Ad Astra (2019)
Director: James Gray
Writers: James Gray, Ethan Gross
Actors: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones
I have talked countless times on this site about my obsession with going into films with an open mind. So much so that I avoid any and all marketing surrounding said film. I mean Tarantino is one of my favorite living directors and I entered Once Upon a Time not knowing it was a Manson film. To me, going into a film blind is the biggest test as to whether or not it is good. With no expectations, the possibilities are endless in terms of either impressing or disappointing me. This concept was the same for Ad Astra. Went into the theater knowing only one thing, this movie stars Brad Pitt. That’s it. I saw people in the film community excited for the film which is why I decided to go see it, but up to the point it started I hadn’t watched a single trailer or knew what it was about. As the 2 hours passed I left the theater feeling satisfied. I turned to my friends and asked what they thought of it and to my surprise no one aside one other enjoyed it but me. I was baffled. Then I started to read up online and saw how divisive the film ended up being. It was a “love it” or “hate it” type of movie. These films are always the most interesting to me because they are usually the ones where both sides have valid points as to their love or hatred of the movie. Like when a film is resoundingly enjoyed, it is very hard to connect with the small minority that did not get it. Whereas if you see a huge group who are arguing its greatness while another similarly sized group is refuting it, you get to understand how people view movies. Ad Astra is the film this year that is most dependent on the person viewing it. It can either be a dragged, uptight, and disjointed attempt at a Sci-Fi film, or it can be a unique, personal, and psychologically poignant piece of drama. I fall into the latter, and here is why.
To me Ad Astra is more of a psychological character driven drama than a Science Fiction film. The genre is merely a vessel to convey the underlying message. You can swap out the Sci-Fi elements and the film would still work. If it would work as well is debatable but my point still stands that the actual story and themes are not limited to the Sci-Fi world. Now does that mean it fails at being a Science Fiction film? Not in the slightest. The choice of having it be a Science Fiction film not only provided an interesting base but it also enhanced the feelings that the director wanted to evoke. Ad Astra is an exploration of human nature. It focuses on key emotions that are fairly unique to humans. The film shows us the effects of loneliness, the need to follow order, and the power emotions have over our kind. Throughout the whole film we have this psychological undertone that manifests every character in one way or another. Captain Tanner who goes into the ship that is calling for help is doomed due to his overconfidence. The newly appointed commander loses control of the Mars landing as a result of fear and stress. Clifford McBride lost everything because of his pride and arrogance. Each character mentioned above did not fail because of their ineptitude or lack of knowledge, they failed because we as humans are our worst enemy. We manage to self inflict ourselves greatly due to our emotions. Now that may seem like a bleak thought, but one character managed to showcase that the weakness of emotions can be turned into strength if used correctly. Roy McBride goes throughout most of the film in a very stoic and focused manner. He bottles everything up and represents the picture perfect image of a masculine soldier who would do anything he is ordered without fail. As the bottle of emotions and struggles start to open up we notice the cracks in his tough exterior. Solitude exponentially expands the struggles humans face internally, and it was clear with Roy. This is where he realizes that the thing he has been avoiding for most of his life is not a detriment. It is the thing that will ultimately save him and the world. We see the change gradually, we do not notice it at first but when looking at the first and final scene, the transformation is clear. The first psychological test we see is one made with rigor and sternness. However, his final test is one of hope and vulnerability. We expect him to fail, yet he passes. It is then that we as viewers realize just as Roy does that we as humans are both hurt and strengthened by our emotions. It is our detriment and our savior. All we have to do is just accept that fact.
The themes not only play into the overall message the director was trying to push but also the plot. I saw many complaints from my friends especially at how the film did not feel believable when it came to the story line and events. If you look at it at face value its obvious how insane this story might seem. How was he able to defy all odds in the most insane way possible. As I said, the theme and the plot go hand in hand and I think it is unfair to judge the story on a surface level. If you think about how the subtext fits into what the characters are doing it all makes sense. As I explained previously, we see many characters fail throughout the film aside from Roy. I highlighted how these failures were not due to their lack of skill or knowledge, rather it was because of their emotional vulnerabilities. Whether it be overconfidence, pride, stress, or fear, all of these emotions were made out to be the weak point that became the detriment of these characters. Roy was the only character that managed to stay calm throughout everything. It made us feel like the only way to succeed is to push everything aside and just be emotionless. That is why he was able to survive up until that point. At the climax of the film, as Roy confronts his father we saw that emotionless exterior start to crumble quickly. He feels vulnerable, afraid, and hopeless. As he lets go of his hurling father he sheds out a tear. This is the point where we expect him to fail. He has finally given in and become emotional, going against everything he and we as viewers knew to be the only way to succeed. Yet the film then takes the big turn and he survives against all odds. When he finally reaches earth and gives his psych test we and him both know the real answer. As I said before, emotions are our weakness and strength. They define us as a race, and it can be our demise or our success. It is all up to how we utilize it.
I have talked enough about the themes and how I see it tying into the story. Obviously many people may disagree with my analysis of the film but that is fine. The film is a very divisive one, and it can be interpreted in many ways. I would love to hear from anyone who feels like I missed out on something or maybe an interpretation of their own. Now moving along to the technical elements of the film. In my opinion they were all great, and really elevated the film to another level. Without the score, cinematography, and great acting, everything I said above would have no meaning. It would feel forced and cliched. But due to the great skill on all fronts, we were able to experience a heartfelt film wrapped in a technically impressive bundle. The score especially was great, director James Gray really knew when to bring in a towering piece of music and when to resort back to silence. The wave of emotions that we experience throughout the movie is wide. At times our hearts are beating at the intense action scenes which are accompanied by some grand musical piece. Other times we feel a melancholic feeling as Roy McBride is traveling through space in silence. It gets uncomfortable but it is a conscious choice by the director to keep it that way. Space is vast and empty, by allowing the silence to sink in while dragging out scenes we as viewers were able to experience that empty feeling that many of the characters were feeling. Although the score stole the show when it comes to the technical aspects, we must not forget the cinematography. Hoyte Van Hotema does a great job at capturing the beauty of space while still maintaining the melancholic tone in tandem with the theme. Although nothing about it is overly unique or new, it still managed to put forth a solid effort, and that is what is needed with this type of film.
Ad Astra is a very divisive film. Whilst I’ve spent the entirety of the review talking about everything I enjoyed about this movie, I can still understand the points put forth by people who were not amused by it. All the criticism is valid, and its been interesting seeing both sides of the argument. With all the praise I have given this film, I myself still find certain elements that I do not enjoy. A major one being the plot point with Roy’s romance with Eve, it felt out of place and honestly did not go anywhere. There are more but honestly, I try to talk about aspects of a film that I find interesting to discuss. To me the strongest aspect of this film is the way that it sucks you into this somber mood and allows you to sink into that uncomfortable feeling you get when you are alone. It encapsulates and projects the essence of human struggles. It gives us a window into the fragility of people. How their strength and knowledge is unmatched, yet still fail to control what is happening in their heads. It is a great human story, one that I have been thinking about since I left the theater. As we are surrounded by billions of miles of empty space, we are able to reflect on the insignificance of our world. We are most probably alone here. So all we can do is live the best life we can. Together.
