Interstellar

On a visual level this film is brilliant. I've never seen it before and to be able to have my first viewing experience be in 70mm was an absolute pleasure. It has rivaled and outmatched almost every movie that has come out in the past decade with its looks which is remarkable and goes to the level of craftsmanship Nolan and the people he works with possess. The story itself is far reaching with Nolan's unabashed willingness to push the boundaries of film narrative, but also maintain the intimate and ubiquitous familial love at its core. This is a delicate balance that is masterfully done here. Whether Cooper is within hugging distance of his kids, or descending upon a planet unknown to our galaxy; the purpose of his journey is never concealed it's always apparent. Speaking of a parent, I was floored by McConaughey's portrayal of Cooper. His performance was both versatile and palpable; juggling Coop's charismatic intelligence, latent wanting of exploration, dismissiveness of current world affairs (the resistance to educational attainment for agricultural sustainability), and his deep love for his family. I'll be honest I never really pictured him as a top tier actor but was quickly proved mistaken. The other cast members were equally great. Anne Hathaway kills it and brings all the emotional resonance necessary. Brand champions an amorphous love that drives humanity, in contrast to Coop's pragmatism. They're both two sides of the same coin that is love. As the film ventures deeper you see Cooper slowly aligns with Brand's idealism. Concluding in his sacrifice and time in the tesseract; where he and his love transcends the physical plane. It deepens the story and the complex ways that love can be expressed. Jessica Chastain with sporadic appearances does a phenomenal job. Able to visually represent her vindictiveness to her father, but also the despair and buried trust and immense affection she clings onto. So many memorable scenes here that are either thrilling spectacles, personal grief, or a mix of both. Able to weave in and out of these seamlessly was extremely impressive. The score by Hans Zimmer is an all timer. Dialogue was great but at parts too much explaining, wish he had a little more trust in his audience. Overall monumental staple in cinema and a movie I happily look forward to rewatching so I can grasp on to new ideas and absorb it fully.