HOLLYWOOD—Its been quite awhile since we’ve talked about director Christopher Nolan. He only seems to do a movie every so many years. The one thing to note about Mr. Nolan is that he is a very patient filmmaker and whatever he puts out tends to mesmerize audiences. His latest foray is the super secretive intergalactic flick “Interstellar.” For those who have seen the trailers or TV spots for this flick know that the movie tackles the issue of a group of astronauts venturing to places unknown to save the planet.

Something the audience should know is that Nolan is notorious for producing some lengthy films and “Interstellar” clocks at 2 hours and 49 minutes. Yeah, it’s a pretty long flick to say the least and time jumps further complicate the plot in my opinion.

The film stars Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, a man who sacrifices all that is important to him to save the planet; I mean it’s no easy task to choose between saving the world or leaving your children behind. That is something Nolan places heavy scrutiny under the microscope. If you were placed in this situation and had the ability to do so, what would you do?

At the core of the movie is Cooper’s relationship with his adolescent daughter Murphy (Mackenzie Foy). The father-daughter relationship is a strong theme in the movie, for Nolan he ventures into a territory that hasn’t always been seen by the director: it’s an emotional rollercoaster.

What audiences saw with “Gravity” was spectacle of the power of visual effects in presenting space in a way that we’ve never seen before. What “Interstellar” does is heighten that reality not only on the visual front, but also with a narrative to follow along. Is the narrative a bit tedious at times, indeed, but anyone who appreciates cinema can understand what Nolan is attempting to do.

Time is precious; its not forever and “Interstellar” is a testament to that notion. We see Murphy age over time, as Jessica Chastain tackles the role mid-age and Ellen Burstyn as the character reaches her golden years as some would call it.

The acting in the movie delivers from a top-notch cast that also includes Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway, as Cooper’s partner along for the intergalactic journey. It’s a more subdued performance from the actress than we’ve seen in the past if you ask me.

Nolan as a director continues to do what he does best which is to open the audiences’ mind to things that seem intangible, impossible. The Earth is a fascinating place, but there are things outside of the planet that we have absolutely no doubt about, “Interstellar” taps into that curiosity that lurks in us all.

Could the movie have used a bit more fine-tuning to tighten up the narrative and its message? Yes, those not prepared for a mind-bender could become a bit impatient by the movie, but Nolan delivers to the moviegoer a film that will suture you early on and have you thinking well after the credits have rolled.

By LaDale Anderson