Ad Astra

(spoiler free)

Director James Gray’s last film, the superb ‘The Lost City of Z’ saw him tell the story of explorer Percy Fawcett as he charted the jungles of the Amazon but his latest feature sees him looking upwards and to the final frontier. The title of this new film, ‘Ad Astra’, comes from the Latin phrase meaning ‘to the stars’ and that’s exactly where the film ventures, taking audiences on a voyage through space. The film is led by its very own star in the shape of leading man Brad Pitt but is ‘Ad Astra’ destined for cinematic stardom of its own?

The film’s narrative sees Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) attempt to make contact with his missing, presumed dead father, Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones). Clifford’s mission, that saw him vanish from Roy’s life appears to be connected to a new and deadly threat facing Earth and Roy is tasked with finding and reconnecting with him in order to ensure the safety of the planet. Written by Gray and Ethan Gross the screenplay here is brought to life in dream like fashion, boasting a gentleness to it that is only enhanced by the extra terrestrial setting. The pace for some may feel slow but ‘Ad Astra’ has a confidence in its own story that makes this more measured approach work with effortless effect. The often quiet and reflective nature of the story is complimented by truly unexpected and impressively executed sequences of action littered throughout the run time. These moments of high octane action are excellent in their own right and somehow Gray manages to intertwine them into this narrative without ever disrupting the overarching tone of awe, most prevalent in the film’s finale which is impossible not to lose yourself in.

The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema & score by Max Richter are instrumental in creating the otherworldly atmosphere present throughout ‘Ad Astra’. Gray uses both of these elements to great effect truly transporting audiences to the same ends of the universe that his characters travel to. It’s these aspects of the film, along with its thoughtfully written screenplay that make it such a beautiful beacon of science-fiction. Speaking of beautiful, lead star Brad Pitt is wonderful here. In several ways his character and their context requires a quite restrained performance from him and it may feel understated but the duality of this work is admirable. Pitt carries the main weight of the film on his own two shoulders and always manages to do so with what feels like considerable ease and in consistently stirring fashion. The rest of the cast have comparably smaller roles, some only gracing the screen for single scenes. Appearing thanks to the presence of past mission logs Tommy Lee Jones impresses as Clifford McBride, shining the brightest of the supporting cast. He delivers a dramatic performance better than he’s managed in several years truly making the most of his small amount of screen time.

With its quiet confidence ‘Ad Astra’ immediately launches itself to the ranks of recent sci-fi classics such as Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’ and Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’ and should be enjoyed on the biggest screen possible. It may present some pacing issues for certain viewers but with repeat viewings these will most likely fade into the background. What remains most poignant is its wonderfully human story told in its alien environment, transporting audiences to worlds unimaginable yet speaking truths so close to home.

Written by Hamish Calvert

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STAR RATING –★★★★

Question: What is your favourite Brad Pitt film?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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Thanks to Movie House Cinemas for screening access