22. “
Interstellar” (2013)
Perhaps one of the most hotly contested films, sci-fi or otherwise, in recent memory,
Christopher Nolan’s “
Interstellar” received a host of polarizing and emotionally hot reactions. Some claimed the picture his worst (
our review wasn’t very charitable), some thought it was a vision from the heavens, and as usual, when the dust has settled, more mannered judgments have taken root (more of a
consensus Playlist opinion forms here). So yes, Nolan shoots for the fences in “Interstellar” and arguably does not connect in the same home run fashion he has for so many pictures in a row now. The dialogue can be really on the nose, while the ending some see as jumping the shark. None of us will make too strong of a case against any of those points. That said, Nolan’s film is still a dazzling, ambitious vision of love, time, space, and some deeper, perhaps fuzzier elements of the universe. It’s the place where the heart and quantum physics meet. While that might admittedly be a bit of an awkward intersection, its love-letter sincerity to humanity inspired by Nolan’s own children is at least visually awe-inspiring and occasionally breathtaking. Admittedly clunky in spots, it's a film that will very likely only grow in estimation over time.
, then place it on the list. The directors were students of the Twilight Zone.
