Gravity: A project that was stuck at a development standstill for years, with a budget that studios said was too big and needing technology that was not yet available. And yet here we are in 2013 and what has been a long time passion project for director Alfonso Cuaron has finally hit theatres as one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Cuaron's latest movie has been described as ground-breaking, exhilarating and as a cinematic milestone, and for the most part, the film lives up to all the hype.
"Gravity" is a survival story pure and simple. Whilst servicing the Hubble Space Telescope, astronauts Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (Clooney) find themselves in a perilous situation with their lives at danger and the chances of getting back to Earth minimal. Nothing more is needed to be told to enjoy this movie and there is minimal wastage in Gravity's hour and half runtime. Due to the intensive nature of the effects, every movement and every bit of dialogue has been carefully selected and placed in its appropriate place. This comes at a certain cost however. If you are a viewer who prefers the fantastical story and colorful characters that tend to populate sci-fi movies, there may be some slight disappointment because both elements are lacking in "Gravity". Put simply, the chief focus here is on the visuals.
At a quick glance, it is a movie that is seemingly without limitation. The effects are seamless and without any noticeable flaws. We never question for a moment what we are witnessing and because of that, we are easily immersed into this familiar yet utterly different cinematic world. The majesty and sheer epic nature of the visuals are outstanding from the very start to the very finish, and aside from photographs and footage such as this, movies like "Gravity" may be as close as most people will come to experiencing the incredible feeling of isolation and wonder of being in space. The space in this realistic world is completely different than the space we witness in lighter sci-fi movies such as the Star Wars or Star Trek franchises. It is cold, it is dark; it is the certainty of death and the impossibility of life. It is callous and soulless and stretches out as far as the eye can see. And through the characters' eyes, we feel their helplessness and isolation, we realize what specks we are when we see the vast expanses of Earth taunting us before our very eyes, just beyond the reach of us mere mortals. Yet at the same time, the beauty of what Cuaron shows us is unparalleled. One might begin to question how much of the amazing things we witness is real and how much is just rendered in a computer but perhaps it's better not to know, maybe just accepting the fantasy that we are invited to experience is enough.
Bringing in accomplished cinematographer and frequent collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki on an unprecedented undertaking for both film-makers, what the masterminds of "Children of Men" and "Y Tu Mama Tambien" have done with "Gravity" is nothing short of brilliant. In an interesting parallel with "2001: A Space Odyssey" director Stanley Kubrick (whose superior 1968 space exploration film that doubled as a meditation on the the meaning of life will undoubtedly invite some comparisons), the interesting thing to note in Cuaron's decades long career is that his films are rarely similar. Much like Kubrick, Cuaron has never really made the same kind of movie twice, and his ambition with Gravity is admirable and his passion palpable. We get a taste of what made "Children of Men" so memorable here and his brilliance at executing pulsating and visually unique action set pieces are on full display as well. George Clooney, whose recognizable voice and calming presence gives us something comforting to hold on to in "Gravity", does a great job in what would have been a less effective role with a different actor. A long time veteran on his last expedition, Kowalski is a guiding spirit of sorts for Stone, a doctor on her first expedition whose inner demons come to the fore when things go awry. The physically and emotionally taxing role that Sandra Bullock plays in "Gravity" is perhaps the most challenging role of her career, and much more interesting than her various romantic comedy roles or her Oscar-winning performance in "The Blind Side".
Something that goes almost without saying is that "Gravity" should be watched in theatres, preferably in IMAX or 3D. While this reviewer generally considers 3D movies a gimmick designed to push up ticket prices (The Last Airbender and Clash of the Titans come to mind), "Gravity" was designed with the widescreen 3D viewing experience in mind. Viewed at home on a smaller screen, one can't help but feel that the film may lose some of its power when its lack of fully developed characters or of anything more than a very basic linear narrative becomes more noticeable.
A-
Movie info:
Runtime: 90 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Screenplay: Alfonso Cuaron, Jonas Cuaron
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki
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