Welcome to another edition of the “The Valero Verdict” movie review. In this I will give you a quick movie review with a couple of bullet points of which I either liked or disliked. I will end the review with rating of the movie and a short overall thoughts.

On the docket today: the Brad Pitt led space movie, Ad Astra.

Plot: Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.

Writing/Directing: James Gray



The idea of the movie is big and that is fine but the writing wasn’t there. Out the gate Gray had me on the edge of my seat and I was ready for this thrill ride, and it was one big LULL.



It just was very slow and I was okay with that until it was just super slow throughout the entire movie. Gray really lacked depth.

Acting: Brad Pitt



Look I think Pitt was good in this, borderline very good. Like I stated with J-Lo in Hustlers, he has that ability to command your attention when he is on the screen. I mean it helps that he is just an absolute handsome man too.



He was calculating in this role in ways I loved and at times he came off as just boring, the latter had more to do with the writing than it had to do with Pitt himself.



I enjoyed how Pitt’s character came off low-key as this arrogant prick all the while being charming too. The scenes in which they ran test on him after coming back were beautiful.



I do think we could have seen an out of this world performance from Pitt but the writing held him back.

Score: Johann Johannsson score is what made me glued to this film at times. His score is what kept my awake during times the movie was very flat and boring. (sadly the film is not eligible for an Oscar nod)

Cinematography: Hoyte Van Hoytema legit should be nominated for an Oscar for the his amazing palette in this film. It was beautiful from the first scene up until the last one.

Favorite Scene: MONKEEEEEEEEYs or the opening sequence.

The Verdict:

** 1/2 out of ***** gavels

This movie had “LETS GET BRAD PITT AN OSCAR” all over it. Pitt was good in the film but far from great and honestly it had more to do with Gray’s writing than it did Pitt.



The movie lacked depth in the story, and even more so in the character development. The writing got lost in this idea of that we were SUPPOSED To know what was going on without telling us what was going on.



The movie never picked up after the fantastic opening sequence, this film felt like a waste of a good performance from Pitt, a waste of beautiful Cinematography and waste of a beautiful score.

Should You See It?: I guess? This film is one of the most controversial films of the year. You either love it or hate it. So I guess, go form your own opinion and feel free to disagree with me or feel free to take a 2 hour nap.

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