Ad Astra

Director: James Gray James Gray

Overview

An astronaut (Brad Pitt) embarks on an interstellar odyssey in search of his long-lost father (Tommy Lee Jones). He encounters an unusual secret that could jeopardize the existence of Earth, solving mysteries integral to the fabric of mankind and humanity's role in the greater scheme of the universe. Written and directed by James Gray, co-starring Liv Tyler.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/17/2019
UPC:	0024543521334
Original Release:	2019
Rating:	PG-13
Source:	20Th Century Fox
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:03:00
Sales rank:	18,702

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Brad Pitt	Roy McBride
Tommy Lee Jones	H. Clifford McBride
Ruth Negga	Helen Lantos
Donald Sutherland	Thoms Pruitt
Liv Tyler	Eve
Loren Dean	Donald Stanford
John Ortiz	Lieutenant General Rivas
Greg Bryk	Chip Games
Kimberly Elise	Lorraine Deavers
Anne McDaniels	Actor
LisaGay Hamilton	Adjutant General Vogel
Kimmy Shields	Sergeant Romano
Ravi Kapoor	Arjun Dhariwal
Donnie Keshawarz	Captain Lawrence Tanner
Sean Blakemore	Willie Levant
Bobby Nish	Franklin Yoshida
Elisa Perry	Woman in White Pants/Shirt
Daniel Sauli	Sal
Kunal Dudheker	Technician One
Alyson Reed	Janice Collins
Sasha Compère	Female Team Member
Justin Dray	Male Team Member
Alex Dane	Woman on Screen
Natasha Lyonne	Tanya Pincus
Jacob Sandler	Young Roy
Bayardo De Murguia	Hector Bustamante
John Finn	Brigadier General Stroud
Freda Shen	Captain Lu
Kayla Adams	Female Flight Attendant
Alexandria Rousset	Woman on Screen
Zoro Manuel Daghlian	Spacecom Employee
Elizabeth Willaman	Voice of Cepheus
Max Richter	Composer

Technical Credits

James Gray

Ethan Gross

James Gray	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Ethan Gross	Screenwriter
Marc Butan	Executive Producer
Jeffrey Chan	Executive Producer
Dede Gardner	Producer
Paul Conway	Executive Producer
Sophie Mas	Executive Producer
Yariv Milchan	Executive Producer,Producer
Michael Schaefer	Executive Producer
Dong Yu	Executive Producer
Anthony Katagas	Producer
Jeremy Kleiner	Producer
Rodrigo Teixeira	Producer
Clay Cullen	Stunts
Brad Pitt	Producer
Anthony Mosawi	Executive Producer
Lourenço Sant'anna	Executive Producer
Joel Blanchard	Special Effects
Raymond Hoffman	Special Effects
Mike Edmonson	Special Effects
Matt Paullin	Special Effects
Douglas Aibel	Casting
Joshua VonBadinski	Special Effects
Micah Roehr	Special Effects
Kent Sparling	Sound Editor
Roland Fullajtar	Special Effects
Bob Hein	Sound Editor
Gary Rydstrom	Sound/Sound Designer
Yu Dong	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Director James Gray (The Immigrant), writing with Ethan Gross (Fringe), bring their ambitious story, Ad Astra, to the screen in vivid, galactic style. Using stunning visuals, an exceptional score, and a story that never gets larger than itself, they succeed on a grand scale-although the tale might not be to everyone's taste. Thirty years ago, the father of Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) disappeared on a space mission to the edge of our solar system. Now, Roy is enlisted to follow in his father's footsteps as an unknown force emanating from the coordinates of his father's missing spacecraft threatens the existence of the human race. As he gets deeper into the mystery, Roy begins to wonder if he ever really knew his father, and then questions if he ever really knew himself. There are distinct advantages to the director also being the writer, not the least of which is to know exactly the story they want to tell. This is the case with Gray. Even though the film can be hard to follow because some things are never fully explained and others are left open to the interpretation of the viewer, it never deviates from its consistent path. The combination of being part science fiction, part mystery, and part personal growth will not fit everyone's tastes. But for those who enjoy more thought-provoking classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running, and THX 1138, there is a lot to see and enjoy. Brad Pitt gives a wonderful performance in the lead-perhaps one of the more memorable of his career. The other members of the cast are primarily background characters, although the few scenes that feature Tommy Lee Jones as Roy's father Clifford McBride demonstrate what a fine choice he is for the role. The cinematography is exceptional, if sometimes dizzying. Some moments and angles are almost surreal, but there isn't a time that the audience will not feel like they are there, even in freefall. A surprisingly adept score couples with this feeling to give filmgoers a real sense of presence. Of particular note are the spacescapes. Intensely immersive and real, they demonstrate nearly perfectly both the vastness and beauty of our solar system. With its open details and an ending that seems destined to be controversial, Ad Astra may not be a film that is enjoyed by general audiences expecting an action thriller. However, that shouldn't deter those interested in the genre because it compares wonderfully to equally ambitious predecessors. The appeal may not be universal, but Ad Astra is certainly a bright star whose magnitude resonates.