Brad goes into space, masculinity in Ad Astra

LOOKS AND sounds like a space epic with a movie star lead in Brad Pitt, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. Pitt said Thursday at the Venice International Film Festival that he and director James Gray are really digging into the idea of masculinity. “Having grown up in an era where you’re taught to be strong and not show weakness ... there is certain value in that but there’s also a barrier that’s created denying those pains or those things you feel ashamed to reveal,” Pitt said. “I think we were asking the question: Is a better definition for us actually being more open divining a better relationship with your loved ones, with your parents, with your kids, and with yourself?”

Ad Astra follows Pitt’s detached astronaut character Roy Mcbride on a journey to the outer reaches of space to find his estranged father, a famous astronaut himself who has long been thought dead. In addition to starring, Pitt also produced the film which he said was one of the most challenging he’s ever done. Not only did he and Gray use primarily practical sets (he laughed that he and friend George Clooney “exchanged some discomfort stories” about the strings and rigs used to simulate anti-gravity in space films) but it’s an emotionally taxing role as well.

When asked about the Oscar prospects of Ad Astra, Pitt, who has yet to win an Oscar for acting despite being nominated twice, deflected. “Every year I see amazing talent getting acknowledged and amazing talent not getting acknowledged. And my feeling is when your number comes up it’s great fun and when someone else’s number comes up it’s very fun to see,” Pitt said. “How was that for a dodge?”

AD ASTRA