Interstellar

Although it's about 30 minutes too long, this film excels on so many levels that it is my favorite movie of the year (so far).  It is a MUST SEE! Earth is a dying planet, and if humanity is to survive, it needs to find another home. NASA is working on a top secret project. Astrophysicist Dr. Brand (Michael Caine) has created a plan A and plan B to save humanity. Fortunately, a worm-hole has miraculously appeared near Saturn which can transport a spaceship into another galaxy. Research of the new galaxy confirms that there are 3 planets that could possibly sustain life. Cooper (Matthew McConaughy) is a corn farmer who used to be an astronaut. He is recruited by Dr. Brand for the mission, which is to take a spaceship (The Endurance) thru the worm-hole and then into the new galaxy to check out the 3 planets.  Also accompanying Cooper will be Dr. Brand's daughter, Amelia (Anne Hathaway). Plan A involves transporting some of Earth's inhabitants to a space station near Saturn and subsequently transporting them to the new planet. However, the technology to do that hasn't yet been perfected. Plan B is to start a new colony on the best of the three planets using a cache of fertilized eggs from all ethnic groups that the crew will be bringing with them; however, this would mean that all of Earth's inhabitants will die. Cooper has a daughter, Murph, who is very sad and angry at Cooper for choosing the mission over staying with her. He promises to return, although, with time relativity, even if he makes it back to Earth alive, Murph may be much older than she is now. The special effects are great, so IMAX is the way to go on this one.  The acting is good, although none of the parts are especially demanding. It's similar to 2001 with respect to its grand scale and scope, but it is a much warmer film.  Despite all the sci-fi stuff, at its core, the movie is about family and the transcendent power of love. Rating-8.5 -- Academy Award-caliber film Dave