Barry Daulton’s review published on Letterboxd:
It’s funny, but as much as I agree that Nolan is one of the best directors out there right now, I don’t really re-watch his films. Maybe it’s because I usually walk away knowing that I had a good grasp, or maybe it’s the opposite and that I only think I do. I am sure his works are usually in need of repeat viewing because there is a lot to digest. So while it’s been nearly a decade, and I really probably should have re-watched Inception as that came before, this one doesn’t have the same high critical success of many of his other films. I think when I saw it the first time I had an issue with the long run time, and honestly I still think there could be some cuts made, but honestly I don’t think there is much else wrong with the movie. The performances are all really good, and I like the story. I know a lot of people have the same sort of issues with this as contact, an alien movie with no alien, but I think it ending works for me. There are other complaints about the science, but so much about what is discussed can only be proven or disproven by theory. As expected Zimmer’s score is a huge part of the success of the dramatic scenes. Not to be taken lightly is how great the special effects are, it brings a full life to the alien planets. Despite its setting in the future, the scenes on earth feel like it takes place in the past, saying to the viewer that we are really going to go backwards before we go forward a very good choice. I know I didn’t find this to be a great movie, just a good one when I first saw it, maybe it was the run time, maybe it was some of the pseudo science type stuff, I know it didn’t bother me nearly as much as the known factual problems I had with space in the film Gravity. Despite a few minor flaws I still think it is a really good film. Probably one of those 4.25’s that I wish I could give. I have debated bumping it to 4.5, but I will still with my initial thinking of 4 stars.
