AD ASTRA
* * ½ (Don)
* * * ½ (Joyce)
(Psychological sci-fi)
Joyce and I disagreed on this one. She liked the psychological aspects of the sci-fi thriller. I didn’t think it was that thrilling. We both agreed that the acting by Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones was very good.
The story takes place in the “near future.” A space surge has occurred, threatening life on Earth. Major McBride’s father had led an expedition into the far reaches of space, looking for intelligent life. All communication was lost.
The space agency sends his son (Pitt) to search for his father and try to communicate with him. Strange events occur, leading the higher-ups to believe that Clifford McBride was responsible for what was happening on Earth. Along the route from the Moon to Mars and on to Neptune, strange things happen. Periodically, Roy is given psychological evaluations before he can continue his quest.
We won’t tell you what happens when he finds his father’s ship, but it makes for a very interesting conclusion.
The special effects are great, but for me the two-hour movie dragged and, except for a couple of space apes, I was bored. Joyce stayed with it right to the bitter end.
Rated PG-13, with some violence.