"Gravity" (2013)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Alfonso Cuarón

Written By: Alfonso Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón, Jonás Cuarón

Released: October 4^th, 2013

Runtime: 91 minutes

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Summary:

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a medical engineer on her first shuttle mission. Her commander is veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), helming his last flight before retirement. Then, during a routine space walk by the pair, disaster strikes: The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Ryan and Matt stranded in deep space with no link to Earth and no hope of rescue. As fear turns to panic, they realize that the only way home may be to venture further into space.

Review:

This is a really good film. It takes a while to get into. It’s quite slow paced. But once it gets going it’s quite remarkable to watch. 

I find it amazing how they managed to make an almost 2 hour film with just Sandra Bullock and just the space setting, it’s so simple. It’s all plain sailing for quite a while and then the drama sort of crops up slowly out of nowhere and all of a sudden you’re thrown into this emotional battle for this woman to get back down to earth all on her own. I know George Clooney is there for a while but the majority of the film is all about her struggle. Fair dos to Sandra Bullock. She gives a great performance.

I think a lot of films about space tend to glorify the whole experience. It is astonishing, don’t take me wrong. But this film seems to put more emphasis on the dangers and frightening predicaments one could land themselves in taking part in such an experience. Whereas other films focus more onto the wonder of it all. I feel like anyone with dreams of being an astronaut may rethink their life ambition after watching this…

It’s one of those films you have to really pay attention to. It’s very visually orientated. Blink and you’ll miss something and wonder how they got where they are now. It’s very character orientated as well. Space just happens to be the backdrop to what is more or less a woman’s struggle with grief over her daughter’s death. At least, that’s what I took from the film. The backdrop is pretty beautiful though. There are some really gorgeous shots.  

I imagine this would have looked amazing on a big screen. I feel like by watching it on the laptop screen I only got half of the impact it could have been.

I also feel like because of such slow pacing this might not necessarily be everybody’s cup of tea. I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. I hadn’t been so intrigued by the trailers when it first came out. Hence why it took me so long to watch it! But I think it’s fair to say that it is worth the watch.

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