Gravity Movie Review

Alfonso Cuaron has established himself as a highly artistic and visionary director with a variety of great films and prestigious awards under his belt. About twenty two years since he last took on duties for all four major areas of filmmaking (Directing, Producing, Writing, and Editing) Cuaron returns to the silver screen with ‘’Gravity’’; an awe-inspiring film that more than bests most modern science fiction films.

A mission is underway with the crew of the Explorer Space Shuttle when a debris storm shatters the spacecraft and severing all contact with Earth, leaving the survivors in a struggle to land back on solid ground. As you can probably tell, Gravity’s plot is incredibly simple and easy to grasp; we’ve seen the likes of Cast Away and 127 Hours in addition to several other survival stories set in space but this one sets itself apart with a foreboding and lonely mood. After the initial destruction of the Explorer, Stone and Kowalski are the only survivors and can only rely on each other to get back to Earth. The journey is long and perilous with several locations playing a role throughout the action. The film drifts from tense situations in which space debris continues to impede the character’s progress to moments of calmness which allow both them and audience to contemplate their situation and whether or not they will manage to get back to Earth. Gravity maintains this structure throughout its run time which keeps the audience engaged and ensures that there’s never a dull moment where you’ll be waiting for something to happen.

There may be two big names printed on the poster but Gravity is really all about Ryan Stone’s (Sandra Bullock) journey across space to return home. Bullock’s performance is very well rounded and emotive and even though we don’t learn too much about her background there’s no need for it; a surprisingly detailed character arc is present in the way she transforms from vulnerable and frightened into a capable and determined woman. Complimenting her performance is George Clooney as Matt Kowalski. As the leader of the team he cares deeply for the safety of the crew but he is also quite relaxed and cheerful in the way he interacts with Stone. Ultimately Clooney’s performance in the film is simple and they keep him no longer than necessary; rather than distracting from Stone’s struggle, his behaviour and mannerisms seem to transfer onto her, strengthening her resolve to return to Earth, making him all the more likeable for the screen time he is given.

The cinematography in Gravity headed by Emmanuel Lubezki is simply staggering in the way it immerses the audience in both the setting and the character’s struggles. When the characters are spinning or climbing around space stations the camera will do the same, seamlessly translating the feeling of disorientation onto the audience and always giving a clear view of the action. Numerous zoomed in focus shots brilliantly convey how the forces in space affect both objects and the elements; these contrast with the long shots of the hurtling debris, which only adds to the tension as several man made spacecraft are smashed to pieces throughout the film. Despite the immense threat of being lost in space, Gravity also uses many wide and beautiful shots of the Earth combined with an almost eerie silence to create a serene and exquisite atmosphere. You really feel that the creators of the film took the time to find out about how space works and how to best absorb the audience and it pays off in heaps for the technical presentation.

Of all the science fiction films released this year ‘’Gravity’’ is the shooting star in the sky; with Sandra Bullock’s outstanding lead performance, superb tension and all around beautiful cinematography all gelling together to produce a truly astounding movie on every front.

Rating: 5/5 Stars