I live for amazing movie moments. The kind of movies that go beyond a single scene or individual characters or memorable quotes. For me, these true movie moments happen when a film grips me with the first flicker of light, takes me on a long journey and allows my cynicism to escape to a place that leaves my mind bursting.
INTERSTELLAR is a true movie moment. INTERSTELLAR is mind-blowing.
The reports are true that INTERSTELLAR is very long–topping 160 minutes (that’s 2 hours, 40-minutes, plus). So you can’t blame me for going into it with an edge, thinking “this better be good.”
I screened it in the Boeing IMAX theater at Pacific Science Center in Seattle, projected through 70mm film. That, alone, was historic because this will be the final 70mm IMAX film projected there before a remodel and transition to IMAX Digital.
Director Christopher Nolan used an IMAX camera for many breathtaking scenes to deliver a full aspect ratio image, six stories high. Nolan’s technique assures you’ll get maximum McConaughey. It also serves a purpose–to immerse you in moments of hope, heartache and high adrenaline.
The story by the Nolan brothers is mesmerizing, with INTERSTELLAR introducing us to an Earth with crops that are drying and dying amidst dust storms and despair. Matthew McConaughey is an Astronaut turned Farmer who finds his way back to Space in search of a new galaxy for survival. He is forced to leave everything behind for this mission and that includes his son and his young daughter Murph.
McConaughey delivers an incredibly inspiring and tear-jerking performance as a father who is hoping to save the human race. He conveys resolve, fear, awe and some very funny lines as one of the greatest actors of our time.
INTERSTELLAR is PG-13. There’s only one bit of profanity, so this may be a journey you decide to take your kids on if they can handle sitting still for upwards of three hours. There are segments in this very long movie that briefly lost me and had me wondering how much of the film was left, so keep that in mind for your youngsters. And there are moments in the script that flew over my head as equations and theories were discussed.
But by the time the credits roll, your heart and mind will be full. You will know you have witnessed something very special.
