AD ASTRA

Release Date: Malaysia, 19 Sep 2019

Genre: Science Fiction / Drama

Running Length: 2:02

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

Director: James Gray 

Screenplay: Ethan Gross

"He could only see what was not there and miss what was right in front of him."

AD ASTRA (Latin for "to the stars") isn’t the sort of sci-fi motion picture with action and explosion aka Armageddon, eventhough it has Liv Tyler in this movie. Instead, this movie is in the same vein as The Martian, Gravity and Interstellar where the focus is on the human spirit and relationships. What I really enjoyed about this film is the use of space exploration as a canvas to look inward at the very core of our humanity - what does it mean to live and to love? 

This film spoke to me and probably most men, as our masculinity are pegged with our drive, performance and success in reaching our quest. And if we fail, we are told to "man up". As a result, we are good at compartmentalizing how we feel. Such suppression usually leads to loneliness and being distant in our relationships.

Brad Pitt, fresh off the recent Once Upon A Time in Hollywood turns in another stellar performance. His performances here reminds us that he’s more than a pretty face. He is restrained throughout the entire film (probably because his character's heart rate doesn't go up more than 80 bpm even when he is faced head-on with fight-or-flight situations).

The cinematography and set design captures the vastness of space and just so gorgeous to look at respectively. And the soundtrack complements the film instead of trying to forcefully draw out a certain emotion from the audience.

All in all, it was a meditative and healing experience for me as this film develops at its own pace. At times, it feels personal and intimate as though Brad Pitt was still reeling from his recent split from Angelina Jolie and their children. It feels like we're inside Brad Pitt's brain as we see him close-up in almost every frame and hear him narrating calmly in voice-over throughout the film. A mesmerizing film. 

RATING: 9/10