Ad Astra (2019)
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An astronaut journeys into deep space to find his estranged father while navigating a crisis that threatens the entire Solar System.
The story
In the early 22nd century, mysterious cosmic-ray bursts from Neptune threaten all life in the Solar System. Major Roy McBride learns these bursts are linked to the 'Lima Project,' a space station where his father, Clifford, was the leader. After contact was lost years ago, Roy agrees to travel to Mars to use a long-range communication station to reach his father. During the journey, Roy must navigate a series of complications, including a ship hit by a surge and a subsequent mission to reach the Lima Project to confront the truth about his father's legacy and the danger posed by the station.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the early 22nd century, Roy McBride travels toward the 'Lima Project' near Neptune to find his father, Clifford, whose quest for alien life has caused dangerous antimatter surges. After a perilous journey to Mars and a subsequent voyage to the station, Roy discovers that his father's 'hero' status was a fabrication to hide a mutiny. He eventually reaches the station and finds Clifford, who admits he never cared for his family. Roy learns the truth about the mutiny and the fact that no other life was found. He then persuades Clifford to return to Earth with him. They escape the station's hull, and Roy ultimately leaves his father behind in space while he returns to Earth with data on 'magnificent' worlds, finding a new sense of optimism and reuniting with his estranged wife.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- James Gray
- Writers
- James Gray · writer; Ethan Gross · writer
- Cast and characters
- Brad Pitt · Roy McBride; Tommy Lee Jones · Clifford McBride; Ruth Negga; Liv Tyler · Eve; Donald Sutherland
- Genres
- psychological science fiction; adventure; action
- Themes
- father-son relationship; isolation
- Tone and mood
- ruminative; somber
- Setting
- The early 22nd century in outer space, including Mars, the Moon, and the Neptune orbit.
- Premise and plot tags
- space exploration; mystery; sci-fi
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, particularly for Brad Pitt's performance, but underperformed at the box office.
- Awards and nominations
- Grammy Award · Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media · Nominated; Academy Awards · Best Sound Mixing · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The setting was originally planned to be Saturn but was changed to Neptune to distinguish it from Interstellar.; The script was revised by Charlie Kaufman.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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