load of crap or masterpiece: taking a look at Christopher Nolan's "interstellar"

Christopher Nolan is a highly credited director and has numerous successful projects and films under his belt, such as the "Dark Knight" trilogy, "Tenet", "Inception", "Dunkirk", and most recently "Oppenheimer". But was "Interstellar" one of his greats? Lets coincidentally travel through the wormhole (yes, that is part of the film's plot) together and discover the truth.

Paramount Pictures/Interstellar (2014)

The story of interstellar seems relatively simple at first glance, but there is more that lays just below the surface. The story begins with a dying Earth, where crops have been failing and a second 'Dust Bowl' is imminent. With such a large food shortage and the planet becoming inhospitable, NASA is desperate to find another planet for humanity to move to.

That is where the main character Cooper, a former NASA pilot and farmer, into a wormhole where 3 possible new home planets reside. Cooper and his team are sent ahead to analyze these planets and see if any of them are viable for humanity. More information on the backstory or general consensus on the movie can be found here or here.

As you can expect, their mission does not go exactly as planned and they faced many challenges along the way. But we did not arrive here to converse about the story of the film. That will have to be something you will have to discover(or already have discovered) yourself. What we do wish to discuss is just how good the film is and if it stands up within Nolan's filmography.

One of the many things that sets this film apart from other sci-fi films is the use of impressing visuals. Many films can claim to have good visuals, but very few actually deliver good visuals along with a good story cough Rebel Moon cough. "Interstellar" incorporates stunning imagery that makes the characters, and humanity as a whole, miniscule in the grand scheme of the universe. We are but a tiny speck amongst the stars, and the cinematography really helps get that sense of gravity (haha) across to the viewer.

Another thing that is frequently overlooked about "Interstellar" is the scientific accuracy of all the happenings of the movie. From the crop disaster that befalls our home planet, to the way that the wormhole functions. Actual physicists were consulted throughout the film on how time dilation works and the visual aspect of black holes. The black holes in the film look strikingly similar to real images of black holes that have been captured by NASA and other agencies. Almost nothing in the film is completely made up and most things are rooted in actual science or theories, as Robert Pitman from ScreenRant says.

One more thing that makes "Interstellar" such a great film is the film's score, done my none other than Hans Zimmer. Zimmer has been involved in countless projects ("The Lion King", "Dune", "Gladiator", and many more) and could be considered one of the greatest musical composers of the modern era. His music elevates the viewer experience and really makes you feel all of the suspense and tension in many of the film's scenes.

Overall, I would consider "Interstellar" one of the best science fiction films of all time. It may not have explosions, space dogfights, laser swords, or many of the things we have come to know from the genre. But it tells an original story that showcases amazing characters navigating through challenges and obstacles-all in the name of saving humanity's future. I highly recommend the movie to any sci-fi fans, and any fans of Christopher Nolan. Many fans, including myself, would consider this to be one of his best motion pictures.

As always, take care and safe travels!

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-Ethan Fletcher, signing off