Ad Astra (2019)

Ad Astra (Latin for ‘To the Stars’) is the latest in a recent long line of thrillers set in outer space, but it is by no means the best of them.

Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) has always dreamed of exploring the furthest reaches of space, a dream he inherited from his father, H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones).

His father has been missing for the last nineteen years - presumed dead - after leading a mission for Neptune, in a search for any other forms of intelligent life.

Roy McBride (Brad Pitt).

Roy now works on an international space antenna, but as the story begins, he - and several of his colleagues - fall back to Earth (from an incredible height) after a massive power surge hits the antenna.

It turns out the power surge actually affected many other places on Earth. And when it emerges that the great stream of electricity emanated from Neptune, the authorities believe that Clifford may still be alive after all.

Roy is sent on a highly classified mission - initially to the moon, and then on to Mars - in order to send a recorded message to Neptune, in hopes that if Clifford is still out there, he will return to Earth.

Thomas Pruitt (Donald Sutherland).

The screenplay, co-written by director James Gray & Ethan Gross, is adequate enough, I suppose. The pacing in the first half of the film feels a little off somehow for a thriller. In fact, I found myself dozing off more than a few times during the first hour (the film’s running time is almost exactly two hours). The second half, however, is a lot more interesting, with plenty of twists and turns to keep an audience on the edge of their seat. And the second half also has plenty of inspirational messages and themes behind it, too.

Max Richter’s score is not particularly inspiring, either. The majority of the score is nothing more than block chords played on strings, which doesn’t quite feel right, particularly during the moments of increased tension.

Production design is one area where this film does excel, however. Kevin Thompson has done an excellent job of designing the sets, and placing the action appropriately. Everything about the film seems plausible, which is certainly not the case in every space-based thriller. There is a lot more realism in this film than in a lot of others that have preceded it, and the related science is feasible enough.

The performances of the cast are - for the most part - adequate. Brad Pitt, however, shines in the lead role, and shows the true breadth of his talent in every moment.

Roy (Brad Pitt) and Eve (Liv Tyler).

There are also some fairly decent performances from Liv Tyler (as Roy’s wife Eve) and Donald Sutherland (as fellow astronaut Captain Thomas Pruitt, who accompanies Roy on the first leg of his mission).

Director James Gray has made a relatively enjoyable film here. If you do plan on watching it, I would recommend seeing it with someone you love. If you see it alone, I recommend calling a loved one afterwards to tell them you love them. (It’s that type of film by the end, you’ll know what I mean if you watch it). There are some great messages in here about staying close to those you love and who love you in return.

All in all, it was an okay way to pass a couple of hours. I feel that this film could walk away with a few nods during the upcoming awards season, perhaps a lot more awards than it merits, in my opinion.

6 out of 10.