Per Aspera Ad Astra: Through Hardship through the Stars.

The moral of the story is that if you were part of the Ocean's gang, don't be an astronaut. Just ask Matt Damon (The Martian), Sandra Bullock (Gravity), Anne Hathaway (Interstellar) and George Clooney (who gave it shot twice and still turned for the worse with Solaris and Gravity). Brad Pitt is the next in line to be mesmerized by the beauty and horror of outer space.

After a series of shock waves hit the Earth, astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is called in to locate the source of these sinister surges. Their point of origin: Neptune, where Roy's father (Tommy Lee Jones) was last seen. It's a journey of survival through the stars as Roy searches for answers and ponder on his inner self and the universe.

With the stillness of 2001: A Space Odyssey, the beauty of a Terrence Malick movie, the tension of Gravity, and the solitude of Moon,  Ad Astra is one of the best science-fiction movie's of the year and one of the most realistic astronaut movies.

Director James Gray is no stranger to ambition and thoughtfulness as seen with his previous film The Lost City of Z, traveling from the deep dark jungles to deep dark space.

Meeting Helen Lantos (Ruth Negga).

Brad Pitt masterfully carries the film, underneath that emotionless exterior is man carrying so much pain and regret; from his strained relationship with his wife (Liv Taylor) and remembering if his father was indeed the man that everyone (himself included) believed in.

On the moon. 

Like 2001, it's movie that requires a lot patience, and while there are moments of intensity, don't go in thinking it's like Gravity or The Martian with plenty of action and humor. It does share the visual splendor and owes plenty said films on crafting it's look of splendor and awe.

Colonel Pruitt (Donald Sutherland)

Despite their limited screen appearance, Ruth Negga and Donald Sutherland make use of their time and add to the drama. Having half of the Space Cowboys never hurts. While on the subject, where Space Cowboys acted as the anti-Armageddon, Ad Astra serves as the anti-Interstellar. Like Interstellar, it takes place in the near future with Earth going through a planetary crisis. Space exploration is seen as the final solution with the search of life among the stars. The end result with Interstellar while noble came off as frustrating, Ad Astra's resolution is more tragic but persists on searching for hope whether above or under the stars.

Ad Astra may not be to everyone's liking but for this fan of serious sci-fi, it was fully rewarding.

Final Verdict: A