'Ad Astra' Review

Nominated For: Best Sound Mixing.

Synopsis: Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission and journeys across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and a doomed expedition that now threatens the universe.

Runtime: 122 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for some violence and bloody images, and for brief strong language)

Who should see it? Adult fans of cinematic space exploration and existential science-fiction.

In recent years, I've become enamored watching auteur filmmakers experiment with the tapestry of space. First Man and Interstellar are all-time favorites of mine. Therefore, it probably isn't surprising that I was keen to see Ad Astra. James Gray directed Ad Astra with a screenplay co-written by himself and Ethan Gross, and Gray's star-bound voyage certainly validated my interest. Following The Lost City of Z, writer-director James Gray's chosen to explore the cosmos with Brad Pitt and $80 Million. In an age of sprawling cinematic universes, mid-budgeted features are a rarity in Hollywood, so it's always reassuring to see a studio exercise restraint. Discernibly influenced by 2001: A Space Odyssey and Apocalypse Now, Ad Astra is a spellbinding space epic about self-discovery, legacy, and existentialism.

The moment Ad Astra surpasses Earth's atmosphere, Gray wonderfully visualizes the juxtaposition of our universe's grandiose and intimate essence. Renowned cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema captures an abundance of breathtaking imagery which deserves to be seen on the largest screen possible (see this in IMAX if you can). One slight detail I really admired was how Hoytema incorporated planetary colors into his lighting choices for interior and exterior shots, which resulted in a varied aesthetic. The visual effects also complement Hoytema's work nicely, offering an indistinguishable blend between CGI and practical effects. The craftsmanship concerning sound, costuming, and production design are all top-notch while Max Richter composed a sumptuous score I eagerly await hearing again (as of writing, it's not yet available online). It's worth noting that Lorne Balfe contributed additional music as well, but I'm currently unsure how substantial those contributions were. Regardless, the score was exquisite from start-to-finish. 

Though certainly contemplative, Ad Astra also contains thrilling moments of peril. A few of these which can be gleaned from the trailers include a mishap on a space antenna, a moon buggy chase evoking lunar Mad Max, and a spacewalk gone awry. Otherwise, the pacing is very methodical, which I'm confident won't be to everyone's taste. I foresee general audience members deeming it "slow" and "boring," but I was personally awestruck for the entire runtime.

Leading the expedition, Brad Pitt lends a robust performance that further ensures the venture doesn't go adrift in outer space. Pitt portrays Roy McBride as a stoic, reserved astronaut, but expertly communicates the nuances of his internalized performance. Amongst the supporting ensemble, Tommy Lee Jones provides an emotional wallop playing Ray's father while Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland make the most of unfortunately brief, but vital roles.

Translated from Latin, Ad Astra means "to the stars," and James Gray surely succeeds in transporting the audience there via this magnificent space epic. Should Ad Astra follow its expected box office trajectory and underperform this weekend, I'll be Sad Astra. Provided it's at least a modest success and more movies like this are made, I'll be Glad Astra. If you help make the difference towards turning a frown upside down, that'd be pretty Bad As(s)tra!

Film Assessment: A

'Jason Bourne' Review

Jason Bourne is the fifth installment in the Bourne franchise, the fourth starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, and the third helmed by director Paul Greengrass arriving nine years after the completion of The Bourne Trilogy in 2007 (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, and The Bourne Ultimatum) and has no relation to The Bourne Legacy (Thank goodness!). I had high expectations for this film considering I loved the previous two Bourne entries, The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, but when I saw the critic reviews drop online I became concerned that this wasn't going to be a high brow intellectual blockbuster like the previous Greengrass/Damon Bourne flicks. 

Thankfully I was wrong, sorta... Jason Bourne has it's merits in show stopping action and enriched vengeance plot. Yes, this is once again another Jason Bourne movie which focuses on a hunt for Bourne from a government organization control room involving action sequences ranging from exhilarating chases to grounded, gritty hand-to-hand combat. That's what makes the film a Bourne movie. Sure, it's formulaic but that's the formula of a Bourne flick we expect to see. Paul Greengrass ensures the pacing is quick, the action is breathtaking, and the plot is engaging. 

Greengrass sets up remarkable large scale action sequences staging them in chaotic environments to increase the stakes and up the tension, two notable action set pieces include a motorcycle chase through large protests in Greece and an insane car chase through the streets of Vegas. Greengrass and editor Christopher Rouse develop a screenplay that feels all too derivative of Bourne's past ventures and includes a tacked-on subplot involving government surveillance to appear relevant. 

This side plot only detracts from the film as it distracts the viewer from Bourne's path of vengeance and feels meaningless as neither writer was able to speak out about their opinions of government surveillance, which I found disappointing considering that it's been done better in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The misfortune is that this side plot is completely unrelated from Jason Bourne's side of things and only used as a means to the end of the story bringing everyone together for a visceral third act. What holds this mediocre written material together though is the remarkable talent assembled in front of the camera. 

Matt Damon's Jason Bourne is a worn, weary Bourne seeking serenity and Damon isn't afforded the chance to deliver a lot of dialogue but he does an incredible job conveying Bourne's sensibilities through facial expressions and subtle movements. Damon's done more than enough to prove his worth as an action star capable of keeping this franchise afloat. Julia Stiles returns as Nicky Parsons and serves as a nice emotional touchstone to help motivate Bourne and progress the plot and is serviceable in that capacity. 

Alicia Vikander joins the fray as expert CIA hacker Heather Lee and makes for an interesting third party voice between Bourne and the CIA, as her motivations are shifting throughout making her a shady force in the mix of things. Tommy Lee Jones gets to delve into his morally gray territory as CIA Director Robert Dewey and while he's not the best of the enigmatic authoritative figures in opposition to Bourne from a control center, Jones' gravitas makes him a compelling prescence onscreen. 

Meanwhile, Vincent Cassel is "The Asset", an assassin called upon tout down Bourne but unlike the previous ones, there's a mutual vendetta between the two of them that makes him more compelling than the previous Bourne hitmen as he plays by his own rules and will do anything for revenge. Riz Ahmed also delivered a terrific performance as a conflicted tech  billionaire who wants his innovations to aid humanity rather than infringe on their privacy and while his storyline may have been tangential, I'll admit he did a great job with the material provided. 

While I wish Greengrass and Damon had taken the road less traveled by with fresh direction for Bourne to traverse, I can't deny that the familiar, beaten path was a terrible option. Regardless of it's inability to break new ground, Jason Bourne is an enjoyable entry into the franchise that delivers rousing action, engaging onscreen presences and makes sure to leave room for future outings that I'm game to see. 

Film Assessment: B-