‘Ad Astra’
James Gray’s poetic and intrinsic vision for our times.
If you’re like most people in 2020, then you’ve probably been quarantined at home for the better part of the year, bing-watching your favorite films or TV series while the rest of world barrels through crisis after crisis.
As for me, that pass time is film and that film is, James Gray’s ‘Ad Astra’.
Now, normally I would refrain from placing sole ownership of a film on the shoulder’s of any one person, man or woman by prefacing their name before its title; Especially if that film stars Actor|Producer and two-time Academy Award winner, Brad Pitt.
But James Gray also happens to write his own films. A rarity in the landscape of Hollywood directors; Akin only to bonafide auteurs of the day such as Christopher Nolan or Alfonso Cuarón. Filmmakers all, who channel deep meaning and purpose into their work; Yet few manage to achieve this as poignantly as Gray.
In this debrief, I aim to investigate what makes James Gray’s sci-fi/drama a purer and more relevant film for our times than any other you’re likely to see in the genre anytime soon.
In order to achieve this, I’ll be addressing several key factors, including:
- Story & Screenplay.
- Performances.
- Production Design & Art Direction.
- Editing.
Story & Screenplay
Following a near-death experience caused by a series of catastrophic anti-matter surges impacting Earth, ‘Ad Astra’ follows astronaut, Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) as he’s tasked with a dangerous assignment into deep space in order to halt the surges and confront his legendary father, Colonel Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones).
At face value, ‘Ad Astra’ could be viewed as a contemporary reimagining of Joseph Conrad’s cherished 1899 novella, ‘Heart of Darkness.’ Gray himself has addressed this comparison candidly;
“Yeah it’s ‘Apocalypse Now’ but it’s not. He’s going after his actual father which is a whole other set of circumstances, psychologically and emotionally.”
It is on the blanket of these circumstances which Gray prophetically lays down the groundwork for his this epic space opera. A story which follows a man on a journey both to the outer reaches of our solar system as well as towards an inner void.
This leads us back to one of the most prevalent themes of ‘Ad Astra’. A theme introduced to us when the Major is called in for debriefing following his near death encounter with the initial surge.
Only then is it revealed to us that the Major’s own father, Colonel Clifford McBride is believed to be alive and the man responsible for the bazaar phenomenon.
Long considered dead during a maned expedition to the outer solar system in search for extraterrestrial life, the Major agrees to a top secret mission which will take him as far as the edge of the heliosphere near Neptune in order to halt the surges by nuclear means, confront his father and make peace with the past.
“Why go on? Why keep trying?”
By all means, ‘Ad Astra’ is a delicate and mature odyssey into our inner universe in a daring attempt to reconcile the difference between that which we seek in life and that which we have.
During a miraculous show of will and fortitude, the Major salvages his father’s awe-inspiring research before coming to a cathartic conclusion :
“He could only see what was not there and missed what was right in front of him.”
I would argue this to be the true moral of the film as the Major’s journey ultimately brings into question his own adherence to this notion while headed back home to Earth.
The film is poignantly book-ended by a pair of the psychological evaluations done in private which effectively captures the stark contrast between two very different states of being for the Major both before and after the mission.
Performances
We’re introduced to a lone wolf in Pitt’s Major McBride. A man who routinely disciplines himself in order to “make only pragmatic decisions” and “[to]not allow his mind to linger on that which is unimportant.” The latter line delivered in voiceover as his wife, Eve (Liv Tyler) seemingly leaves him for good.
Major McBride is stoic, steadfast and disciplined. A man that can be trusted because he trusts himself. This rare quality is what targets him for his upcoming assignment and sets in motion a series of events that will ultimately test his resolve.
Playing the voice of reason during the onset of his journey is the wise Colonel Thomas Pruit (Donald Sutherland) as well the vengeful Helen (Ruth Negga) who enables the Major, perhaps more than any one character in the film to seek closure for what has been done to them both.
Though it truly is the dynamic performances of Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones respectively which, when matched, captures the potent estrangement that has come to define their relationship as father and son.
In what could easily be called a career defining performance, Pitt brings a considerable weight in his depiction of a man coming to terms with the sudden realities in his life and his chance for reconciliation upon completion of this deeply personal quest.
Production Design & Art Direction
The intro set piece of the film happens to be aboard the ‘International Space Antenna’; where humans aim to “contact our distant neighbors out there in the heavens.”
As Major McBride steps out onto the landing platform in full astronaut attire, the camera tilts downward roughly 90 degrees as he proceeds in a controlled decent down a step ladder for maintenance repairs.
While this is happening, we suddenly become astutely aware and simultaneously captivated by the mere plausibility of this futurist scenario.
And that’s because we have seen this before —
On October 14, 2012, Austrian Skydiver, Felix Baumgartner in partnership with the Red Bull Stratos Project showcased to the world what supersonic freefall looked like.
An event recreated with accuracy in Gray’s film as Pitt’s Major McBride is forced to evacuate the antenna tower.
This close reflection of Ad Astra’s time line to our own present is further accentuated throughout the film by depictions of commercial space flights to the moon and underground military bases on Mars.
Both endeavors in active development today.
What Gray and his production design team have managed to achieve is to construct a future not at all dis-similar from the trajectory of our present. A creative endeavor only made possible with the collective understanding that this was to be a story of not only one man’s relationship with his father but of mankind’s relationship with itself.
This is made most evident during the Major’s visit to ‘The Moon’.
“All the hopes we ever had for space travel, covered up by drink stands and t-shirt vendors. If my dad could see this now, he’d tear it all down.”
An almost comical statement on the predictability of Human tendency which, if unchecked will spread to ecosystems outside of our own. All to suggest that it is the very comforts of Human life which we both aim to escape from and preserve all at once.
A fatal encounter with ‘space pirates’ during an armed escort towards the dark side further emphasizes Gray’s point on this tendency much to the Major’s acknowledgement.
Editing
‘Ad Astra’ is cut like a delicate mosaic of one man’s life. With multiple time lines layered and in-flux, we gain a well rounded and clear impression of who Major McBride is from the very onset of the film.
I also attribute this to a rich and captivating voice-over performance by Brad Pitt which effectively adds gravitas to the events playing out in real time.
An additional layer of depth and emotion is further reached with the seamless integration of Max Richter’s original and moving orchestral score. A fitting companion for tender moments throughout the film, captured in vidid detail at the hands of Director of Photography, Hoyte Van Hoytema.
Summary
Overall, I believe it’s safe to assume that despite the genre of filmmaking (sci-fi/drama) and the expectations that genre presents on filmmakers and audiences alike, James Gray’s ‘Ad Astra’ more over represents our world as it is rather than what it can or will be.
Yes, these are difficult times but by offering us such an accurate glimpse of our near future, we can perhaps thus better understand our place in the present while keeping in mind that as man looks to the stars for meaning, we need only look to ourselves for salvation.
Thank You for reading — ‘Ad Astra’ remains one of my favorite films of 2019 and what I consider to be an instant classic for the genre.
‘Ad Astra’ is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
