AD ASTRA

Director: James Gray

124

Screenwriter: Gray and Ethan Gross.

Cast: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Liv Tyler.

 

Calling his film the Apocalypse Now of space travel, director James Gray sends an astronaut on a dangerous journey to the edge of our solar system, to find a rogue scientist whose search for extraterrestrial life has gone terribly wrong. Adding to the psychological intensity, the usually unshakable astronaut, in a subtle performance by Brad Pitt, happens to be the unstable explorer’s (Tommy Lee Jones) son. Pitt leaves an Earth under threat for the Moon (now a tourist spot) to an inhabited Mars, and finally to his father and an eerily hostile Neptune. Visionary cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema (Interstellar) creates as much visual drama to the close-ups of Brad Pitt’s face as he does to the awe-inspiring mysteries of space.

“Rare, nuanced storytelling, anchored by one of Brad Pitt’s career-best performances and remarkable technical elements on every level. It’s a special film.” Brian Allerico, RogerEbert.com.