MOVIE
REVIEW: GRAVITY

10/03/2013

SYNOPSIS: Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney). But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalski completely alone—tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness.
The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth…and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left.
But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.
REVIEW: Let me kick-off my critique by saying that we all know that we're able to consume media content in many different ways, and that it’s almost a chore in it of itself to decide which format to follow (and for some, that's probably a good thing). However, I’ll do the leg-work here and assert right now that there's only one truly correct way to experience Alfonso Cuaron’s amazing flick, Gravity. That way is in a theater, on a huge screen, in 3D. Did I mention 3D? Yes 3D, even for all you “3D-naysayers.” Having said that, let’s not confuse my position here, I for one will usually be the first to say not to waste the extra money for the 3D version because most flicks are a misguided effort in that format; However in this particular case, this is the movie you must see in 3D. So much so, that I would advise against seeing it in any other format. I’ve only said that about one other film of which many of you might agree – that’s Avatar (2009).
If you've seen the heart-pounding trailer, you'll know that Sandra Bullock and George Clooney take us on the ultimate thrill ride that is like no other in recent memory. This, in my humble opinion is a landmark production of the sci-fi genre that is extraordinary in too many ways to mention without giving away spoilers, here. So I’ll focus on Cuaron's (et Al) filmmaking prowess. It most certainly is no secret, especially when you take a look at his 2007 Children of Men flick. It was a masterful evocation of a bleak futuristic world where women can no longer conceive, and warring gangs struggle for control of the dying human race.
Another notable feature with this latest release is Cuaron’s ability to give the flick a feel like it is teemed with people, but in reality Gravity has but a few. It aims to evoke the full terror of true solitude, indeed. And despite Bullock being alone much of the time, the ninety minute play and sequences relates otherwise. Though the script is written by Cuaron and his son, Jonas, credit is also in order for the cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (Children of Men) and visual effects supervisor Tim Webber, for their seamless blend of live action, animation and CGI. I can’t say that I’ve been more convinced of outer-space action feeling realistic as I have with this film. First person visuals are spectacular to the point that the flick should come with a warning. I can certainly imagine someone with a weak stomach, losing their lunch after experiencing Bullock’s first-person visuals.
This is an exhilarating, thrilling and spectacular new space film that is a cross between Tom Hank’s Castaway (2000) and Ron Howard’s 1995 Apollo 13 (also starring Hanks). It certainly gives the feel of a docudrama and causes one to ponder what a person would really do in such a devastating position, in space. Without hesitation I would give Gravity four and a half stars out of five, for seemingly realistic drama, intrigue and mystery (and Clooney’s timely comic relief).
Review
By Movi-Man Stan
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