INTERSTELLAR
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Written by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, MacKenzie Foy, John Lithgow, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck

In the near future, Earth is quickly being destroyed by an environmental cataclysm. Corn is about the only crop left and signs point to its coming demise.

Coop(McConaughey), a former astronaut during the time when Earth had a space program, is living on a farm with his two teenagers and his father-in-law (Lithgow). Dust storms are commonplace occurrences and there are few signs humankind can long endure.

In the first hour, we are given a quick but efficient look at life on planet Earth. Then Coop is called into service by a secret program led by Professor Brand (Caine) and his daughter (Hathaway). It is their belief that a rip in the solar system has made it possible for a spacecraft to travel to more distant planets that might support human life.

Coop is quickly off, his daughter especially bereft. She has an affinity with her Dad as well as a connection with forces she cannot put a name to. This first hour establishes characters that will hopefully propel us through all the scientific theory that follows.

The rest of the film details troubles encountered by the small crew in space and the evolution of life back on Earth, where time is moving at a far greater pace than in space. The film offers us the idea that human connections and love can overcome obstacles such as all of the characters face.

This was a long film, but I for the most part I enjoyed it. I saw places where the film veered in repetitiveness or oversentimentality that could have been cut, but I respected the ideas it was espousing and the story telling, acting, and direction was first-rate.

Patti Abbott