By Steve Crum

The apt title of the spectacular outer space film opening today, Ad Astra, means “to the stars” in Latin. Indeed, the journey takes us there and further. Directed and co-written by James Gray (The Lost City of Z), Ad Astra’s slowly paced 124 minutes follow astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) from the earth to the moon and beyond…to find his father and save the universe. 

Gray has described his work as “the most realistic depiction of space travel that’s been put in a movie,” and he nearly achieves that goal. Let us just say that his creation is much closer to 2001: A Space Odyssey than Star Wars. While Ad Astra lacks 2001’s Strauss music on its soundtrack, the atmospheric electronic score by Max Richter is an appropriately welcome touch.

However, Gray was essentially referring to the feeling of isolation and the introspection of an astronaut, in this case provided in frequent narration by Pitt’s Major McBride. In that sense, Gray has at topped 2001’s Dr. David Bowman (Keir Dullea), whose lone astronaut never shares his thoughts. (And we could have used some of Bowman’s explanation during 2001’s surreal finale.)

McBride’s thoughts are shared with us during a galactic journey forced upon him by his superiors to helm an emergency mission. Jarring power surges are being felt on earth, and scientists fear they will increase with catastrophic results. They have pinpointed Neptune as culprit central. It appears that McBride’s supposedly dead father, Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones), is not only living but responsible for the problem. 

Accompanying the younger McBride is Col. Pruitt, well played in a brief turn by Donald Sutherland. 

Before and after the trip, McBride’s commentary centers on being estranged from his wife (Liv Tyler), reactions to frequent psychological testing, and memories of his father. 

The mundane aspects of space travel are definitely shown, but thankfully broken with some action— space monkeys and moon pirates included. During both sequences, I thought the movie was veering into Alien and Buck Rogers territory. Of course, that would have impeded on Gray’s goal of depicting realism in outer space. (So space monkeys and moon pirates are realistic?) 

Visually, Ad Astra is a stunner, digital effects and cinematography included. (See it in IMAX if possible.) But the acting is impressive as well. Brad Pitt is on screen most of the time, appearing both unnerved and determined. Thankfully, McBride’s psychological testing requires those attributes. 

Will the son suffer the sins of his father? Climb on board to find out.   

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GRADE, On A to F Scale: B-