The-Greatest-Showman

"Interstellar!"

Listening intently as Andy elaborated on the ins and outs, Renly quickly pieced together the entire picture of the "Christopher Nolan" project.

Released in 2014, Interstellar was a sci-fi masterpiece Christopher Nolan spent two years crafting after completing his Batman trilogy. While Gravity explored the philosophical origins of life in space, Interstellar delved into the grandeur of time and the vastness of human emotions within the universe.

Set in the near future, Earth is rapidly deteriorating, and humanity faces extinction. However, a last-ditch effort to find a new planet for survival is still in motion. The protagonist, Cooper, a retired astronaut who now lives a peaceful life on a farm with his family, is persuaded by a professor to rejoin the astronaut team. He embarks on a journey to explore three potential planets for human habitation.

As they travel through space, they experience the disorienting effects of time dilation—one hour on another planet equates to seven years on Earth. Upon returning, Cooper finds that time has passed differently: he remains young while his children have aged considerably. The societal roles and expectations have shifted as a result, leaving Cooper to confront how to navigate these changes.

At its core, Interstellar is not merely a space adventure, but a profound exploration of time, human emotion, and nature. The emotional bond between Cooper and his children transcends the boundaries of time and space, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the human condition. It raises the question: do we come into this world alone, and will we leave it alone?

The film leaves the answer open, inviting the audience to reflect on its themes. It was a bold move by Nolan, building on the emotional undertones of Inception but shifting focus to the universal connection between all humans. While Interstellar may not be Nolan's finest work, it's a significant milestone in his directorial journey.

Upon release, Interstellar sparked controversy. Critics questioned its scientific accuracy, particularly in the latter half, accusing the film of relying on flawed theories. They dissected the narrative and dismissed its credibility. However, the theoretical foundation for the film came directly from Kip Thorne, a renowned physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 2017. Thorne personally calculated the physics behind the film's phenomena, and his extensive discussions with colleagues ensured the accuracy of the science. While scientific theories are always open to debate, Thorne's input gave the film credibility, silencing much of the criticism.

Despite this, the film did not surpass the success of The Dark Knight or Inception. Its fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes stood at 71%, with a critical score of 7, while its popcorn rating was 85%, indicating strong audience appeal. However, its cinema score was only a B+. Still, Interstellar found significant favor with IMDb's die-hard fans, securing a high score of 8.6 and ranking in the top 30 of the greatest films in history—making it the third Nolan-directed film to reach such heights.

Despite these accolades, the global box office performance was underwhelming. It grossed $188 million in North America, failing to surpass the $200 million mark. Its global total of $677 million was solid, but not stellar. When factoring in the $165 million production cost and $30 million marketing expenses, the film barely made a profit—less than $40 million. Though not a financial failure, it didn't meet the expectations set by its ambitious scope.

For Renly, however, Interstellar is a film he deeply appreciates, ranking it fourth or fifth among Nolan's works. It represents a significant evolution in Nolan's filmmaking. Before Interstellar, Nolan was known for playing with form, particularly in Memento and Inception, which had fragmented structures. Even in the Batman trilogy, his sharp editing style and visual effects somewhat masked the thinness of the script and characters. The Dark Knight stands as an exception, with its deep philosophical themes elevating the superhero genre to new heights.

In Interstellar, Nolan pushes further by allowing the grandeur of time and the insignificance of humanity to serve the emotional core of the film. This marked a shift in his filmmaking: moving away from structuring the narrative around technical feats and instead making the technical aspects serve the story. His next film, Dunkirk, continued this trend, with Nolan further refining his craft toward masterful storytelling.

Another key aspect of Interstellar was its heavy reliance on actors. The film boasted an ensemble cast, including Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, and Matt Damon—each of whom eagerly accepted Nolan's invitation. But the standout performance came from Matthew McConaughey.

McConaughey had previously been relegated to romantic comedies and lightweight roles in Hollywood. After a period of professional stagnation, he underwent a transformation starting in 2012 with films like Magic Mike and culminating in the acclaimed Dallas Buyers Club, which earned him an Oscar nomination. By 2014, McConaughey had firmly established himself as a serious actor, with his performance in True Detective further solidifying his status as one of Hollywood's leading talents.

However, despite his stellar performances during this period, McConaughey's portrayal in Interstellar was a mixed bag. On one hand, his expressive acting, especially his portrayal of despair and helplessness in the time-space tunnel, was poignant. His eyes conveyed depth, capturing the complexity of Cooper's emotional journey. But on the other hand, McConaughey's style of acting, which relied on subtle details like chewing gum or fidgeting with objects, clashed with the grand, majestic tone of Interstellar. His detailed, almost overbearing performances sometimes detracted from the film's overall emotional resonance, and Renly felt that McConaughey, though excellent, was a miscast choice for the role.

Despite the casting missteps, Interstellar remains a powerful testament to Christopher Nolan's ambition, showcasing both his growth as a director and his continued willingness to challenge the boundaries of filmmaking.