A father, and former NASA genius, takes to the stars in search of a new home planet for humanity, leaving behind his children and inadvertently finding out about the unbreakable bond that is love.
When you watch a science fiction film, typically you expect to have to suspend your beliefs in the laws of life. There’s usually liberties taken with physics and reality is bent in order to make for an entertaining story. That’s why the sheer uncompromising dedication to realism found in Interstellar is so amazing, and yet that’s not even the best part about it. Weaving a story that connects you so deeply with the characters that you feel their emotions, and touching on the amazing power of love that unites us in ways we often ignore, Interstellar is a truly phenomenal film that will rip your heart out and then provide you with an education in quantum physics while you’re crying.
Thanks to Christopher Nolan, who, love him or hate him, has proven to be one of the most unflinchingly authentic filmmakers dedicated to the art of cinema in this modern age, we’re given a startlingly real portrayal of what the not so distant future of Earth could look like, and what would be required in order to cling to the hope of humanity living beyond the scope of our home planet. While the story can become mind bending at times, and many might have issues with the length of the film, nothing ever transcends into levels of convolution, and every moment spent with these characters is necessary. In fact, despite spending hours with them, I still wanted just a few more minutes with Cooper and Murphy. And best of all, Interstellar manages to paint a beautiful portrait of not only the power of love, but the beauty that can be achieved with it.
Even with his most emotional moment being memed to death in recent years, Matthew McConaughey’s performance as Cooper will leave you with tears in your eyes more than once, with his undeniable love for his children being so tangible and raw that even those of us without kids will feel his pain. But that impact wouldn’t be anywhere near as strong without bookending performances by Mackenzie Foxy and Jessica Chastain as his brilliant daughter, Murphy, as she ages and moves through time in the absence of her father. With a few surprises along the way (hey there, Matt Damon) and supporting cast of Nolan favorites like Michael Caine, Anne Hathaway and Casey Affleck, the entire cast is well crafted and realistic, even if they can’t hold a flicker of a flame to the powerhouse of the film that is Cooper and Murphy.
And as if that wasn’t enough praise to this movie, the whole thing is rounded out by not only mind blowing special effects that deserve the biggest screen imaginable, specifically the water planet scene that’ll have you developing hydrophobia, but also the moving score crafted by Hans Zimmer. You’ve probably heard it if you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through Instagram or TikTok, and rightfully so. It’s easily one of the most powerful and heartbreaking scores ever created, and I still get misty eyed every time I hear it.
Interstellar is a science fiction film that isn’t just about the science or the fiction. It’s a true testament to the power of love, especially the love between a parent and child, and how it transcends all that is logical or explainable. At its core, Interstellar is a movie about the unbreakable bond between a father and his daughter, and yes, you’re probably going to need tissues. A lot of them.
P.S. This one goes out to Deanna “Cooper” Durbin. I love you, Mom. Love, your Murphy.