The near future comes with hope as space travel brings with it promises of new discoveries, yet along with this remains the common adversity that comes with being human.
“Ad Astra,” a film starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones and Liv Tyler, takes off from the ground and makes a full orbit leaving audiences wishing for the story to continue.
Clocking in at two hours and four minutes, “Ad Astra” wastes no time with unnecessary exposition and makes sure not to overstay its welcome as many sci-fi movies do.
With a star-studded cast and high-production budget, nothing is wasted as the amazing CGI helps to show a future that feels only a few years away.
From the spaceships to the planets of our solar system, there is a feeling that the production crew went out of their way to make audience members feel that this future is only a step away.
The future we see is one where humanity has made leaps and bounds with space travel but still struggle to understand the relationships among themselves.
Astronaut Roy McBride, played by Pitt, represents this conflict as he embarks on a classified deep space mission that holds very close ties to his father, played by Jones, an astronaut who disappeared 30 years prior.
Journey is the core of the story.
Even at times when the film feels like another cliché story about a man who must overcome incredible odds to save the world, the movie is anchored by personal struggle.
We see that those incredible odds McBride must overcome are as much about finding closure in his own personal world as it is saving the world
around him.
As the protagonist nears his final destination, he faces adversity from the outside world nearly every step along the way.
Every external challenge that McBride faces can be traced back to the advancements made in space travel, making for a very clear message regarding the world the movie is set in.
Scientists are desperate to find alien life to the point where they endanger themselves through the technology they develop.
The hopeful vision of a base on the moon can be quickly taken away by space terrorism in the same way McBride’s bravery can be taken away by the fear of what his father may have become.
No film is perfect and “Ad Astra” is no exception.
The third act of the movie requires a suspension of disbelief as some of the final plot points will leave most physicists scratching their heads.
Yet despite a ludicrous final 10 minutes, the movie sticks a landing.
While some critics may say that the final act ruined the whole movie for them, most audience members will simply see this as screenwriters using creative license to get from Point A to Point B.
Every moment builds off what came before it and feels earned, never leaving viewers questioning what just happened.
Pitt delivers yet another amazing performance that defies both expectations and the laws of gravity.
Regardless of whether or not there will be a sequel, audiences should not miss out on going to the theaters to watch a film that will be talked about for years.
