The Writer's Life 10/10 - Stellar

Last night I watched Interstellar (2014), courtesy of Netflix. Directed by London-born Christopher Nolan, who collaborated with his brother Jonathan on the screenplay, it is sci-fi for those who prefer fare such as 2001, a Space Odyssey (1968) to such as the Transformers series. The basics of the story are simple: Earth is plagued by an undefined blight hampering agriculture, threatening the food supply and thus the entire species. Has it been caused by global warming or man's mismanagement of resources? The Nolans had the good grace to leave it undefined. Does it really matter? It's fact and mankind must be saved. The cast is first-rate and their work is excellent: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, the ubiquitous Michael Caine, John Lithgow, Ellen Burstyn and William Devane are the prominent names. I am not qualified to comment on whether the science is sound. For the most part, that has not ever mattered to me in this genre. I think I understood most of the plot, and it is always refreshing to be challenged by a work. My quibbles are its length, 2:40 before the closing credits, and the odd turn Damon's character takes, which didn't make much sense to me. As one would expect in modern cinema, the technical aspects are spectacular. The film received five Oscar nominations, all in specialty categories, winning for visual effects. 740,000+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to an impressive consensus of 8.7 of ten. On a scale of five, I rate it 3.5. Anyone who craves fast-paced action should pass. This is a film for the patient. The Nolans have collaborated on five films. Below is a list of Christopher's impressive canon. An asterisk denotes the other co-writes he's done with his brother, who created Person of Interest and Westworld for TV:
* 2012 The Dark Knight Rises 
 2010 Inception
* 2008 The Dark Knight 
 2006 The Prestige
 2005 Batman Begins 
 *2002 Insomnia 
 *2000 Memento (based on Jonathan's short story, Memento Mori.)
 1998 Following

My thanks to Bill and Steve, who bought books on this glorious day. Ralph pulled up in his huge SUV, system blaring You Shook Me from Led Zepellin I. Seconds later he said he had an awful migraine. Odd choice of music for someone so afflicted.

Vic's 5th Novel: http://tinyurl.com/okxkwh5Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tinyurl.com/l84h63j

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/