Plot: Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a mission specialist for NASA on her first assignment in space. Stone and fellow astronaut Lt. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are on their last space walk, making some final repairs to the Hubble Space Telescope when disaster strikes. A Russian missile strike on a defunct satellite has caused space debris to accelerate around the Earth's orbit, destroying anything in its path. Before long Kowalski and Stone are in a desperate fight for their lives, running out of oxygen, safe harbor, and most importantly-time.
Review: The word "groundbreaking" gets thrown around a lot in Hollywood in regards to films, almost to the point of cliche. Yet in the case of director Alfonso Cuaron's latest phenomenal film Gravity, "groundbreaking" is the exact right word to use. Not only is this a finely crafted masterpiece of a movie, it is also quite literally a game changer in the film industry. What Bonnie and Clyde was to violence in films and The French Connection was to car chases on screen, Gravity is to cinematography and space films. Not since Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey has there been a film like this.
As I mentioned previously, what separates Gravity from other movies is Cuaron's vision of space and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's ability to capture that vision. Lubezki's work here is unparalleled, unveiling the beauty, majesty, and danger of space. It begins and ends with the point of view of the camera. Some of the most harrowing moments come from the POV of Stone. We are literally in the suit with her as she tumbles uncontrollably through space, which serves to heighten the terror. The audience feels what she is feeling. Other wide range shots of the stars or the Earth miles above the surface, makes it look like the film was shot in space. You cannot tell the difference. In a very real sense, space itself becomes a character in the film.
Alfonso Cuaron has already established himself as one of the premier dynamic directors of his generation with films like Y Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Children of Men, but Gravity is truly his masterpiece and the one film he will be remembered for long after he's gone. His singular vision of what it's like to face real danger in space is a revelation. Gravity is the first film in a long time that kept me on the edge of my seat through almost the entire movie. Cuaron's direction evokes a tension from his audience that's unparalleled. Though the film clocks in at a tight ninety minutes, when you're done you'll feel like you've been through the ringer. It's an emotional roller coaster that leaves the audience exhausted. Alfonso Cuaron's pacing is excellent, interspersing terrifying moments such as a fire in space, with moments of heartfelt tenderness between Kowalski and Stone.
Let me be upfront by the way. I absolutely LOATHE Sandra Bullock as an actress. I think her Best Actress Award for The Blind Side was a joke and most of the movies she stars in are garbage. Having said that Bullock absolutely crushes it in Gravity. Bullock carries the film much the same way that Tom Hanks carried Cast Away, but her performance is even better. It's ironic that the tag line for Gravity happens to be "Don't Let Go" because that's exactly what Bullock's Stone can't do in her own life. Stone recently lost her four year old daughter and suffers from a depression that makes her drive for hours on end so she doesn't have to face reality. Life has become empty and meaningless. Yet when she is thrust into a situation where she must scrape and claw for every breath, from one harrowing danger to another, to fight for her life at every step, Stone somehow finds the desire to live and not just survive. Sandra Bullock presents a multi-layered character, someone the audience can not only relate to but root for as well. Not only is this an incredibly physical role for Bullock (reports state that she was in a harness upwards of fourteen hours a day during filming) but a wrenching emotional performance as well. In my opinion the best performances often come from the combination of the physical AND the emotional. That's exactly what Sandra Bullock delivers with her performance as Dr. Ryan Stone.
Concurrently, George Clooney's Kowalski presents a perfect balance to Bullock's Stone. A true space cowboy on his last space flight, Clooney slips easily into the role of a smooth talking, devil-may-care astronaut with a sizable ego and a closet full of stories. Yet he is also a determined and knowledge commander, a leader that gets Stone through several crisises both physical and emotional. I can't see anyone else playing this role other than Clooney.
Gravity will no doubt dominate come Oscar time. I don't see a scenario where Bullock, Cuaron, and Lubezki don't get nominated. Without having seen some of the upcoming award season films I'd say hand the Oscars to Cuaron and Bullock right now, but I'll reserve judgement for the moment. Even Hans Zimmer's understated but brilliant score may finally land him a nomination.
Nevertheless, awards or no awards, Gravity is a landmark achievement in film making and something not to be missed.
My rating: 10/10
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