Gravity

Starring;
Sandra Bullock
George Clooney


Director;
Alfonso Cuaron

In three words; Stunning - Stressful - Terrifying


Review;
Going into this film I knew very little about it. Which is exactly what I wanted. There's nothing better than having no idea about the plot of a movie. The only thing that I kept hearing was that this was a 'game changer' in relation to special effects. This is something which has been attributed to previous films where I have had to disagree. On this occasion I am in complete agreement. This is new. This is exciting. This its tremendous.

I get frustrated and annoyed when CGI and real footage don't blend. The last three Star Wars flicks come to mind. The effects we see in Gravity is a marriage made in heaven. Or 350 miles above the Earth if you like. This is game changing and perfectly delivered by Director Alfonso Cuaron and his Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. They beautifully mirror shots they used on the excellent Children of Men and are able to sell the impossible to the audience. This is remarkable filmmaking.

The open sequence is certainly one of the best which you are ever likely to see. It is presented in a seemingly continuous take which lasts for around 15 minutes. This really brings the audience into the scenario in which we find three astronauts. As they make routine upgrades to the Hubble Telescope they are warned of space debris heading their way due to a Russian missile destroying a satellite. Quickly it becomes a fight for survival. Dr Ryan Stone (Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Koalski (Clooney) are adrift in space and running out of time.

Cuaron brilliantly captures the vastness and loneliness of space by not allowing any living face, other than Bullock's and Clooney's, to appear on screen. This lack of connection to others brings out Dr Stone's back story, although Cuaron doesn't let the film move away from its objective. It is this sort of boldness which accelerates this film to a unique place of believability. This is a movie set in space. Real space with real problems. We are bombarded with terrifying and stressful events. You want to grab out at the effects. You want to be able to help. This is an immersible and stunning film.

Back to the special effects, this is a film which was not, like Apollo 13, shot in zero gravity. I am therefore at a loss as to how Cuaron has been able to give us such a real environment. No doubt the  budget allowed for such grand investment in the best effects. This is money well spent. I still don't know how they did certain things. Incredible.

Written by Cuaron and his son Jonas the script is non stop and they aren't concerned with throwing NASA jargon in there, they know you don't have to placate the audience. This isn't a Jerry Bruckheimer film after all. Kubrick, Cameron, Scott and all SiFi Directors would not doubt tip their hats at Cuaron for making one of the best space films of all time.

Verdict;
5 out of 5.