When you’re talking about modern space films, for many people, the bar to beat is Interstellar.
Whether it be the endless theories that the classic spawned, the acting of Matthew McConaughey, or Christopher Nolan’s directing, Interstellar pretty undeniably took over the mantle from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
That said, one underrated cult classic has just been added to Netflix, and some fans think it’s even better than Interstellar.
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Starring Brad Pitt, the movie came out in 2019 to predominantly positive reviews, yet some fans feel it is still massively underrated.
The film in question is called Ad Astra, and starred Pitt as astronaut Roy McBride.
Directed by James Gray, Pitt stars alongside Tommy Lee Jones, the late Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga, and Kimberly Elise.
It follows McBride as an astronaut sent to the other side of the universe in an effort to find his father who went missing 30 years ago, whose quest for intelligent alien life now endangers the world.
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Featuring space pirates on a fully colonised version of the Moon, a jump off the International Space Station (which they unfortunately did not film on location), and a journey to Mars, the film was created by Gray with the idea of being the most ‘realistic’ space film to date.
One fan on Reddit went as far as to call Ad Astra ‘significantly better’ than Interstellar, pointing to what they believed was its superior science and plot.
Another took to the social media platform to express the same view, saying: “I personally feel that Ad Astra is better than Interstellar.
“They're both good movies but I'm a sucker for Brad Pitt not only that but I find it's personally more visually appealing and beautiful.”
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Not everyone was convinced by this comparison though, with several fans responding saying they prefer Interstellar.
Despite this though, many feel that the movie just added to Netflix two days ago is simply a massively underrated film.
One took to Twitter, saying: “Ad Astra is one of the most underrated science-fiction films of the last several years.
“James Gray's contemplative, at times surrealistic voyage into deep space is both beautifully minimalist and emotionally immense.”
With an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, critics also seemed to agree.
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Robert Daniels, now an Editor at RogerEbert.com, said in his perfect 4/4 review at the time: “Meant to be seen on the largest screen possible, Gray’s film soars on a technical level and in its crafts.
“[Director James] Gray's Ad Astra, as a reflection upon loss and masculinity is as illuminating as the sun, personal in its careful inspection, and a repressed masterpiece.”
Dana Stevens of Slate said: “A movie that, for the bulk of its two-hour-and-two-minute running time, I watched in a state of hypnotized delight.”
Thankfully for Sci-Fi fans, it has been added to Netflix now in the UK and Ireland, so it will be easier to watch than ever.
Topics: Brad Pitt, Film, Netflix, TV and Film
Michael Slavin