Watch Ad Astra

Ad Astra is a space drama released in 2019, directed by James Gray, and starring Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, and Liv Tyler. The movie is set in the future, where space exploration is a common phenomenon, and people travel to various planets and moons in search of new discoveries and resources. The plot revolves around the journey of astronaut Roy McBride (played by Brad Pitt) to find his missing father, Clifford McBride (played by Tommy Lee Jones), who was a renowned astronaut and scientist.

The story begins with a strange power surge that hits the earth, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Roy, who is working on a space station at the time, survives the attack, but learns that the surge originated from Neptune, where his father had disappeared decades ago while on a mission. The US Space Command believes that Clifford was responsible for the surge and that he might have gone rogue. Roy is tasked with finding his father and stopping him from causing any further damage.

As Roy embarks on his journey to Neptune, he faces numerous challenges and hazards – both physical and emotional. The movie explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and the quest for meaning in both personal and professional life. It also delves into the effects of space travel on the psyche of the astronauts, and the toll it takes on their mental well-being.

While the main storyline focuses on Roy's mission to find his father, Ad Astra is also a visual treat with stunning views of the universe, extraordinary space sequences, and breathtaking cinematography. Mars, the moon, and Neptune are depicted as unique and fascinating worlds with different environments and terrains. The movie also boasts terrific sound design, making it a pleasurable sonic experience.

Apart from the father-son relationship, Ad Astra also features a subplot involving an uprising in Mars as people demand better living conditions and equal opportunities. Ruth Negga delivers a strong performance as a rebel leader who helps Roy in his quest. The subplot added depth and complexity to the movie and showed the impact of colonization and exploitation on the indigenous population.

Brad Pitt gives a subdued and nuanced performance as Roy, who is trained to control his emotions and follow protocols. Roy's detachment and stoicism contrast sharply with the turbulent emotions he experiences during the journey and the realization of the truth about his father. The movie explores the complexities of the characters and how a space journey can change a person's perspective on life.

Tommy Lee Jones portrays Clifford as a brilliant scientist who becomes obsessed with his mission and loses touch with reality. The father-son relationship is the heart of the movie, and both actors deliver powerful performances that are both heartbreaking and palpable.

Overall, Ad Astra is a visually stunning and emotionally compelling movie that explores a wide range of themes and ideas. It is not just a space movie, but a thoughtful meditation on human emotions, relationships, and the mysteries of the universe. James Gray has created a masterpiece that can be enjoyed both by hardcore sci-fi fans and people who appreciate a poignant and thought-provoking story.

Ad Astra is a 2019 science fiction movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 80.