Comments on: “Astronaut: The Last Push” https://habitablezone.com/2014/11/16/astronaut-the-last-push/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:20:54 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert https://habitablezone.com/2014/11/16/astronaut-the-last-push/#comment-32094 Robert Fri, 28 Nov 2014 04:02:37 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=48143#comment-32094 I could see it coming from about the middle of the movie, though I give them some credit for the way it was in doubt right up to the very moment of decision. To me it was an upbeat choice, though taken without a lot of joy on the part of the astronaut, more a low-key (emotionally-deadened after years of isolation) affirmation of his original impetus to explore. I don't think he had any ties to Earth holding him back anyway. After all, the mission was supposed to last a decade if successful, so I think he'd made his peace with cutting the cord. I've thought some more about "Bob", and the choice of Bruce Baumgartner. He's a character actor with a distinctive face I've seen a lot of places, making him damn near the archetype of The Familiar Face. That's a bit of clever casting, I think, for a part consisting of being a face on a video monitor anchoring Michael's sanity. But I also agree with you that his attempt at humor about the bet was really jarring. I'm glad you did actually enjoy the movie. I did too, and I also found things to ding it for. That's what makes this movie review stuff fun, right? I could see it coming from about the middle of the movie, though I give them some credit for the way it was in doubt right up to the very moment of decision. To me it was an upbeat choice, though taken without a lot of joy on the part of the astronaut, more a low-key (emotionally-deadened after years of isolation) affirmation of his original impetus to explore. I don’t think he had any ties to Earth holding him back anyway. After all, the mission was supposed to last a decade if successful, so I think he’d made his peace with cutting the cord.

I’ve thought some more about “Bob”, and the choice of Bruce Baumgartner. He’s a character actor with a distinctive face I’ve seen a lot of places, making him damn near the archetype of The Familiar Face. That’s a bit of clever casting, I think, for a part consisting of being a face on a video monitor anchoring Michael’s sanity. But I also agree with you that his attempt at humor about the bet was really jarring.

I’m glad you did actually enjoy the movie. I did too, and I also found things to ding it for. That’s what makes this movie review stuff fun, right?

]]> By: SDG https://habitablezone.com/2014/11/16/astronaut-the-last-push/#comment-32092 SDG Thu, 27 Nov 2014 18:13:19 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=48143#comment-32092 One more thing, though this is a spoiler since it has to do with the ending. The ending didn't speak to me at all. I know it was supposed to be inspiring and speak to our desire for exploration, but it left me feeling flat. Ultimately this was a movie about a person. A person who deliberately isolated himself from others. Where was his family for 3 years? No wife or girlfriend? Parents? He was awkward at best with the public during the televised Q/A. Bob was his only contact for the whole abort mission home, that had to have been by choice. Certainly they could have gotten anyone in the world on the other end. And Bob of all people, a man whose first words when regaining contact was that he lost a lot of money betting against his survival. That man was aggravating enough when I thought he was on his side, but to say he was betting against him even if joking was unforgivable. I was hoping to see some anger from the astronaut at the man's callousness, but even that seemed to have no effect. Bob was unimportant in his role as connection to humanity. By the end I was hoping to see some growth. When the astronaut requested and watched the video of well-wishers, It seemed that he was making a step to rejoin humanity. But when the decision time came he chose to bask in his isolationism instead. This may sound kind of harsh, since I did actually enjoy the movie, but ultimately this wasn't a story about a giant leap for mankind, but a small backing away step of a man. Perhaps that was intended. One more thing, though this is a spoiler since it has to do with the ending. The ending didn’t speak to me at all. I know it was supposed to be inspiring and speak to our desire for exploration, but it left me feeling flat.

Ultimately this was a movie about a person. A person who deliberately isolated himself from others. Where was his family for 3 years? No wife or girlfriend? Parents? He was awkward at best with the public during the televised Q/A.

Bob was his only contact for the whole abort mission home, that had to have been by choice. Certainly they could have gotten anyone in the world on the other end. And Bob of all people, a man whose first words when regaining contact was that he lost a lot of money betting against his survival. That man was aggravating enough when I thought he was on his side, but to say he was betting against him even if joking was unforgivable. I was hoping to see some anger from the astronaut at the man’s callousness, but even that seemed to have no effect. Bob was unimportant in his role as connection to humanity.

By the end I was hoping to see some growth. When the astronaut requested and watched the video of well-wishers, It seemed that he was making a step to rejoin humanity. But when the decision time came he chose to bask in his isolationism instead.

This may sound kind of harsh, since I did actually enjoy the movie, but ultimately this wasn’t a story about a giant leap for mankind, but a small backing away step of a man. Perhaps that was intended.

]]> By: SDG https://habitablezone.com/2014/11/16/astronaut-the-last-push/#comment-32091 SDG Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:35:07 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=48143#comment-32091 took me 4 nights to finish it as I watched before falling asleep. I think they got the spaceship right or about as well as I've seen done in a movie. I wish they would have had better orbital graphics. The ones they showed were pretty lame, as if Venus, Earth, and Jupiter lined up for 3+ years. There was really no excuse for the lame graphic. It also was never clear to me why he flew by Venus. A graphic would have been able to shown why. After reading The Martian, this movie spoke to me about the solitude of being abandoned in a similar way. Though The Martian is far more entertaining since that character has a pretty awesome sense of humor. This guy had none, but it worked for this film in a broody sort of way. Thanks for pointing out thhe film Robert, I probably wouldn't have seen it otherwise. took me 4 nights to finish it as I watched before falling asleep. I think they got the spaceship right or about as well as I’ve seen done in a movie. I wish they would have had better orbital graphics. The ones they showed were pretty lame, as if Venus, Earth, and Jupiter lined up for 3+ years. There was really no excuse for the lame graphic. It also was never clear to me why he flew by Venus. A graphic would have been able to shown why.

After reading The Martian, this movie spoke to me about the solitude of being abandoned in a similar way. Though The Martian is far more entertaining since that character has a pretty awesome sense of humor. This guy had none, but it worked for this film in a broody sort of way.

Thanks for pointing out thhe film Robert, I probably wouldn’t have seen it otherwise.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2014/11/16/astronaut-the-last-push/#comment-32077 bowser Fri, 21 Nov 2014 08:53:42 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=48143#comment-32077 A bit hokey in parts, and overall done well. It placed a terrible burden on the main character, and the actor carried it off pretty darned well. A bit hokey in parts, and overall done well. It placed a terrible burden on the main character, and the actor carried it off pretty darned well.

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