Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Like most avid Cinemagoers, the universally-accepted concept of format is everything is pretty common. When a Movie is being marketed as an IMAX Movie (meaning it is shot in IMAX, not converted for IMAX) it only would be right to see it in IMAX. After living this under this belief for the last ten years or so, I can quite comfortably say that there is a time and a place where IMAX serves a purpose and where a Movie is meant to be seen in the largest, loudest, most atmospheric possibility. The question has to be asked for Consumers, about the surcharge to see a Christopher Nolan‘s much-hyped Spectacle INTERSTELLAR in this manner. And the answer is a wholehearted YES. IMAX‘s philosophy is about not only seeing a Movie, but being a part of one. The IMAX enhancement in INTERSTELLAR is breathtaking and truly a once in a life time experience. Everything from those moments captured in IMAX footage (about half the Movie) to the floor shaking sound, makes it not only the preferred way to experience INTERSTELLAR, it is a downright necessity.
INTERSTELLAR is about space Travel, Wormholes, Black Holes, Family, and Humanity. It takes place in a distant Dystopian future where the World is on its last breath, as food has become extremely scarce, with the only remaining crop being corn. Technology has also been removed from the equation. Trying to keep his Family calm and collected, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), his Son Tom (Timothee Chalamat/Casey Affleck) and Daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy/Jessica Chastain) have to face the reality that Cooper has to leave Earth to try and save the Human race. Met with great resistance from Murph, Cooper embarks on the adventure of a lifetime that if failed, dooms the rest of Mankind. There is no hope for civilization if their mission fails. With civilization at stake, Cooper goes on the voyage that he has only dreamt about with Brand (Anne Hathaway), Romilly (David Gyasi) TARS (Bill Irwin) and CASE (Josh Stewart). Their mission is to travel through a Wormhole in attempts to search for a new livable planet to allow for the Human race to continue.
A Film with this intricate and weighty a Plotline can only thrive with the Talent to back it up. The impeccable Ensemble Cast in INTERSTELLAR deliver exactly this. McConaughey who continues a Career Renaissance, undoubtedly knocks it out-of-the-park with this performance. He manages to elicit emotion from the Audience, which is a bit unusual for a Film set in the least likely of circumstances. Cooper makes selfless compromises and it is impossible not to feel for him. Mark our words, we’re drumming Awards Season buzz for the reigning Oscar Champ.
Hathaway‘s performance here is nothing shy of remarkable – she commands on-screen as Brand, playing a crucial part in the Story when Plan B must be resorted to versus Plan A. Mackenzie Foy who plays the younger version of Chastain‘s Murph, proves that she truly is a forced to be reckoned with. She does an amazing job at capturing the young innocence and hope stolen from her in this grim World, having to grapple with her Father’s absence and possibility of never returning. Chastain does an incredible job also, with a relentless drive to a solution regardless of obstacle, in the honour of her Father and Humanity.
Following-up on an internationally-revered Trilogy is by all means a daunting task. Interstellar without hesitation, is Nolan‘s strongest Film to date in terms of Story, those performances he draws from his Ensemble and also visually. We see traces of Stanley Kubrick‘s 2001: A Space Odyssey-level greatness in Interstellar. The Film is a gorgeous piece of Art – everything down to Hans Zimmer‘s phenomenal Score. Every frame is an inspiration, an experience and a gift to Lovers of Cinema.
Paramount Pictures Canada release INTERSTELLAR on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 in 70 mm and 35 mm IMAX and in theatres everywhere Friday, November 7, 2014 .
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