In space, nobody can hear you scream, because the audience has fallen asleep. “Ad Astra” is the newest film by James Gray (“The Lost City of Z”) and follows Brad Pitt (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) as Roy McBride, an astronaut who must venture into deep space to find his lost father (Tommy Lee Jones, “Just Getting Started”) and thwart an experiment that could threaten the future of mankind. Obviously made in the vein of cerebral science fiction movies like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Ad Astra” (which is Latin for “To the Stars”) is the furthest concept from thrilling space adventure you can get. Those expecting “Star Wars” or “Alien” will be sorely disappointed. “Ad Astra” is a mature aeronautical journey that will fascinate patient viewers while rendering others in a state of lethargy.
If you do plan on watching the 123 minute film, experiencing it in IMAX is the way to go. On a technical level, “Ad Astra” is a real treat. Ever since 2013s “Gravity,” space movies have become benchmarks for visual effects and Gray’s seventh feature film is no exception. Not only is the cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema (“Dunkirk”) beautiful, demonstrating the infinite vastness of outer space, but the production design is also superb. As the narrative pushes forward, “Ad Astra” offers an engrossing look into the possible future of space travel and the establishment of lunar bases. While the bases found in the movie are nothing like the gigantic militaristic compounds found in “Avatar,” or the clean and sleek cloning facilities in “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones,” they offer a sense of realism and intimacy with their recognizable restaurant chains and showers for decontamination.
Unfortunately, “Ad Astra” has one big Achilles heel; pacing. This film is a slow burn, through and through. There are glimpses of tense action sprinkled throughout the movie to break up the narrative but the film can feel cumbersome to watch at times. Despite this, the slow nature is sometimes needed to demonstrate the reality of space travel. The astronauts are not piloting ships from “Star Trek” but less advanced rocket ships that do not move at warp speed. These moments are wonderful at building atmosphere, demonstrating how lonely outer space can be. However, when we have to spend 10 minutes listening to monotone government officials spout exposition, these scenes can make audiences fall asleep faster than a gallon of NyQuil.
The performances also leave a lot to be desired. Pitt is an exceptionally talented actor and yet his performance in this picture is reserved and flat. It bears resemblance to Ryan Gosling’s performance in last year’s “First Man,” which was also about space travel, but while that performance was wrapped around a real historical figure, Pitt’s character is entirely fictional. Seeing how Roy McBride has not seen his father in years, Pitt’s performance is understandable, however, if the actor does not seem invested in the movie that he is in, why should the audience?
“Ad Astra” boasts a talented cast but other than Pitt and Jones, they all feel underutilized. This cast includes Ruth Negga (“Warcraft”) as a facility director, Donald Sutherland (“American Hangman”) as an old associate of Roy’s father, and Liv Tyler (“Wilding”) as Roy’s wife. Tyler’s role especially feels no more than a cameo while everybody else is as drab and boring as wet napkins.
Despite its status as a “slow burn” movie, “Ad Astra” is far from terrible. Those interested in watching it should walk in knowing they are not getting something like “The Martian” or even “Interstellar.” You will leave disappointed if you do. However, if you give the movie time to unfold, you might find worth in its immaculate camera shots and philosophical themes.
Image from 20th Century Fox via YouTube
