Ad Astra (so we can then go home)

Pitt is an astronaut going to find his dad who was thought to be lost decades ago on an expedition to Neptune but who might be behind energy surges that are killing people on earth. On route, they respond to an emergency call from an animal health orbiter. No reply when they near the craft. Upon entering, they are attacked by crazed monkeys. Pitt then has a psychological profile (one of several, a theme in the movie) where he relates to the monkeys' rage, his rage at his father’s abandonment, his worry that’s all there is. Very flat delivery, nearly emotionless.

Voice over much like "Apocalypse Now" but with less obvious story, less exposition. He fails his next psych profile but stows away aboard the next flight that, after he is told by a secret recording of an apparent mutiny his father put down, is clearly aimed at destroying his dad’s outpost. His presence is detected immediately at launch, leading to a fight where all but the crew dies, not his fault though he accepts responsibility. Aphorisms from his dad, odd videos, more and more AN with dad as Kurtz. Not the heart of darkness but the vacuum of darkness. He finds dad, fights, ‘let me go, son’, ‘why go on…’. But he does, let go and go on.

Amazing graphics. Pinpoint sun, multiple axis of movement, weightlessness, backgrounds, lighting and reflections. Holding a panel like a shield against rocks in orbit, like a snowstorm?! Anyway, interesting use of momentum. Then using the explosion destroying his dad’s outpost to help propel him home?? Trivializes the geometries and forces of interplanetary flight. Final psych profile, ending “submit”: “I am active…focused on the essential to the exclusion of all else…” and wife is waiting. “I will rely on those close to me and I will share their burdens as they share mine.” (Nice line!)

They grafted a ridiculously optimistic ending onto a fundamentally hopeless story, which produced a profit at the box office instead of an expensive dud but did not fool anybody, really, hence the marginal public scores. Not bad. 3.8