Review: ‘Ad Astra’
“Ad Astra” is a science fiction thriller directed by James Gray and written by Gray and Ethan Gross. The film stars Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland. It follows Major Roy McBride (Pitt) who is commissioned to stop his father (Jones) as his experiments threaten the existence of the solar system.
The story is told from Pitt’s perspective and provides wonderful opportunity to display his range of acting. Pitt’s performance is understated as he acts mainly from his eyes. This is Brad Pitt like you’ve never seen him, and this is one of his best performances.
Pitt is having a great year when paired with “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” The other cast members are notable, but the film is focused on Pitt’s character.
The closest actor to be a standout is Tommy Lee Jones. He is also understated but keeps a mysterious air about him. Ruth Negga is another notable actor who makes an enormous impact in the short amount of screen time that she has.
The story heavily revolves around Major McBride’s relationship with his father which in turn helps create an emotional center for the film. This aspect also helps the audience emotionally connect to Pitt’s character.
The direction by Gray is absolutely fantastic. The emotion he infuses into the film alongside the command he has over the characters, especially Major McBride, and story are stunning. The writing by Gray and Gross seems deeply personal and exemplifies the isolation and distance of space.
The cinematography by Hoyte van Hoytema is stunning and gorgeous. It pairs wonderfully with great visual effects. In fact, I would be surprised if it didn’t get an effects nomination from the Academy. The film editing by John Axelrad and Lee Haugen is exceptional and is a great compliment to the cinematography and performances.
The sound design has a few moments where it steals the show. At one point in the beginning of the film, my jaw dropped purely because of it.
The production design and costuming are fantastic and create a completely immersive environment. Because the film takes place in the future, the production design and costuming could make or break the film, and they succeeded. The score by Max Richter is great and is unlike what I have heard from him in the past. It really surprised me, and I was pleased with how it paired with the film.
Overall, I enjoyed “Ad Astra” and completely marveled at every frame. The movie’s slow and meditative pace is the only warning I can give. If you have seen Gray’s previous film “The Lost City of Z,” then you know how he paces his films and “Ad Astra” is no different.
Another critic compared it to Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Solaris.” If you don’t like slower films, this film may not be for you. It is just over two hours, so the slow pace is not completely dragging. It did not hinder my enjoyment and I will give “Ad Astra” a 93% rating.
