Introduction
Ad Astra is a science fiction drama released in 2019, directed by James Gray and starring Brad Pitt. The name of the movie, which in Latin means “to the stars,” hints at a combination of epic journeys across the universe alongside deeply personal elements. Instead of the over-the-top action of space films, Ad Astra focuses on a character’s emotional detachment, family legacy, and introspection in a vast solar system.
The film is a slow psychological burn, describing why it is considered a classic alongside 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now for their visual storytelling and existential wonder.
Synopsis
The film tracks the life of Roy McBride (Brad Pitt), a celebrated astronaut known for his grace under extreme pressure. Roy is a character who is calm, efficient, and emotionally chilled to a degree that unnerves those around him. His life is orchestrated with a strict regimen which hints at a lingering profound loneliness, particularly in terms of the void of his father’s presence in his life.
Roy’s father, Clifford McBride (played by Tommy Lee Jones), was an iconic astronaut who went missing when he was leading the Lima Project, which was designed to look for alien life from deep within the solar system. The project lost contact near Neptune, and Clifford was presumed dead—but now, power surges coming from that region pose a threat to life on Earth.
Authorities suspect Clifford to be either alive and causing the surges, or somehow alive and causing the surges either intentionally or due to a malfunction. Because of this, they enlist Roy to go to the Moon, then Mars, and then Neptune to contact Clifford and stop the surge.
Roy faces an ambush from space pirates on the moon, a rescue mission on a derelict research station, and psychological evaluations of his stability. He tries to contact his father on Mars, but the official channels do not respond. Bound to complete the mission by himself, Roy stealthily boards a spacecraft bound for Neptune.
Far from home, Roy meets Clifford, who indicates that he has not discovered any evidence of life beyond Earth and is not coming back to Earth. Completely cut off from humanity, he becomes consumed by his obsession and refuses to accept any form of a defeat. During an emotional encounter, Roy attempts to rescue his father, but Clifford makes the decision to drift off into space and in a sense, end his life.
He returns to Earth still in one piece, but ready to fully let go of his father’s ideals and emotionally re-engage with human relationships.
Cast & Crew
Brad Pitt as Roy McBride – delivering a restrained, introspective performance central to the film’s tone.
Tommy Lee Jones as Clifford McBride – embodying the obsession and isolation of a man consumed by his mission.
Ruth Negga as Helen Lantos – a Mars colony official who assists Roy in political and personal maneuvering.
Donald Sutherland as Colonel Pruitt – an old friend of Clifford who accompanies Roy during part of his journey.
Liv Tyler as Eve – Roy’s estranged partner, who is mostly observed through his recollections and fragments.
James Gray, the director, worked with Ethan Gross to write the film’s screenplay. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography captures the beauty, as well as the desolation, of outer space. The score, provided by Max Richter, is both orchestral and ambient, adding to the film’s meditative atmosphere.
Themes and Symbolism
Ad Astra is both a space adventure and a character exploration. The external mission to Neptune mirrors Roy’s internal quest to navigate emotional vulnerability and acceptance.
Key exploration for this film include;
Isolation – The film explores the emotional detachment and space as both a loneliness and a strength through Roy’s stoic nature.
Legacy and expectation – The conquest of space and the expectation of everlasting fame drives a person for greatness. Roy’s life is torn to pieces, as he finds himself and struggles to meet the demands of his father’s expectation.
Finding meaning – Clifford’s ultimate inability to discover life beyond human’s care challenges over romance display of human exploration. The perspective here is, perhaps, it’s presence is much closer to one’s heart.
Acceptance and Closure – Acceptance that a connection is sometimes irreparable comes with Roy’s decision to let go of his father.
The recurring visual motif of expansive voids, lunar plains, Martian deserts, the space near Neptune, reinforce human fragility and the themes of isolation.
Visual and Narrative Style
James Gray is methodical and slow in his pacing. Gray’s measured pace includes long periods of silence that are shattered by bursts of tension such as the pirate chase on the Moon and the animal attack on the derelict ship.
Cinematic visual realism focuses on space travel’s grounded depictions, even as they embrace surreal beauty. Space is framed with beauty in the muted color palette of the Moon’s silvery grays, Mars’ dusty reds, and Neptune’s deep blue.
Voiceover Roy reveals his mental state through narration, which is reminiscent of literary science fiction. Inward monologues provide the emotional binding through the episodic doug’s journey.
Reception
visually stunning design and pitt’s subdued performance ad ad astra’s philosophical depth brought the film to the media’s tactical praise’. The slow pace, minimal dialogue, and focus on visual depth was also described as comparable to teak’s other works.
Widely recognized as one of his most nuanced performances Brad pitt’s portrayal was highly acclaimed alongside the other award nominations. The film captured the audience’s attention with strange, yet creative theories which complimented the scientifically plausible aspects of space travel discussed.
In terms of box office performance, the film somewhat underperformed as it did not reach blockbuster levels of recognition. It did receive back its budget, however, it achieved far less than its potential. It’s self-reflective tone may have further reduced its reception, especially for audience members expecting high octane scenes.
Legacy and Interpretation
While Ad Astra might not have the same impact on the mass-markets as more action-packed space films, it surely has found a place as a fan-favorite among devotees of character-driven science fiction. Its emotional and understated approach differentiates it from the rest of the space operas.
Some interpretations suggest that it serves as an exposition of a generational reconciliation – the concept of how children cope with the shortcomings of their parents and the process of determining whether to embrace or completely cast aside their ideals. Other interpretations consider it a reflection on the futility of seeking the ultimate answers without the element of humanity.
The film space exploration suggests that a person can travel to the farthest edges of the solar systems, but the greatest meaning can be found in personal relationships. This serves as a counter to the narrative that is usually associated with space exploration stories, which is often very grand and magnified.
Conclusion
While the narrative of Ad Astra is that of space exploration, it is a visually poignant and emotionally penetrating narrative that invites the audience to think of space travel as an emotionally intimate subject. It is also a measured, reflective tone which combined tempo, along with it’s themes distinguishes it from the traditional action driven space adventures.
In the end, Ad Astra teaches us the most important journeys are the ones we take within ourselves. As much as the world may need saving, in Roy McBride’s case, the real voyage is realigning himself with the ability to form real connections.
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