Synopsis
In a 2019 movie release, James Gray offers us ‘Ad Astra’, a science fiction drama that explores the typically ignored themes of profound existential loneliness, emotional repression, and the search for purpose within the void of space. The film is set in the not so distant future in a world with developed interplanetary travel systems, which still show hints of modern human challenges.
We meet with Roy McBride, a reserve officer in an advanced space fleet and a captain of an interplanetary spaceship; whose major circuits controlled by A.I. make him seem more like a robot, devoid of any deep emotion. His highly classified assignment centers around finding his long lost father, H. Clifford McBride. Clifford is a phased out astronaut whom every person knew in his hey-day but now, with no one to remember him or care about him, he quietly floats around, lost from the world. Three decades earlier, he vanished into thin air, while attempting to steer the doomed Lima project – presumed a ‘deep-space mission’ voyage to Neptune with the goal of seeking life beyond Earth. This is now being referred to as a dangerous mission after unexpected energy surges seemingly connected to Earth’s catastrophic state were found to be increasingly perilous.
Roy sets out from Earth, traveling to the Moon and Mars before finally reaching Neptune. Each location features not just physical challenges, but psychological ones as well. On the Moon, he encounters a spaceport filled with commercial piracy–a reflection of human greed in space. The silence and isolation on Mars serve to deepen Roy’s introspective mental spiral.
During the journey, Roy grapples with memories of his father and his own emotional alienation. This characteristic makes Roy an ideal astronaut, but a deeply flawed person. As he comes closer to Neptune, Roy realizes the truth: Clifford, failing to discover alien life, killed his crew to keep them from returning to Earth. Driven insane over the need to prove humanity isn’t alone in the universe, Clifford retreated into isolation and chose madness instead of accepting silence.
In the climax, Roy discovers Clifford alive but in a psychotic state. They have an emotionally charged yet tranquil exchange. Roy makes an effort to return his father home, but Clifford resolves to remain behind, severing himself from tethered structures of existence as an act of self-forgiveness. Roy makes his way back to Earth irrevocably changed; he is now deeply aware of emotion, ready to reconnect with people, and has accepted the death of his father and the quietness of living alone.
Cast and Crew
In the leading role of Roy McBride, Brad Pitt delivers a remarkable performance in the film. He captures the essence of a man who has endured years of emotional turmoil due to his inability—or requirement—to feel anything owing to the responsibility that he has to fulfill. One of the most appealing aspects of the film is the performance of Pitt, who brilliantly portrays a man on a deeply introspective journey with his thoughts.
Tommy Lee Jones portrays Roy’s father Clifford McBride, a father figure who is both aloof and deeply enigmatic. Jones brings impressive strength to the character whilst retaining an almost painful intensity, effectively portraying a man who has lost himself, drifting marooned beyond the reaches of space—and sanity—in search of something.
Ruth Negga features together with Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland in the film portraying Helen Lantos, a Mars administrator with a unique perspective to the Lima Project. Her role brings an emotional depth to Roy’s mission as she acts simultaneously as a guiding force and, often, a painful reminder of the human toll that comes with pursuing dreams beyond the stars.
In the film, Liv Tyler features as Eve, Roy’s broken family corporate wife, who, despite her limited screen time, is employed to suggest the stark emotional absence Roy has cultivated over the years.
Sutherland is also featured in the film as Colonel Pruitt, a man of considerable experience who was once acquainted with Clifford McBride. His character balances the previous timeline and the current one, so he can tell barebones of the story and cheer Roy on in the initial parts of his journey.
With respect to ad Astra, it was directed by James Gray, who directed the character driven films The Immigrant and The Lost City of Z. In this case, Gray blends his interest in human relationships and moral dilemmas into the wide realm of science fiction.
Ad Astra employs the cinematography of Hoyte van Hoytema (Interstellar, Dunkirk) who adeptly captures the ‘silence’ of space and the beauty of celestial bodies. Their visuals accompany Roy’s internal feeling of hollowness. Its aesthetics are a fusion of realism with heightened poetry. Fantasizing voids in space shines light on the robotic silence.
The meditative tone of the film is enhanced with the ethereal and somewhat mournful score by Max Richter and Lorne Balfe, particularly during pivotal shifts in sentiment and insight, which are always set to ambient melancholic soundscapes. The film is beautiful in its silence and requires the audience to actively engage as they meditate through the visuals.
IMDb Ratings and Critical Reception
Considering the general audience and critics, the film has received a lukewarm but positive reaction displaying a score of 7.0/10 on IMDb. The main critique was the supposed lack of action frequently found in space film expected by many viewers. Detractors and supporters alike did praise the educational and deeply philosophical narrative.
Critics have yet to reach a consensus on whether Ad Astra should be perceived critically or artistically because of its dual nature. As always, Pitt was praised for his performance and deemed marked for stardom as this ad Astra is one of the finest in his career. His remarkable ability to carry the film with almost no dialogue or overwhelming emotion and yet manage to deliver a stunning performance is brilliant understated acting. Comparing the films visual storytelling and atmospheric direction to pictures like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Solaris boundlessly strengthens the argument.
Regardless, some viewers perceived the pacing as sluggish and too self-reflective. From a more conventional sci-fi thriller perspective, criticism arose due to the absence of traditional action sequences, which for some was the film’s primary selling point. For those paying deeper attention to the movie’s central messages, however, Ad Astra deeply analyzed the human experience.
The emotional father-son dynamic combined with emotional stagnation and an inability to derive logical conclusions from seemingly meaningful information within the stars struck a chord for those seeking depth beyond visual indulges. It dismantled the concept of a hero as someone who triumphs by vanquishing an enemy, forcing the audience to engage with an emotionally tormented hero who must overcome his internal void instead.
Conclusion
Ad Astra serves as an enthralling work of art that bridges the realms of philosophical reflection and science fiction. Through the quest undertaken by Roy McBride to the furthest reaches of our solar system, the film seeks to answer ‘what does it mean to be human?’ in a world filled with uncertainty. Beyond space exploration, this piece narrates a story of human struggle intertwined with the concept of isolation, reconciliation, and hope. Although audience members on the hunt for thrilling alien encounters and battles may be disappointed, this unique portrayal of the universe challenges viewers to reflect upon their existence and introspect on the depths of their heart, showcasing Ad Astra as a magnificent contemplative work surrounding one’s soul.
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