Monday, November 17, 2014

Jay and Matt Discuss "Interstellar" and Nolan's Place in Cinema

 
Matt here! Jay and I just discussed our thoughts about the latest science fiction hit film Interstellar, as well as director Christopher Nolan's place -- as well as his films -- in cinema.
 
WARNING: THERE ARE SPOILERS IN OUR CONVERSATION, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FILM YET -- AND WANT TO -- THEN STICK TO OUR NON-SPOILER REVIEWS WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THE CULTURE CAVE AND OUR RESPECTIVE BLOGS!
 

Jay: So, it's been a while since we chatted. Interstellar seemed like a good chance to get back into the swing of things, right?

Matt: Yeah! This was definitely one of my must-see films of the year! So, what were your first impressions as soon as you walked out of the theater?

Jay: Me too. I felt good about the movie overall. I was excited to get home so I could look up some of the science stuff online. I wanted to see how much of what they were showing was true science or just made up for the movie. That was what I was actually thinking when I left the film. It got me thinking about space again, in an exciting way. You?

Matt: I've always been excited about space and space travel/exploration, but the last 15 minutes or so had me questioning the validity of the science ... which I know there is no way of definitively knowing what will happen to a person if they enter a wormhole. But I'm thinking there's a high probability that one could not survive such an experience. Then again, we'll never know until someone attempts it. But that didn't take away from the overall quality of the film or story for me.

Jay: I agree. I definitely found a lot of scientists online, debunking a lot of the stuff that happens later in the movie. For me, at some point you have to suspend disbelief when dealing with science fiction, fantasy or any story that is grounded in imagination.

If you get hung up on plausibility you miss the point of what is essentially entertainment that makes you think.

Matt: I agree! As I said in my review, the beauty of science fiction is that it tests our thinking, our emotional and logistical/mental understanding and allows us to “think outside the box” (so to speak) when it comes to our lives and our place in the universe.

Jay: How did you feel about the performances?

Matt: This is, hands down, McConaughey's best film -- even much better than Dallas Buyers Club. There was only one tiny aspect to the film at the very end which I found unrealistic. SPOILER ALERT: And that was what Cooper did.

Jay: What? Leaving his dying daughter to go find Brand (Anne Hathaway)?

Matt: I could see a lot of my oldest daughter in the character of Murphy and if that were me and I left to go on some mission which, granted, had me saving humankind, but also missing a HUGE chunk of her lifetime, I wouldn't go anywhere. You couldn’t tear me away. And I think 99% of parents wouldn't either.

Jay: But didn't she ask him to leave?

BTW, I had no clue that was Ellen Burstyn playing the older Murph until I looked on IMDB when I got home.

Matt: Oh, you're slipping. Anyways, yes, she did ask him to leave, but that wouldn't matter. I just felt it was too emotionally distant for a father who supposedly had this close bond with his daughter whom he loved so much based on his reactions upon seeing her in the "parallel universe virtual room."

Jay: Yeah, I guess I see you're point. It was a pretty emotional movie.

Matt: I mean, he could've at least waited until she died before he so whisked in a spaceship and carelessly flew away. Anyways, yes, a very emotional movie.

I really enjoyed the concept of love as being a motivational and inspirational force.

Jay: Yes. That was explored quite a bit. It was also delved into with the Matt Damon character's whole speech about what we see flash in front of our eyes when we're trying to survive. And also in Brand's (Hathaway) reasoning for wanting to go to the planet where her old flame was marooned.

I did not know Damon was in this. When they fist unzipped him I couldn't but think of Team America -- "MATT DAMON!" I almost said out loud. Just like that puppet of him in that movie. Hehe.

Matt: I thought of him in the only other film where I've seen him play an obvious jerk: EuroTrip! "Scotty doesn't know!"

Jay: Ha ha! Yes, EuroTrip! He was almost distracting. Its like, "Let's put Matt Damon in this role and not tell anyone and they'll be shocked and say how cool of him to take this small, dark part. He's so versatile!!" Hehe

Matt: I knew as soon as he was crying about how happy he was just to see another human face how this was all gonna go down.

Jay: Yeah, he was super sketch from minute one. And surprisingly beefy. What was eating on that ice planet? More like "Fatt Damon," I think.

Matt: What did you think of the performances?

Jay: McConaughey was great in it. His best performance was still in True Detective for me. Hathaway was fine in it. I still don't get why people think she’s super-talented and gorgeous. Boggles my mind. There was no one that really stood out. They all did their jobs, you know?

Matt: Couldn't agree more, and I said it was McConaughey's best film performance. As for Hathaway, I admit that she did good in Les Mis and The Dark Knight Rises but, in this, she just annoyed me. And it wasn't her character. If another actress had played her, I probably would've liked the character better.

Jay: So, do you feel like this Nolan trying to channel Stanley Kubrick. He wanted to do his 2001?

Matt: I think he was definitely influenced by Kubrick's 2001 but, in terms of story, I feel there aren't as many similarities as people are making it out to be. It seems like just because it has that 2001-like feel, people are lining up to say it's “Nolan's 2001 film.”

Jay: Yeah. I don't think Kubrick was concerned with sentiment or emotional weight. He was more interested in the metaphysics behind his story and of course he wanted the technical aspects of his movie to tell his story - through images and sound he wanted his audience to have a cathartic response. Nolan wants more a response through story. When Cooper goes into the wormhole, though, that is obviously taken from 2001.

Matt: Plus the fact that the mission in 2001 has to do with discovering the origins of mankind. That sounds more like the plot line to the astronauts in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

Jay: Yep. So, where does Interstellar rank for you in Nolan's filmography?

Matt: That's a difficult one because I think what he did with Inception was something truly amazing in terms of direction, acting, writing, etc. But there was more emotional depth to this film than Inception. I guess if I had to pick, I'd put this film just barely at #1.

Jay: True. I guess it depends on how important that emotional connection is for you. For me, The Dark Knight is still my #1 Nolan movie.

Matt: That would probably be my second favorite.

Jay: It is the best comic book film ever made. That has to count for something. I find it hard to a flaw in it

Matt: Yes, definitely the best comic book film ever made! Suck it, Marvel!

Jay: You've got to get over your Marvel hate, my friend. Such a hater. You know you can like both and it will be ok. :)

My Nolan top 5:

The Dark Knight

Inception


Interstellar


Matt: I'm getting "help."

My Nolan top 5:

Interstellar

The Dark Knight

Inception

Memento


Jay: Nice. Can we agree The Dark Knight Rises is a deeply flawed movie? It’s by far his worst. I tried to convince myself it was good. I kept lying to myself.

Matt: No, sorry, have to disagree. Obviously, not in his Top 5, but not his worst. It's got its flaws, but not his worst.

Jay: Uggghh. Are you going to say Batman Begins is worse, or Insomnia?

Matt: Sorry. Insomnia. Trust me, for me, there was no insomnia worries while watching that film!

Jay: Hehe. Clever pun. Insomnia is not as good as the original foreign version, I will say that.

Matt: I can't wait to see what he does next.

Jay: So, do you think Nolan is now one of the best in the business? Where does he rank for you in your list of active filmmakers? What kind of legacy do you think he'll leave?

Matt: He's definitely one of the best filmmakers nowadays. Then again, there are only a few notable filmmakers today: Fincher, Abrams, Cuaron, Jackson, Tarantino, and (although I hate to admit it) Singer. Granted, there are other directors who could make this list (i.e., Whedon, McQueen, Jonze, etc.), but I feel they haven't made enough films to be put in this list yet. For the first time in a long time, filmmakers like those previously mentioned are finally approaching coming into the same legendary status of the filmmakers of the 1970s we love so much.

As for what legacy he'll leave, time will tell. He has to make a few more original films before I can get an idea. Currently, the only original material he's filmed has been Inception and Interstellar.

Jay: I agree there some exciting directors out there, but we do disagree on a few. I don't think Abrams has proved much. Both Star Trek movies are good, but not even close to anything Nolan has done. I hope his Star Wars movie is great and I'm really rooting for him, but he has not made a movie that made me go WOW yet. Singer is too inconsistent, for every Usual Suspects and X-Men 2 we get Superman Returns or Valkyrie. Also, I would include Wes Anderson on my list as one of the greats.

Matt: I will say that a majority of films we see nowadays is muddled with potentially great filmmakers stuck in making some remake or adaptation.

Jay: Yeah. Originality is tough to find but I can't blame that on the folks trying to get their movies made, its the studios and producers fault. There's too much money at stake and no one wants to take a chance on an original story.

Matt: Yes, I agree with you about Singer! But, as for Anderson, I sadly have to say that I'm growing more and more unimpressed with his films' stories. Don't get me wrong the technical aspects and cinematography look great! But, I find his stories waning. It all started with The Aquatic Life with Steve Zissou.

Jay: I LOVE Steve Zissou!! And Moonlight Kingdom was such a sweet movie. Oh well …

Matt: I still LOVED Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Royal Tenenbaums, though!

Jay: Fair enough. Well, we both loved Interstellar it seems. It’s nice to agree on something every once and a while, huh?

Matt: Yes! What did you think of Jessica Chastain?

Jay: She was fine. I though Mackenzie Foy was just as good, though.

Matt: I thought she was amazing for a girl her age! A great talent!

Jay: She was very good, yes.

Matt: Coincidentally, I just saw her in a TV show my girls watch called R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour and I know she was in The Conjuring.

Jay: I felt bad for that guy having to wait on the ship for over 23 years while they were down on the wave planet. What did he do for 23 years?

Matt: Yeah! When they were getting ready to go to the planet, he was all casual, saying, "I'll run samples ..." Poor bastard.

Jay: I guess he ran a lot of samples

Matt: Yeah! So what are some of the holiday must-see films coming up for you?

Jay: Well, next weekend is Mockingjay. Looking forward to it. Obviously, The Hobbit.

Matt: Wait. Mockingjay!?!? Seriously!?

Jay: Unbroken. I read that book. Very good. Also, Into the Woods.

Yes . . . . Mockingjay. You have a problem with the Hunger Games? Katniss kicks ass!

Matt: I won't go there. But I do like that Katniss provides a positive female role model character for young people. But I think it would kick 100% more ass if there weren't some ultimate love triangle.

Jay: I think of it more as a feminist role reversal. I like how, in this story, it's the girl who has to rescue the "dude in distress."

Matt: Well, you don't have to go far for that. All people need to do for that is watch The Wizard of Oz. Think about it. Dorothy rescues the Scarecrow and Tin Man. She also invites them to see the wizard -- as she does with the Lion. And when they are finally confronting the Wicked Witch, who kills the witch? Dorothy! And, even better. She unintentionally does it while trying to help her friend Scarecrow by putting out the fire on his arm with the water. In fact, all of the women in that film have the power and/or have the "final say" -- from Dorothy to Aunt Em to the Wicked Witch to Glenda the Good Witch.

Jay: Hmmmm, interesting point. Well, I have to bring this to a close. In closing, what are you looking forward to?

Matt: I'm looking forward to The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, Into the Woods, and The Imitation Game.

Jay: Yep, we should get back together to discuss The Hobbit. We'll be able to put the entire Hobbit Trilogy in contrast to The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) Trilogy.

Matt: Yes, we definitely need to discuss that one! It's finally getting good. By the looks of the latest preview, the third installment looks like it will tie in mythology everyone knows in LOTR.

Jay: Agreed. Until then?

Matt: Until then, this is Matt signing off. Have a good one!

Jay: You too, man.



Saturday, November 8, 2014

Matt Reviews "Interstellar"


Director Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Interstellar, is an original sci-fi story, and at two hours and forty-five minutes, it’s a whopper! In the film, in an undocumented, seemingly near future, dirt and dust have ruined the planet’s food supply and water, leaving all life struggling to survive during harsh dust storms and long droughts. With this inability to sustain humanity, a now-extremely-defunct NASA (even school teachers believe the original 1969 moon landing was a hoax!) approaches Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former NASA test pilot and engineer, to pilot a new expedition shuttle with a crew of four to enter a wormhole – located near Saturn – which will lead to another galaxy, and hopefully a new inhabitable world.

The only drawback to Cooper’s mission is having to leave behind his son, Tom (Timothee Chalamet), and daughter, Murphy (Mackenzie Foy), for an indefinite amount of time – if he returns at all. For the sake of his children and the rest of humanity, Cooper embarks on the mission – with his former professor Dr. Brand’s (Michael Caine) daughter, Amelia (Anne Hathaway), geographer Doyle (Wes Bentley), physicist Romilly (David Gyasi) and two robotic assistants, TARS (Bill Irwin) and CASE (Josh Stewart) – to seek out the three possible habitable planets with three different previously-sent astronauts on each.

Cooper (McConaughey) must say goodbye to his daughter, Murphy (Mackenzie Foy) before embarking on his space mission to another galaxy.

In a script by Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises), one may think this story is Nolan’s attempt at taking on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. But they would be wrong. Although Kubrick’s film – based on the 1948 short story The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke – is clearly an influence, the story of Interstellar is not quite as divided into parts like 2001. In this film, the human connection is explored with greater story technique than in Kubrick’s film. The story’s overall theme of love and sacrifice packs quite an emotional punch. As a father of two young daughters, to me, the film delivers a heartwrenching decision between seeing the big picture of giving years of your – and your childrens’ – life to save humanity or wanting to be there for your children. It is a dilemma which is brought about with great entertainment value here.


Some may believe the prospect of a situation like the one in Interstellar may be nothing but pure science fiction. However, with news such as the months-long drought in California, and the Kepler Telescope’s recent discovery of the most Earth-like planet yet (as seen in the video above), the film’s concept isn’t so much science fiction as the viewer may think. McConaughey does some of his best work here – even much better than his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club (that’s right, I said it). And Jessica Chastain proves once more why she is one of Hollywood’s best new talents. I believe both should be nominated for Academy awards. I was really wowed by young Mackenzie Foy who portrays the smart, rebellious scientific daughter Murphy (named after Murphy's Law). As for Hathaway, anyone who knows me, knows I’ve never been crazy about her. But I had to give credit where credit is due. She did magnificently in Les Miserables and The Dark Knight Rises. However, in this film, I don’t know whether it is her character, but she annoys me. I’d like to think it’s the character, but it’s not. It’s her.

The space station containing Cooper and crew begins to enter the wormhole to take them to another galaxy.

I really enjoyed Interstellar, but that’s not to say it didn’t have its flaws. The film may be a science fiction film, but I love how Nolan made it one of the most believable science fiction films I’ve ever seen. And I’ll stick by that claim – even though the last twenty minutes takes a gigantic leap into extreme science fiction, making the viewer question whether what happens could really happen. But that is the beauty of science fiction. It tests our thinking, our emotional and logistical/mental understanding and allows us to “think outside the box” (so to speak) when it comes to our lives and our place in the universe. Some may be turned off by the last 20 minutes of this film, and I originally did not know quite what to make of it at the time, but, after having time to have digested the material, I liked most of it. There was only one particular aspect at the end which I didn’t agree with – as a parent. But I cannot say it without giving away one of the film’s major plotlines. Yes, Interstellar is long – at 2 hours, 45 minutes, but with films like Cloud Atlas, Braveheart, and Saving Private Ryan, a long run-time is not such a bad thing. And it’s not nearly as trite as films like Armageddon (don’t get me wrong, I like that film), Deep Impact, Mission to Mars, or Red Planet. But, while some critics may think it too emotional, I believe that is one of its best features. If you’re looking for some run-of-the-mill action/romance blockbuster, go rent Transformers 4. With its smart science speak, emotional depth and superb performances, Interstellar is a must-see for any science fiction fan. I think it leaves last year’s Academy Award darling Gravity in the dust. In an age of non-original films based on books, video games, comic books, cartoons, true stories or remakes of older films, Interstellar proves the paramount filmmaking of legendary directors such as Spielberg, Coppola, Lucas, Scorsese, and, yes, Kubrick, lives on in the filmmakers of today.