Interstellar hits harder for me the older I get and the more I see a possibility of our planet reaching a state like the one depicted in the opening scenes. Christopher Nolan immediately taps into the core emotions that tie us individuals to the planet we inhabit, grounding us before taking us on the journey of a lifetime. His dedication to realistically depicting reality for what it is across time and space is truly inspiring, and the fact that he captures this vision in a cinematic experience that hits you with unparalleled visuals, sound, and emotions is unreal. This is undoubtedly Nolan’s magnum opus.

I’ve discussed a thought with some mutuals lately and it feels relevant to bring up here: a movies runtime is honestly irrelevant if the pacing of the content works neatly. The ebb and flow, the tempo, the rising and falling action, however you want to classify it, our perception of it transcends time. Interstellar breezes through nearly three hours of runtime like it’s nothing. Sequence editing is one of Nolan’s strong suits and this is one of his best works in that regard. Plenty of time is given to developing the situation and characters on Earth, setting up deep emotional stakes before Cooper embarks on a journey like no other. Each planet offers a different challenge (man vs nature, man vs man) for the crew and the reflection that follows is poignant. These themes of humanity and survival are so raw that when we watch Cooper break down as he experiences 23 years of missed memories, we too break down. Time, memories, and our perception of them are deeply rooted in personal emotions and experiences. These gut punches Nolan hits you with are based right out of the fundamental experiences that every human being has encountered in one way or another.

I especially love how much effort and dedication went into depicting the science of space travel and space physics realistically. Nolan has always put emphasis on realism and logic based around time but this is on another level, it feels like he took a camera into places we’ve never seen before. The wormhole sequence is so cool and depicts interstellar travel in a way that’s so comprehensible. And the whole fourth dimension sequence Cooper experiences at the end? Genius. To be completely blunt, I’m a believer in higher dimensions in some capacity, and Nolan’s portrayal of what that could look like makes perfect sense to me. Even when he reaches into the unknown, it feels realistic.

It almost feels redundant to talk about all the actual nuts and bolts that hold this adventure together. The performances are amazing in their own regard, each actor’s range tailored to a specific character and their dialogue. As mentioned earlier, McConaughey’s breakdown is impossible not to be empathetic towards as he depicts emotions we all have felt at one time. Visually, Interstellar is on another level. It stands tall with 2001 and Ad Astra in capturing space as the wide, terrifying yet awe-inspiring locale that it is. There’s a touch of claustrophobia in the cinematography, and my guess is that that’s a result of Nolan trying to be as practical as possible. It works perfectly though because it makes those wide moments incredibly impactful. Oh, and of course, the Hans Zimmer score. Majestic, tonally rich, and it ties the whole experience together perfectly.

Interstellar speaks to me on multiple levels, appealing to the emotional side of me as well as the side that yearns for the stars. I’ve been feeling pretty existential over the last few weeks, reflecting on not just myself but humanity as a whole. This rewatch happened at just the right time, giving me more food for thought in the form of a masterfully directed cinematic experience. Interstellar is Nolan at his best: analyzing humanity and time through a lens that combines the pinnacle of sciences and the deepest of emotions.