"Ad Astra" is out of this world

“Ad Astra,” released on Sept. 20, is a chilling, cinematic journey through outer space, directed by James Gray. In a minimalist yet captivating performance, Brad Pitt plays the role of astronaut Roy McBride, on a mission through the unsympathetic solar system in search of his missing father Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) and the cause of brutal electrical storms threatening Earth.  The opening scene, an enthralling action sequence, sets high standards for the rest of the film. Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema captures the vastness of space through vibrant, realistic depictions of stars and planets. He contrasts this imagery with intimate, close up face shots of the characters. Gray does not rely solely on the grandiosity of the film’s cinematic strength to carry it’s story but rather uses the beautifully fabricated environment to the plot’s advantage. The view from above Earth's atmosphere is precisely captured and acts as the perfect backdrop for an emotionally intense narrative to unfold. The film carefully follows the relationship of father and son and examines Roy’s sense of self as his own identity comes to change along the search for his father. Pitt captures a stark, calm and composed character through subtle portrayal of emotions with an underlying complexity in his understanding of the role. His performance is not overdone and balances the chaos of the film’s setting with the grit and strength of Roy McBride’s (Pitt) personality.  Though several scenes presented minor inconsistencies in the movie’s logic, the storyline was gripping enough to keep the audience invested.  With a climactic ending, it is clear that “Ad Astra” was capable of something most other space movies fail to achieve; the film kept an intimate and personal connection to its characters without getting lost in the enormity of outer space as a setting or losing grip of the story with overdone action.