Review - Gravity (2013)

Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

Last year it was Life of Pi, this year it is Gravity. This shit keeps getting better and better. Let's be real, nobody is that fond of 3D, but we can't deny the fact that it has become an integral part of theater experience. Some 3D effects are pretty non-existent but then there are those that provides us with unforgettable moments and experiences. One such example is Gravity.

Just picture the movie '127 Hours' but this time, the fight for survival takes place in space. Dr Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is on her first space shuttle mission with Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) but things go terribly wrong. Their ship is damaged and they find themselves seperated in the deep of space. The film then drifts into one-character driven territory with Ryan.

Poor Ryan Stone. From one tragedy to the next. All alone in space with little hope of surviving and boy did director Alfonso Cuaron make it difficult for her and for us the audience. He has us drifting into space, maneuvering in and out of space shuttles with so many obstacles which are not only dangerous but also makes the movie so tense. I found Gravity exciting and frightening; we are thrilled by astronauts dangling, debris flying and shit blowing up. We are NOT bottled up in a space shuttle the entire movie. Cuaron tried this original approach which blended perfectly well with its visuals.

Sandra Bullock and George Clooney were perfect in their roles. When the emotions kicked in, Sandra does a solid job in making me depressed and at other times terrified, while George Clooney is our effective comic relief in his screentime. A solid screenplay makes these two characters so likeable, believable and authentic.

Gravity utilizes 3D so effectively, you will feel like you're literally out in space and I loved it. Gravity boasts the best visuals you will probably ever see. The camera work is so impressive; an amazing view of Earth is always in the background so we never lose touch of where we are. What also blew me away were the few instances of first person viewpoint; we became Ryan Stone, seeing and experiencing the horror through her eyes.

We all know that there is no sound in space. However that didn't stop Steven Price who was able to score this film perfectly and help build its tense atmosphere. Perfect sound design; one moment you're drowned in chaos inside a shuttle, the next moment the movie moves out into the dead silence of space. These are some aspects that left me in awe and admiration.

Space is a terrifying place and thanks to Cuaron's breathtaking vision, I'm not planning to visit any time soon. I did not want this movie to end. See it in 3D to get a grand experience.


Rating: 10/10