Brad Pitt is one of those few Hollywood acting legends whose charisma and natural screen presence wins our hearts every damn time. It does not matter if he is leading a project or playing a supporting character; he manages to captivate audiences with his sensational performances. His performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) is the epitome of this scenario. The man even bagged the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor through this film. Although, he has also starred in several great movies that did not perform well in terms of box office collections. But they were enjoyable to watch. One of those Pitt’s films is Ad Astra (2019).
Helmed by James Gray, Ad Astra revolves around Roy McBride, an astronaut who resides in the near future. He is sent on a mission to Neptune to investigate mysterious power surges that start threatening the lives on Earth. Along the way, he constantly struggles with isolation and often confronts his troubled relationship with his father, H. Clifford McBride, who was himself an astronaut and went missing while trying to discover extraterrestrial life many years ago. He must complete his mission and find closure with his father after defeating his demons and struggles.
The things that stand out the most in Ad Astra are the cinematography, visuals, and Pitt’s performance. The cinematography aids the viewers in immersing themselves in the beauty and vastness of the space. Additionally, the film beautifully explores the themes such as loneliness, isolation, and humans’ desire for emotional connection with others. Brad Pitt does a hell of a job of capturing the expressive and nuanced side of Roy McBride. Moreover, the movie’s philosophical themes make it different from conventional Hollywood space flicks.
Overall, Ad Astra deserves a watch! The film currently stands at a rating of 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 392 reviews.
Stream Brad Pitt’s Ad Astra on Netflix. Enjoy!