AD ASTRA

Science-fiction epics have made a bit of a comeback in recent years, A-listers left right and centre signing up to explore space with exciting filmmakers to deliver some pretty memorable films. In Brad Pitt, Ad Astra may have landed itself just about the biggest A-lister in Hollywood to take us on another journey into the unknown.

When astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) embarks on a mission across space to find his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones), he uncovers a mystery that could threaten human existence on Earth.

Opening with an explosively gripping sequence on the edge of Earth's atmosphere, Ad Astra meanders along almost in a trance-like state, taking us on a journey of discovery and showcasing some quite stunning shots along the way. It's a sci-fi epic but it's an understated one in its approach compared to something like Interstellar, the journey of one man travelling to the edge of our solar system for the sake of mankind feeling lowkey in James Gray's film.

This works in the film's favour to a degree as Gray takes us on a journey through space that's more likely to leave you in a meditative state than on the edge of your seat, honing in on the personal mission Pitt's McBride is on to find his father. It wasn't what I was expecting at all and, if I'm honest, it left me a little cold when it reached its conclusion, but maybe that's because I went in expecting a major sci-fi epic of sorts.

Brad Pitt is one of the last remaining true movie stars in Hollywood and he leads Ad Astra with a commanding performance, accompanied by Max Richter's beautifully haunting score, in what really is one of his best performances to date. This is very much Pitt's film as there isn't a supporting character around for long enough to make too much of an impression however, none of the supporting cast do the film a disservice.

As sci-fi goes, Ad Astra does a sound job of exploring the unknown, Pitt holding the film together really well to keep you thinking throughout, even if some of his narration does get a little grating at times.

Verdict: ★★★★