The performance Christopher Nolan called extraordinary: “It’s mind-blowing”
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(Credits: Alamy)
He might not be an actor himself, but Christopher Nolan has had a front row seat to some truly spectacular performances. In one of his earliest hits, Guy Pearce wowed audiences with his portrayal of an amnesiac searching for answers in Memento. Over time, he has directed legends like Scarlett Johansson, Marion Cotillard, Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Pacino, and Michael Caine.
One of his most emotional projects is 2014’s Interstellar. Nolan’s take on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, the film follows a group of astronauts attempting to find a new planet for the human race before the Earth becomes uninhabitable. Sir Michael gives a fantastic performance, especially in his deathbed scene, and Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain are easily the best female performers in any Nolan film, mostly due to the director’s appalling record when it comes to writing women.
When it comes to characters in this sprawling, gorgeous sci-fi drama, the most important one is Joseph ‘Coop’ Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey. A former NASA pilot, Coop is recruited by the remnants of the organisation to lead humanity’s last stand, which he does so with the knowledge that he will miss most of his daughter’s life. This performance is seen as one of the high-points of McConaughey’s comeback tour – nicknamed ‘The McConaissance’ – and was praised by critics of all shapes and sizes upon the film’s release.
One person who was definitely pleased with McConaughey’s effort was his director. Speaking to The Daily Beast, Nolan framed his new leading man’s latest turn within the context of his existence canon. “Leo’s performance in Inception was extraordinary, and he didn’t get nearly enough credit for that and what it meant for the film – exactly the same way Guy Pearce carried Memento,” he said. “I’m hoping audiences don’t overlook Matthew’s performance in the same way. It’s hard for me to make any claims about the film, but as far as what he’s done, it’s mind-blowing.”
One of the claims often levelled against Nolan’s films is that they prioritise style over substance. The Brit is a very gifted technical filmmaker, there’s no doubt about that, but some of his films come across as emotionless, due to a lack of recognisable human connections. “The technique of the film can overshadow the performances to some degree,” Nolan stated, seemingly agreeing with his critics. “I wouldn’t want to emphasise it too much, because I want these great actors to keep working with me!”
Unfortunately, Nolan’s prediction came true. When awards season rolled around, all of the major bodies ignored McConaughey, and the rest of the Interstellar cast for that matter. It received a series of Oscar nominations in some of the technical categories, winning for ‘Best Visual Effects’, but that was it. The only nomination McConaughey received was at the Saturn Awards, which celebrate excellence in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. He lost out on the ‘Best Actor’ prize to Chris Pratt for Guardians of the Galaxy.
Interstellar is a beautiful movie, one of the best-looking in Nolan’s entire catalogue, but it’s the performances that make it so special. Without McConaughey and the rest of the talented cast giving it their all, it would have ended up still being very pretty, but as cold and vacuous as the deepest depths of the cosmos.
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