Ziggy Sabbane’s review of Ad Astra, the new sci-fi movie staring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones
Unfortunately for fans of the science fiction genre, there are only a handful of movies who are truly considered as masterpieces. When asked about most famous science fiction movies, the average fan will likely mention 2001 A Space Odyssey, Solaris, or even Interstellar (at least if you forbid him or her from choosing one of the “Star Trek” or “Star Wars” movies. This is very surprising, especially because science fiction is one of the oldest genres in cinema, going back to Georges Méliè’s Trip to the Moon (Voyage Dans La Lune) – one of the first feature films made.
Time and time again, genre movies fall prey to the special effects trap. In such movies, the science fiction element only serves as decoration for fighting scenes and explosions meant to sell as many tickets as possible (to the attention of Michael Bay), a way to weave together impressive stunts, battles against evil aliens, in a semi-coherent fashion. In the meantime, in science fiction literature, there are amazing epic books, which portray the future of humanity in all its glory and pitiable condition, books which give us complex and imaginative ideas. Ad Astra claims to belong to the new place of quality science fiction for the modern audience, and to present philosophical ideas along with impressive special effects.
The Plot
According to the beginning of the movie, Ad Astra‘s plot takes place on earth in the “near future,” although it seems to be at least 50-70 years from now. Due to a disaster which takes place in the solar system, Astronaut Ray McBride is tasked with a secret mission – to establish contact with his lost father (Tommy Lee Jones), whose tracks have been lost 16 years prior. The revelation that his father is alive, coupled with the devastating disasters, raise doubts in Ray’s heart – is his father really the hero that left to investigate the solar system, or the villain responsible for these disasters.
In Space, Nobody Can Hear You Yawn!
First, let’s talk about the speed the movie’s plot progresses, one of its most important elements. The movie is very, very, very slow. This isn’t necessarily bad so much as it simply sets the movie’s style. Although its special effects are very well executed, Ad Astra is not an action movie, and this is something important to remember. In this regard, it must be noted that the movie’s marketing strategy hasn’t been fair, relentlessly pumping the fact that Brad Pitt plays the hero, and highlighting the action elements in the movie. These are very few, and I probably won’t be exaggerating if I estimate them as approximately 10% of the movie’s running time. True, there is a Buggy chase on the moon, which is extraordinary cool, but it still doesn’t change the fact that “Ad Astra” is more of contemplative movie than an action flick. Everyone who will go to watch the movie, looking for Independence Day style action will come out very disappointed. In fact, he or she may very well leave in the middle, as indeed I saw people do.
Probably the Most Expensive Student Movie in History
After reviewing several movies, I started adopting a little habit: after the end of the movie, instead of going straight for the exit, as so many movie-goers do, I stay seated and listen to those watched the movie with me. This way I can examine whether my impressions and expectations are in tune with the “wisdom of the crowd,” if at all. Sometimes I’m closer and sometimes I’m less so. This time I was. Many of those who watched the movie with me complained they had fallen asleep, or were very bored. There is a reason for that.
“Ad Astra” tries to be a combination of a number of film types, and to take the best of all worlds. It is philosophical like Interstellar, and slow like The Tree of Life (another one of Brad Pitt’s movies). The surprising reappearance of the long lost spaceship near Neptune is reminiscent of Event Horison, the disasters in space reminded me of Gravity (staring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney). And of course there were the token scenes, clearly inspired by 2001 A Space Odyssey.
But ultimately, it is the most expensive student movie ever made. Ostensibly, the movie centers around the epic conundrum – is there life on other worlds. But as the plot advances, the mystery receives a very underwhelming answer, in favor of a frustratingly simple message.
While there are wonderful special effects to represent the space travel, the sets themselves are very simple, and it looks as if the budget ran out before the finished build the spaceships models. Despite Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones good acting (and also Donald Sutherland who makes a quick appearance), the movie’s camera work is filled with flashes which call attention to J.J. Abrams’ greatest sin to the world of science fiction. The flashes move from lengthy and silent to being so frantic they cause great discomfort to the audience. The sound also spans from shouting and grating to complete silence, and the promise of a great science fiction movie with epic ideas turns out to be an over inflated balloon, which gradually empties.
In Conclusion
Ad Astra is not about to join the hall of fame of modern science fiction masterpieces. It’s very ambitious, which in and of itself is a good thing, but it doesn’t follow through on its promise, and this is already a problem. If you’re looking for an action filled blockbuster, stay away from this movie. If, however, you fancy a movie about the complex relationship between father and son, you’ve come to the right place. The movie focuses more on paternal abandonment. So what if it takes place all over the solar system, while it might have just as easily be set in an old secluded cabin in the Rocky Mountains.
