2017, while promoting The Lost City of Z, Gray compared the story to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, as well as being to outer space what Apocalypse Now (1979) was to the Vietnam War. In addition, Gray confirmed that Brad Pitt would star. By mid August, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, John Finn, and Donald Sutherland joined the cast. Around the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in October. Filming took place in Santa Clarita, California. Following poor initial test screenings, reshoots were conducted (although Pitt was unavailable), increasing the production budget from $80 million to over $100 million. The visual effects were by Moving Picture Company, Method Studios, Mr. X, Weta Digital, Brainstorm Digital, and Capital T, and supervised by Allen Maris, Christopher Downs, Guillaume Rocheron, Ryan Tudhope, Aidan Fraser, Olaf Wendt, Anders Langlands, Eran Dinur, Jamie Hallett, and Territory Studio.
The film stars Pitt, Jones, Negga, Tyler, and Sutherland. Terrific performances were given by the cast, especially that of Pitt. Pitt goes through a major metamorphosis as his character heads his way through the cosmos to eliminate the Lima Project and reunite with his father, his unwavering devotion to his job is offset by his emotions at the scenes of more existential insanity all around.
Certainly, no movie in history has ever presented stronger proof that space is living hell. Ad Astra is an indelible statement on the lunacy of space and the horror of necessary madness. It has coherence, truthfulness, and conviction-up to a point. The film holds together well enough until it reaches its final muddle, and it has scenes and moments unequaled in recent European or American movies. Although it's not a great movie, it shows a still-impressive, politically inspired ambition -- a reminder of why film culture matters. Mixing pessimism with astonishment, it expanded cultural unease on a grand scale. Perhaps Gray's best directorial achievement thus far, the film is a visually stunning science-fiction film, with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema capturing space to great effect. The title derives from the Latin phrase for "to the stars," so in effect the title of Gray's film is a call for us to head to the stars wake up and realise about ourselves about who we are and what we did and what we still have the power to do. A must-see, preferably in the cinema.
Certainly, no movie in history has ever presented stronger proof that space is living hell. Ad Astra is an indelible statement on the lunacy of space and the horror of necessary madness. It has coherence, truthfulness, and conviction-up to a point. The film holds together well enough until it reaches its final muddle, and it has scenes and moments unequaled in recent European or American movies. Although it's not a great movie, it shows a still-impressive, politically inspired ambition -- a reminder of why film culture matters. Mixing pessimism with astonishment, it expanded cultural unease on a grand scale. Perhaps Gray's best directorial achievement thus far, the film is a visually stunning science-fiction film, with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema capturing space to great effect. The title derives from the Latin phrase for "to the stars," so in effect the title of Gray's film is a call for us to head to the stars wake up and realise about ourselves about who we are and what we did and what we still have the power to do. A must-see, preferably in the cinema.
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