Gravity

Year: 2013
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney


Plot: Two astronauts are left adrift in space after debris from a destroyed satellite obliterates their shuttle.


Review: After watching Gravity, I was reminded of a similar themed film concerning survival: Ryan Reynolds' Buried. The two films are equally powerful, but with different setups and totally different endings.

Director Alfonso Cuaron, working on a script by his son Jonas, creates a masterpiece from both a visual and dramatic standpoint. The opening fifteen minutes or so is a continuous uninterrupted take, reminiscent of a sequence he did in his previous film Children Of Men (another Cuaron masterpiece). But that's just the beginning. From that point, we are treated to a vertigo inducing adventure that sees Sandra Bullock's character try to survive with a little help from the experienced astronaut played by George Clooney.

Cuaron does a marvelous job in making their space drifting seem absolutely authentic. From the breathtaking cinematography to the soundless environment in space (notice the lack of sound when the debris hits), this has got to be one of the best space thrillers since Apollo 13.

But all the best visual effects in the world wouldn't help if the acting and script isn't there to back it up, and thankfully Bullock is just awesome in her role. Her character is a rookie in space walking, and Bullock displays her fear and eventual resourcefulness extremely well. She makes the audience root for her very easily, and it's a big plus for the film. Clooney on the other hand plays an experienced astronaut who doesn't panic one bit when disaster strikes, and proves to be really charming and funny even in the face of danger. He too is great. 

If this movie has a drawback, it would be the occasional music that is somewhat distracting. Cuaron opts to fill the silence in his film with background music, which is understandable, but sometimes the score that he chose doesn't really fit, especially during scenes of danger.

Overall, Gravity is a great space thriller that is really authentic in its execution. Recommended. (4/5)