Wes's Grade: C+
The new Christopher Nolan epic space film "Interstellar" sure takes its time. In its quest to solve the space-time continuum and mix it with human emotion, the movie is both compelling and well-acted, though the overly ambitious, lackluster script doesn't help its case. Lacking a sense of efficiency felt with his other films, "Interstellar" has some worthy moments but is a disappointment compared with his other work. When a wormhole in space is discovered, explorers and scientists (including Michael Caine and Anne Hathaway) unite to embark on a voyage through it, transcending the normal limits of human space travel. Among the travelers is a widowed engineer, Cooper (McConaughey), who must decide whether or not to leave his two children (Mackensie Foy and Timothee Chalamet younger/Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck older) behind to join the voyage and attempt to save humanity from an environmentally devastated Earth finding a new habitable planet in another galaxy. Directed by Nolan, who co-wrote with his brother Jonathan, "Interstellar" attempts to solve how to save mankind on Earth by essentially exploring new places to inhabit. Slick and entertaining but about 30 minutes too long, it's similar in scope to some of other Nolan's films ("Memento" and "Inception" come to mind in this case), which become larger and more complex with each of his movies; it's an intriguing yet very heady idea with some engrossing moments, but often frustrating to grasp, particularly in its later, more preposterous moments. Energetically scored by Nolan's go-to guy for music, Hans Zimmer and handsomely photographed by "Her's" Hoyte van Hoytema, the technical aspects, as with all of Nolan's films, are first-rate, but the film isn't without some big flaws. The flat dialogue and tedious second act, which is heavy with spaceship drama including an unnecessary subplot involving a miscast Matt Damon, drag the movie down, making it feel much longer than necessary; as well, the blocky robots (one of whom is well-voiced by character actor Bill Irwin), seem as clunky as its dialogue. Of the large cast, McConaughey and a less annoying Hathaway are both solid, though a fiery Chastain, who doesn't come into the film until well in the second act, is the standout in a more affecting, fully-realized role; if McConaughey is the heart of the movie, Chastain is its soul, and the movie is more in-synch when she is onscreen. Even more puzzling than some of the plot's oddities is why the movie is so shrouded in secrecy, given its big climax and supposed twist is ho-hum in terms of emotional heft and payoff. Nolan should consider a return to making a smaller, more intimate movie than trying to solve the world's problems - and not to give anything away - he misses by a long shot here. If he and "Interstellar" had solved the space-time continuum and the theory of relativity, tell that to my bladder, which didn't make it through its excessive 169-minute running time. The modestly entertaining but too-ambitious "Interstellar" has some good moments and may appeal to Nolan's fan base, but he's done better.
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