Ad Astra: New sci-fi film starring Brad Pitt is dividing critics in a big way
Some called the space saga a 'masterpiece', while others found it 'tedious'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.New sci-fi film Ad Astra is proving extremely divisive among critics.
The latest release from director James Gray stars Brad Pitt as an astronaut who travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel the curious case of what’s threatening the survival of earth.
Ad Astra wasn’t going to be for everyone; the film’s synopsis teases “a journey that challenges the nature of human existence and our place in the cosmos”.
While some critics are praising the “mesmerising” film following its premiere at Venice Film Festival, others weren’t so taken by the finished product and claimed that the film was tedious.
The Independent highlighted Pitt’s career-best performance and likened the “moving” film to Gravity and Interstellar.
The Guardian, The Telegraph and IndieWire all awarded the “masterpiece” a full five stars out of five.
According to The Times‘ two-star review, though, Pitt is “as blank as he’s ever been” in the “tedious” film with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “stubbornly uninvolving”.
Vanity Fair levelled that, while the film is a visual stunner, it fails to offer anything new to the science-fiction genre.
Starring in the film alongside Pitt is Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler and Donald Sutherland.
Director James Gray is best known for films The Immigrant and We Own the Night. His last release was the The Lost City of Z, which starred Charlie Hunnam and Robert Pattinson.
Ad Astra soars into cinemas on 18 September.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments