Ad Astra

It's hard to tell if it was intentional or not but it has become a funny trend for Oceans 11 actors to find themselves on space missions that end up putting their physical or mental health in danger. The most common among the main trio (between George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt) has been Damon with a good handful of them (such as Elysium and The Martian) while Clooney having a few (Gravity and Solaris). It would be a matter of time before the third big name of that crew would take his turn in that genre, in terms of big blockbuster. This brings us to Ad Astra, a science fiction film with Brad Pitt in the lead role that has been making the rounds in film festivals through the summer. I always have a sweet spot for science fiction adventures that take place in the near future featuring some cool visual eye candy of the environment and this looked like one of them. I went into the auditorium cautiously optimistic and left it mostly satisfied but I can see why it's divisive with audiences.

What's it about? The story follows an astronaut who embarks on a mission to locate his father as his work is the key to save the Earth from destructive forces emanating from space. This is very much a slow burn look at someone going through his depressing life issues and how his outlook changes throughout the journey. It's very introspective as there is narration from the protagonist detailing his psyche, in addition to the required psychological tests the executives expect from him. Accompanying this is a fascinating version of the near future where developments on technology and planet transport is beautifully shown.

While the narrative itself is cool, it does lose its luster as the flow of energy with the main arc feels unrefined with the execution near the end. There's also a big problem of logic issues that pop up randomly against the serious drama going on. There are a few sequences where it can take its viewers out of the movie for a moment because something very absurd for plot reasons shows some ineptitude with the writing.

How's Brad Pitt? In regards to the Brad Pitt, he once again demonstrates that even with flawed scripts he can shine strong enough to make scenes watchable. His way of portraying the inner struggle of trying to keep his emotions in place while embarking on a mission that collides with personal ordeals is interesting. How he tries to keep a straight face for the organization he works for and hold onto that facade is pretty solid. Pitt is primarily the one man show here as the rest of the actors are serviceable for their roles.

Overall Consensus: Ad Astra shines the best through Brad Pitt's acting, great visuals, and an intriguing premise but is held back due to script and pacing issues. ⭑⭑⭑3/4🎟 Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes PG-13

Reasons to watch it: You are a fan of Brad Pitt. You like introspective science fiction movies with great visuals and synth music. You don't mind story arcs involving life issues that are connected to distant parents.

Reasons to avoid it: You aren't a fan of Brad Pitt. You dislike introspective science fiction movies with great visuals and synth music. You are bored with story arcs involving life issues that are connected to distant parents