NEWS
EVENTS
Space Travel, Robots and Anne Hathaway: Interstellar Review
Other | Wednesday 19th November 2014 |
Christopher Nolan has cemented himself, quite deservedly, as one of the most adventurous and daring film makers alive today, if not of all time. This also means his audiences, whether devoted fans or harsh critics, make the biggest noise about his films, leading to the hype surrounding them almost overtaking the ambitious plots and cinematography.
To succumb to this hype and take the word of one side of the divided masses without seeing the film would be to avoid one of the most breathtaking cinematic experiences. However, after seeing it you will probably come out firmly on one side or the other, still trying to wrap your head around the last 3 hours of your life.
There is no "spoiler alert" warning to this review, primarily because the majority of the plot deals with issues that would require me to paraphrase a large proportion of Stephen Hawking's work. But to give you an idea of what you'll be jumping into; in the not-too-distant future McConaughey plays Cooper, an ex-pilot and engineer, who along with his family, is struggling to cope with the Earth's increasing food shortage. After receiving a mysterious message giving coordinates to the now secretive NASA, Cooper is convinced that the Earth is doomed and he must leave his family in search of a brand new planet capable of hosting human life.
Clearly the mind-bending plot is the wedge splitting the audience in half. However, the visual spectacle of this film is one of the most awe-inspiring and downright beautiful experiences ever to grace the cinema screen. For a film that seemingly features a hefty slice of CGI, Nolan goes to great lengths to avoid it dominating the production process. The ship, which is the setting for much of the action in the film, was actually built and placed upon immense hydraulic platforms to simulate the various violent manoeuvres featured in the film. All the reflections seen in the pilots’ visors were projected onto them - not added in post-production. A large portion of the robots' movement was done with someone inside animating the suits. All this adds a certain realism that Nolan has become renowned for, and takes the already mesmerizing visuals to the next level.
Whether you're a Nolan critic or devotee, whether you go to the cinema for the spectacle or for thought provoking plot, this film will, if nothing else, give you an experience the likes of which you've never dreamed of having. If you're looking for some mindless violence, rippling muscles and scantily clad women, this film is not for you. If you like to leave the cinema having a heated discussion with the person you went to see it with about what just happened, Interstellar is unmissable.
