AD ASTRA

US, 2019, 123 minutes, Colour.
Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Kimberly Elise, Loren Dean, Donnie Keshawarz, Sean Blackmore, Bobby Nish, Lisa Gay Hamilton, John Ortiz.
Directed by James Gray.

Ad Astra is an air force motto which means going to the stars. In this film, it also has the meaning of looking at and looking towards the stars.

Perhaps the Latin title is a warning that this is not exactly a space action show. Well there is some action, but this is more the 21st-century space Odyssey rather than Trek. The space developments during the 20th century were extraordinary, from Sputniks to dogs in space, to astronauts, to the landing on the moon, subsequent journeys into space, the establishment of space stations… The 21st-century benefits from all of this. It still means that a Space Odyssey in this century means going beyond the moon, even to beyond Mars, to establishing settlements in space (and by the time of the ‘near future’ setting of Ad Astra, we see escalators, space ports, even Subway on the moon). And, there is always the question, are there other intelligent beings out there in the vastness of the universe.

The hero of this story, this 21st-century Odysseus/Ulysses, is a very ordinary citizen, with a very ordinary name, Roy Mc Bride. His main privilege in life is that he is the son of the most celebrated astronaut, Cliff Mc Bride, who had been sent out into deep space to search for intelligence. As the film opens, he has not returned, government officials are concerned about him as well as the Lima Project.

Roy is played by Brad Pitt, a suitable choice for a 21st century Everyman. We see him at work, on a space station, experiencing extraordinary surges and his spectacular fall from the tower. He recovers but the authorities seeking out, urging him to go on a mission to find his father (who is seen later, played by Tommy Lee Jones). Everything is top-secret, a commercial trip to the moon, then a space ship to Mars, a mission to try to contact his father, a spaceship beyond Mars towards Neptune.

Initially, Roy is accompanied by a fellow-worker and friend of his father, played by Donald Sutherland. But, he falls ill on the moon, and Roy has to go on alone.

Interestingly, in comparison with Kubrick’s Odyssey, and the hostility of the computer, HAL, technology is not the enemy. But, technology abused, can be destructive, is destructive.

A reviewer described Ad Astra as a cerebral space Odyssey. In fact, it is. It is an existential space Odyssey, with enough contemplation, reflection and articulation about what it is to be human, what it is to be an explorer in space, how much solitude is needed to travel in space, what is destiny in terms of space exploration, and what is fate. And, there is always the question, here dramatised in a father-son relationship and conflict, how much is destiny and how much is hubris. And, if hubris, how much disaster and destruction?

For Odysseus, after his achievement in the Trojan War, his wandering the seas was to bring him back home. So, how much value is there in the space Odysseys – and how much should we as humans be valuing life, love, and home.

1. The title, looking to the stars, going to the stars?

2. 21st-century space Odyssey, the 20th century and the explorations of space, landing on the moon? 21st-century technology, questions and issues, goals, intelligent life in space? Moments in space?

3. The moments on Earth, Roy, his relationship, preparing to leave, the mission? His going home, the landing on earth and the rescue?

4. The setting in the near future, very much like the present? The opening up of space, the explorations and search, intelligent life, not found as yet? The transitions on the moon, taking the comforts of birth into space? The technology and the centres on the moon? On Mars? Predictions for the future?

5. Brad Pitt as Roy Mc Bride, a 21st-century Everyman? His relationship with his father, his father’s work ethic, work then play, issues of success and failure? Roy and his relationship with his father, his father’s severity, and ignoring him? The relationship with Eva? Her leaving? Admiring his father, remembering him, the sense of abandonment, his choice of career, dedication, but introverted, liking solitude, driven by sense of duty?

6. Cliff Mc Bride, Tommy Lee Jones, Mc Bride’s reputation, set up as an ideal, his portrait, the Lima Project? The achievement, going beyond Mars, his disappearance? Government attitudes, fear of him, that he was still alive, wanting his return? The Project to be stopped?

7. The experience of the surges, Roy and his work on the tower, the fires, his collapse and fall? Surges around the world? The effect, the consequences?

8. Roy, socialising but preferring solitude, to find the exit? His voice-over, moods, the report, his insights and decisions?

9. Roy and his choices, surviving the fall, the authorities and their information, request, top-secret, the range of psychological tests and the recurring? Roy’s calm, phlegmatic, preparing for the mission?

10. Meeting Pruitt, the history of Pruitt and his father, their friendship, studies together? Work in space? Pruitt with Roy, their talking, the preparation, travelling to the moon, commercial travelling, Pruitt and his illness, withdrawing from the project?

11. Roy, going to the moon, the crew, the secrecy, the moon and escalators, Subway? The contacts?

12. The preparation to go to Mars, the crew, the secrecy, the May Day experience, Roy warning against it, the deaths? The captain, his fear in landing? Roy taking over?

13. Helena, on Mars, born there, her authority, responsibilities? The levels of authority? The scenes of recording the message to be sent to Cliff? No response? Roy’s reaction? The further mission?

14. The drive, the terrain of Mars, sunsets, Helena helping? Getting on board, the deaths of the crew, Roy’s decision, continuing the mission, giving information and then silence?

15. The range of hazards, the effect of the journey, to Neptune?

16. His arrival, meeting Cliff, the discussions, father-son relationship? Cliff and his hubris? Roy pleading with him? Cliff and his achievement, wanting to continue? His death? Roy, going to the ship, the information, recording it? The shield against the space debris? His return to the ship, return to Earth?

17. Returning to earth, his memories, glimpses of Eva, his choices for living, for loving, going home?

18. The space Odyssey, the nature of space, explorations, the existential questions about human nature, pride and destiny, intervention of fate?