Ad Astra - Review

Release Date:  September 20, 2019​​​​​​​​​

This Year's Space Movie

​Since 2013, there has been a prominent space movie every single year, most of which get recognition at award shows. It comes as no surprise that Ad Astra seems to be an amalgamation of the most successful: Gravity, Interstellar, and The Martian. From this, you can expect the cinematography of Gravity, a more grounded take than Interstellar, and the close-quarters feeling of The Martian. Plus, Brad Pitt is front and center, which doesn't hurt. It all comes down to if this space journey has something different to say, or if it somehow differentiates itself from the six Oscar-bait films that came before it. 

Ad Astra does manage to get a couple of things right. First, is the attention to detail which brings the world to life. On a Virgin Atlantic flight to the Moon, Brad Pitt's character has to pay extra for a pillow and blanket. Once he arrives at the Moonbase, it's set up like any other tourist destination. There is an Applebees, along with tons of other commercial spots that grab your attention with their neon signs. Realism is pushed up to an eleven 

when it comes to exterior shots on planets. Having astronauts cross the surface of the Moon or Mars has a dirtiness that isn't present in other space movies. It helps to create these lived-in regions that feel old, making you buy into the premise further. 

It's too bad that the rest of the film doesn't enjoy the same praise. Most of Ad Astra's problems stem from how it tells its story. The plot itself is very simple: it's about an isolated astronaut traveling through space. The problem comes from being reminded that they are lonely in every aspect of their life. It hammers this point home, never letting up; it intercuts flashbacks to support this theme. Even the ultimate goal is for Brad Pitt's character to learn to open himself up to others and embrace others. It's a message you've seen before and you've seen it done better. 

Ad Astra is at its best when it relies on Brad Pitt, stunning visuals, and fun details. So what I'm saying is, the rover scene that you catch a glimpse of in the trailer is the best. It even has off-center framing to make it look like it's being shot practically. I didn't particularly love this film, but it's not terrible. If you need your annual fix for an Oscar-bait space movie, this is it. 

5/10
​They reused a shot and it was weird