There’s only one thing I don’t get…
I’ve spent a lot of energy decrying lazy critiques of Interstellar. After two viewings, there was nothing that confused me; everything fit perfectly. Except one thing. After well over 30 viewings, it still vexes me. And I’ve never seen it discussed among Interstellar fans.
Every hour on Miller’s planet is 7 years on Earth. If 23 earth years pass between Cooper’s departure and return, that means he is on Miller’s planet for just over 3 hours. Yet the events on Miller’s planet, which are presented from start to finish in “real time,” last only a few minutes.
Additionally, CASE informs Cooper that it will take 45 minutes to 1 hour to drain the water from the engines. This is immediately followed by Cooper’s and Brand’s argument, which—again—seems to occur in real time. As soon as the argument is over, CASE reveals that they still need “a minute or two” for the engines. That was fast!
Are we meant to infer that these scenes do not happen in real time? There’s nothing in the filmmaking to suggest a time lapse to me. However, I can’t conceive of another explanation.
Help a guy out. This is killin’ me, people.
How Mann and Romilly respond to isolation
Doctor Mann is one of the great villains in recent cinema. It’s not because he’s evil; it’s because he reminds us of the worst parts of ourselves. Even as I despise him, I can sympathize with his cowardice. I’m a pretty self-aware person. I try to be kind—to do the right thing. Yet I know I’ve done wrong; I’ve been selfish at times. Each of us, in degrees, has created some ugliness. I can’t say for sure that I wouldn’t have pressed the button.
We all have the potential to go mad as Mann did. However, we’re equally likely to endure like Romilly. There are many factors driving their responses to isolation. Today, I present one: companionship.
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I’m basically dedicating a whole wall to “Interstellar”
As you may have no noticed, I’m in love with all the artwork being made by Interstellar fans. Since November, I’ve acquired 16 art prints. Unfortunately, I’ve had to put off framing them since I’m not an oil tycoon.
In the meantime, I’ve started “small” with another piece. My favorite Interstellar poster features Cooper and Murph peering up at the blue sky. I was able to find a high-resolution version—without the title or credits—that would print well in large dimensions (36 x 24). After a painless online order, I picked up my laminated print from the local FedEx Office.
This poster represents the promise of my eventual collection.
“No Time for Caution” Podcast: The Humanity of TARS and CASE
This week, Andy and Tim discuss whether TARS and CASE are sentient beings. They also cover the robot apocalypse, the future of invasive advertising, jerk kids who spill chili, and Tim’s budding career as a vaudeville performer for senior citizens.
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