Review: Ad Astra

B as in Plan B.

B for Brilliant.
B for Brad Pitt.

Ad Astra, as the name suggests, is a journey to the stars, to the space, sometimes even beyond it, through it's philosophy and conceptual thoughts. It is very hard these days to get into the movies to watch a movie without having a certain level of expectations, which could very well derived as a result of the prejudiced slant from the audience as well as the expectations of weighing it up with the previous successful projects of what could be of the same genre.
Ad Astra, with all the hype and expectations on it's shoulder, starts in an intriguing manner and cuts to the pith of the movie very quickly.

After several disastrous power surges due to unknown reasons, Major Roy McBride is tasked with finding the reason behind the surges, which is traced back to the proximities of Neptune, which also happens to be the proximity where it was last heard from the mission "The Lima Project", headed by Clifford McBride, his father. Just like the "Lima Project" was devised to seek answers to the potential presence of intelligent life beyond mankind, the journey of Roy McBride also seeks several answers. Many, to his own personal questions, be that his relationship with his father or his relationship with the love of his life. Unlike, the thematic resemblance with "The Martian" or "Interstellar", this movie is much closer to "Solaris" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" or to an extent "Apocalypse Now", where it asks several questions about life and the journey and struggles of a man seeking the truth of existence, than actually seeking the possibilities of science. We are shown, in several scenes, the weight of a proud son trying to measure up to his father, in the most subtle yet tempestuous manner. The movie also tries to dissect the answer to the question - what is important for us - success, love, finding reasons, or the most important of it all, finding our true selves.
Customarily, filled with exemplary shots which are expected from a space travel sci-fi, the movie tries to find the perfect balance between, being a thrillful and erudite Odyssey, simultaneously. Though, it falls short of reaching the levels of a "Solaris" or "2001: ", it does finds it's purpose in it's own space.
The movie also reminds us of how underrated Brad Pitt as an actor is, despite his acclaimed fame. He has characterized the emotions and traumas of Roy McBride, quite to the perfection. This is easily one of the top five performances of his entire acting career.
James Gray has stitched up a near perfect movie with all the right questions asked and somehow it feels like there are more questions and journey which he could be after.
Easily, one of the very best of the year. Ad Astra is a journey worth it's time!