INTRODUCTION
The 9th film in my continuing analysis of The Films of Christopher Nolan is the out-of-this-world epic Interstellar. As expected, Christopher Nolan's newest film pushes the boundaries of both film-making and storytelling. Interstellar is grand in scope but rooted in human emotions and personal relationships. It asks questions about the nature of humanity and what our role is in the cosmos; both in where we have been and where we want to go. Yet, as with any Nolan film, there is both a lot to digest (in terms of spectacle) and mull over at film's end with little being explained. This is because Nolan treats his audience with respect, assuming we are as clever as he is, and expecting us to keep up without having to be spoon-fed. Thus, even though I believe it to be Nolan's best work thus far (and certainly the most ambitious), for some, the movie has fallen flat. Yet, the mixed reaction from critics and fans have yet to diminish its current box office success. Hopefully, the film's massive run time (a whopping 169 min) will not buck the current trend and others will see as I did, that this is Nolan's finest hour.
Spoilers Ahead!!!!
" The World didn't run out of televisions or radios; it ran out of food.
We don't NEED engineers, we need Farmers."
PLOT
In the near future, a plant disease known as "Blight" slowly kills all crops leaving only corn able to be produced. With food running scarce, the world disbands the army and decommissions all weapons to focus on food production. Yet, as the human race gets sick due to the dust storms, and "Blight" beginning to attack their last sustainable crop, NASA (now a secret, privately funded organization) sends a team of Scientists and Engineers ( Mathew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Wes Bentley and David Gyasi) along with the last of the Marine robots, to find a new home for the human race in another galaxy. Yet, as the dangers rise with betrayal at every turn and the human and ideological casualties mount, the remaining explorers have to decide if their mission to save humanity is worth risking the loss of their family (Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Mackenzie Foy, Timothee Chalamet, and John Lithgow) to time itself.
"We used to look up into the stars and wonder about our place in the Universe. Now, we look down and wonder about our place in the dirt." Cooper
Theme 1: Humanity, Ecology, and Survival.
One of the first big themes in Interstellar is the notion of humanity and how we are supposed to or think about our the value of our lives. Nolan including the idea of famine and drought (going so far as to use stock footage of Ken Burn's Dust Bowl documentary to set the mood) pushes the notion of space exploration from excess to necessity. Yet, even though this is clear to the audience, Nolan still allows for the debate to take place between Donald (John Lithgow) and Cooper (Mathew McConaughey). One arguing to make the best of what we have on earth, the other striving to find something better in the stars.
One of the great aspects of this film, is that it is subtle while seeming overt. Nolan distracts you with the spectacle of the films scale and scope, meanwhile through dialogue he touches on deeper themes. In the film, it is not explicitly stated where "Blight" came from. It is not implausible to think that it had its origins as a highly resistant pesticide that got out of control. Here then this could be a commentary on GMO's and the Monopoly of companies like Monsanto. Yet, Nolan is never definitive in this regard because he wants each viewer to have their own experience, thus maintaining wide appeal. Other subtleties in the dialogue point to the extent of the ecological problem. Due to a lack of and reallocation of resources, the world's armies have been disbanded and all weapons decommissioned. In addition, federally imposed educational programs not only determine placement and assign future careers, but have altered history books to quell any dreams that reach beyond the earthbound necessities.
The film also points to the vagaries of human survival. Interstellar gives us those who are willing to altruistically fight for the Survival of Humanity, while we are introduced to others who are selfish looking to their own survival. Yet, one of the most interesting commentaries in the film is the motivation for altruism is rooted in selfishness. One character in the film expresses as much, identifying that the reason the Explorers are willing to be altruistic and save humanity is because they have individuals and personal relationships that they want to maintain. The idea here is that we do not have the ability to think about humanity as a whole, and to care about it. In order to get people to care about others, we need to personalize it with how it is going to affect them. In the film, it is stated that we "evolutionarily haven't moved passed that point." Sociologically, this altruism is achieved by adopting the Sociological Imagination (more on this in part II).
Theme II Evolution
The catalyst for the film's exquisite venture into space is the presence of a Wormhole that appeared 50 years prior to the start of the film. The explanation for this event was that it represented contact with alien life. Only referred to as "They", throughout most of the film's story it is assumed that benevolent aliens are assisting humanity, pulling it away from the brink of extinction. As the film reaches its climax with one of its characters passing through a "gentle singularity" into a space/place where time is physical, it is revealed that "they" are, in reality, us. A higher form of humanity that has mastered gravity and therefore able to manipulate and travel through time as a physical space. Here Nolan is not only making a commentary on the direction of Evolution but also invoking the notion of human self reliance. As if to say "Oh the things we can achieve if given the chance.".
Theme III: Love
For all of this film's technical brilliance, rooted in the real science of Astro-physics (confirmed by Neal Degrasse Tyson) the film is about emotion, especially the driving power of love. This is interesting given Nolan's reputation of being "cold" or devoid of emotion. Anyone who believes Nolan to still be a "cold" filmmaker needs to see this film. This is a story about relationships and its power to motivate. While a number of realtionships are explored, the primary relationship between Cooper (Mathew McConaughey) and his daughter (Mackenzie Foy). We see their bond over all things "sciencey" especially the scientific method. This is illustrated when Cooper tells his daughter to think about her "poltergeist"rationally using observable data to come to a conclusion ( :) ). It is their bond and relationship that is integral to the mission that Cooper embarks on, and its success. Yet, nowhere is the focus and the power of love more apparent than in a speech by Brand (Anne Hathaway) that posits love as almost a cosmic force (like gravity) pulling people together, or driving people toward something.
PRODUCTION
Shot on 35mm film and 70 mm IMAX film the detail in every shot is so crisp that the visuals jump off the page. On film, we get to see all of the detail that is missed with a digital presentation and/or a digital intermediary (conversion done digitally as opposed to photo-chemically)This photo realism was so important to Team Nolan that one article detailing the films production shows what drastic measures they were willing to take. These risks included strapping a highly expensive IMAX camera to the nose of a Learjet in order to get a sweeping aerial shots and actors getting hypothermia due to shooting in Iceland. Hoyte Van Hoytema even retooled the IMAX camera, making it handheld to be used in tight corners when they were filming on sound stages and other close quarters.
Nolan's technique and technical prowess are in full form here. Not since Inception have we been treated to Nolan's complete freedom in production. It was this freedom that allowed Nolan to ground this Sci-Fi epic in realism he hired Astrophysicist Kip Thorne to work with the visual effects team to make sure they were as scientifically accurate as possible. In fact, the work that Kip Thorne did with the FX team actually lead to new scientific discoveries about Black Holes. Also, this experience has prompted Kip Thorne to write a book detailing the science we see in the film.
Since this is not only a Sci-Fi epic but a Christopher Nolan Sci-fi film. There are some "Nolanism" that were present in Interstellar that I hunted down like a scavenger though my initial viewings of the film:
1) The opening titles or title sequence has different meaning for the audience at the begining than it
does at the end...usually a deeper, richer meaning.
2) The Film's plot is based on a lie.
3) There is a lot of planning and build up in the film that all gets turned on its head.
4) Character's trust, and misjudge other characters, usually with disastrous results.
5) Non-linear storytelling (in this film even that gets folded in on itself)
6) The inclusion of Michael Caine
INITIAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSION
I am blown away by this film. It was the most epic and exhilarating time at the movies I have had in recent memory...but that should come at no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, least of all myself. In the aftermath of such a transcendental experience, I do not know where this film goes in the pantheon of Nolan films. As I have mentioned before, The Dark Knight Trilogy is in a class by itself. Therefore the question I have been wrestling with is whether Interstellar is better than Inception? I have heard a quote from Nolan saying that Interstellar is a "sister piece" to Inception (in that was one goes deep to explore the mind the other reaches far beyond to explore space). Right now at the time of this writing I would have to say yes. With Interstellar, I believe Nolan has summarily topped himself, and every other Sci- fi epic past Gravity and on the level with 2001: A Space Odessey...though I did like Interstellar better.
Final Note: SEE THIS FILM IN 70MM IMAX FILM. The color is richer (the blacks are blacker) and the sheer quality of the presentation will blow you away. Buy Tickets NOW!!!
