The Sci-Fi Classics series concludes (for now).

This week, we revisit The Abyss and Interstellar, two science fiction films that approach humanity from very different directions while arriving at a similar idea: that love, connection, and empathy may be what ultimately preserve us.

We begin beneath the ocean with James Cameron’s ambitious and technically groundbreaking The Abyss, discussing Ed Harris and Michael Biehn’s performances, the film’s atmosphere, score, endings, and legacy before heading into space with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar to discuss time, sacrifice, memorable performances, filmmaking, and what continues to make the film resonate.

We close by reflecting on our favorite entries in the Sci-Fi Classics series and sharing more recommendations for your watchlist.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:09 Episode Overview

00:00:57 Have we seen them, and how we’re watching

00:02:19 Under Pressure: Making The Abyss documentary

00:05:26 Michael Biehn

00:07:10 The Atmosphere and Claustrophobic Setting

00:09:28 The Cinematic Feel (with Special Edition DVD)

00:13:11 Armageddon vs The Abyss

00:17:03 The Beautification of Hollywood

00:19:53 Where this fits within the James Cameron filmography

00:27:42 Alan Silvestri’s Score

00:29:16 Are the Aliens essential to the plot?

00:34:22 The Different Endings

00:44:20 The Start of James Cameron’s Technological Advances in Filmmaking

00:49:26 Insterstellar

00:50:02 Dan’s Thoughts on Sci-Fi Classics that led to this

00:53:14 Patrick on the rewatchability of the movie

00:55:21 Paul on the beauty of the movie

00:57:23 Professor Brand’s Pessimism vs Murph’s Optimism vs Mann’s Selfishness

01:05:35 The Movie and the Score’s Relationship with Time

01:08:24 The Supporting Cast (and TARS/CASE)

01:12:44 Matthew McConaughey’s Comeback

01:15:13 The Black Hole and 2001: A Space Odyssey Comparisons

01:19:51 Christopher Nolan Playing with Time

01:26:03 The Denis Villeneuve Connection

01:27:00 The Greats of Movie Composers (John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Ludwig Göransson)

01:28:54 Is Cooper Station going back to Edmonds’ planet? (Battlestar Galactica / Cowboy Bebop comparison)

01:33:46 Our Favorite Scenes

01:37:16 The Approachability of Christopher Nolan Movies

01:40:46 Physical Media Discussion

01:43:05 Sci-Fi Classics Takeaways

01:50:16 Our Favorites of the Series

01:52:13 Our Other Sci-Fi Recs (Alien, Star Wars, Contact, Back to the Future, The Fifth Element, The Martian, Sunshine, The Matrix, Edge of Tomorrow, Tron: Legacy)

01:58:01 Episode Wrap