Interstellar Review

I saw Interstellar on IMax, and it was well worth it to see it on IMAX. This film demands to be seen on the big screen. The film is long, there is much telling rather than showing, it's pretentious and ponderous. And yet, I'm glad I saw it. I admire the ambition of the film, and trying to deal with the realities and implications of interstellar travel.

But, on reflection later that night and today, the flaws are glaring. There are four astronauts on the mission. Could one of them have had more personality than the wise-cracking robot? They were all SO serious and dour. How about a couple of notes of humor to break it up? The film feels cold to me. I read later that the script was originally meant for Spielberg to direct, and I can only imagine the "feels" he would have made sure were there. I can't fault any individual performance -- they worked with what was given in the script. Matthew McConaughey was great, especially in the scene saying good-bye to his 10 year old daughter. I didn't know Matt Damon was in the film, and I won't spoiler it, but he was great at his role.

This was supposed to be an Oscar juggernaut, and maybe Nolan will get a director nod, more for his entire body of work. I don't really anticipate with the slate of films yet to come that any one of these actors will win the Oscar.