Movie Review: Gravity (2013)
Posted By Ryan Morrissey-Smith on October 9, 2013
Gravity is an experience. Intense, scary, emotional and above all it feels real. Alfonso Curano (Children of Men) takes the premise of similar situational films (Frozen, Open Water), transplants it into space, lets the action unfold, and does it near perfectly.
The quick plot breakdown: A medical engineer (Sandra Bullock) and an astronaut (George Clooney) work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. Curano and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki have created something amazing here. The visuals are stunning, both filling you with a sense of awe and at the same time filling you with a dread that sits deep in your stomach. Encapsualting the vastness of space is not an easy task, but Curano and company do it with ease. However, it is the feeling of claustrophobia that Curano manages to get across. Despite the nothingness around the characters, we are with them inside their helmets, hearing their breathing and going though the wringer just like they are. The sound design of Gravity is also near flawless. Despite being pounded with space explosions and sounds from other films that audienes would be used to, Gravity uses the vaccum of space and thus no sound to great effect. When tools are used in space, you will hear the vibration inside the spacesuit but not the sound of the tool. It’s that attention to detail that helps Gravity succeed in drawing you into the story. The other key to this film is the score. It acts almost as a sound effect in itself and in conjuction with the action on screen raises the aniexty levels to unbearable.
Clooney plays seasoned astronaut Matt Kowlaski with all the charm that Clooney brings to most of his roles, although this time it really works for him. His “been there, done that” attitude and playboy-ish style gives the character the arrogance he needs, but still gives him the alpha male control factor when things go awry. Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Rian Stone and is absolutey outstanding, and in my opinion, this is her best work to date. Her performance is so good you can almost smell her panic and fear at certain points. It’s a miraculous performance given that she is barely off screen for the entirety of the film. The film is carried on Bullock’s back and she is more than up to the task.
Delving slightly deeper into the film, it is about inner strength and finding the will to go on even when the odds are against you. It’s about not letting life events define you, but letting your actions define who you are. This gives the film extra power that raises above the base level of this film. Sure, surviving is an instinct, but it’s what you are fighting for that counts. Doesn’t matter what that is, as long as you find that something. There is also a possible evolution comment near the end of the film, but that could be me just being a total film nerd.
Curano and his crew have created something pretty special here, not only visually or through the use of sound, but it goes beyond simply making a good film. It’s an achievement and should be regarded very highly. A tremendous film that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you can get to.
Check out our other review for Gravity:
Iain McNally’s Review
Comments
Leave a Reply
Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there will be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there is no need to re-submit your comment.