Space & Beyond

I admit that I often tend to build movies up in my mind. I am the sort of person who will find myself so excited by a movie trailer that I eagerly boast of said film's guaranteed greatness. The latest example of this was Interstellar, Christopher Nolan's ninth film and one that had me eagerly recalling past successes like The Dark Knight, Inception, and Memento. But would the film live up to its lofty pedigree? As some said with Gravity the year before, would it redefine what it means to be a "space" movie? Maybe? Interstellar is, visually, everything the critics say it is. It is a masterpiece to behold, offering a rich vision of space and space travel that grabs hold of the viewer and does not let go. It is a nearly three-hour journey into the unknown that passes in the blink of an eye. It is an ambitious odyssey, which speaks to its greatest strength and its biggest area of concern. It tries to be many things, while maintaining its emotional core, yet many of these narrative paths feel incomplete. Nevertheless, the viewer is so overwhelmed by and in awe of the cinematic landscape that Nolan has created that those gaps feel secondary. It is a very strange feeling, watching a film that aspires to such greatness, feeling completely immersed, and yet feeling like something is missing. It is a truly special film, one I would recommend to anyone looking to experience a thrilling and awe-inspiring ride, but I would not label it as truly "great." That is the burden for Christopher Nolan - he has already been there, we know what it looks like, especially from him, and we know where he has the potential to go.