REVIEW: ‘Interstellar’ brings tears, intensity in refreshing space epic

Space, alien, and apocalyptic epics have been all the rage in Hollywood recently. Many lack scientific accuracy, genuine emotion, or anything other than explosions and special effects, but Christopher Nolan brings a refreshing change to the trend in his most recent film Interstellar.

This space odyssey blends emotion, science, and thrills in the most beautiful and realistic way, and Matthew McConaughey’s portrayal of NASA pilot-turned-farmer Cooper pulls at the heartstrings.

Interstellar is set in the near future when food is running scarce and farming is more important than technology. Cooper, a widower with two children, teaches his 10-year-old daughter Murph – played by Mackenzie Foy (youth) and Jessica Chastain (adult) – about science while his son Sam is content farming. One day Cooper and Murph are led to a mysterious building which houses an underground NASA program looking for another planet to move the human race to when Earth’s resources are spent. Cooper is asked to pilot the expedition along with a team of astronauts including Anne Hathaway’s character, Amelia Brand.

They travel to another galaxy and face insurmountable odds. The greatest issue they face, however, is the difference in time. One hour on another planet is equal to seven years on Earth. Cooper is less concerned with saving the human race than getting back to his daughter, who has grown up without a father and has believed he abandoned her.

The average moviegoer may not know much about the complex science of the film, but most scientific reviews have been largely positive, although many scientists have pointed out some creative liberties Nolan has taken. Still, Nolan’s commitment to accurate science is a refreshing change from all the alien movies and far fetched sci-fi flicks that have come out recently.

Something else refreshing was there was no prominent romantic love story in the movie. Often times, writers force romantic relationships into movies trying to appeal to more people. But the only love story in Interstellar is that of father and daughter.

Half the movie will have the audience on the edge of their seats. It seems like at any minute, something could go wrong and the astronauts would either be stuck in another galaxy or dead.

The other half of the movie will have the audience in tears. The relationship between Cooper and his children, especially Murph, is so powerfully heartbreaking and beautifully portrayed, one can’t help but want to cry and scream with them. Cooper’s yearning to get back to his child and Murph’s agony at her father leaving her presents a much deeper dilemma than the every day love story.

One downfall in the movie was near the resolution when Cooper and Murph start figuring out the mysteries. Nothing is explicitly explained or clear enough for the audience to understand.

All in all, this movie has something for everyone. It is packed with action, emotion, and science. The cinematography is stunning, with breathtaking audiovisual effects and realistic set design.

No matter how much one knows about science and space, Interstellar will have the audience stuck still in their seats with tears down their cheeks by the end.

Rating: 9.5/10