Interstellar is magnificently ambitious. It is just a shame that narrative appears to be the stubbiest finger upon the grasping palm of its lofty aspirations.

Nolan’s space odyssey detonates some of the director’s most impressively resplendent magic tricks yet, but too much exposition flutters at the ankles of his luxurious stage curtains.

The film’s story feels piped in, thick and gloopy. Whole scenes are pulverised into drama-flavoured baby food: “Here comes the rocket,” the script coos at us, “now open wide!”

There is absolutely a breathlessness to Interstellar, although perhaps too much of that is huffing and puffing.

When it explodes into life, Interstellar is gorgeous cinema. Elsewhere, too much of it feels like an obligatory science lesson that must be endured before we can lay back and enjoy a spectacular cosmic firework display.

RATING: 3/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, David Gyasi, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck

DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan

WRITERS: Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan

SYNOPSIS: A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations of human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

We greatly appreciate that a free screening to this film was provided by Warner Bros. and Grapevine PR.