Gravity
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and Ed Harris.
Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.
I'll just get right into it: Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity is a milestone in cinematic achievement. Star Wars dazzled audiences in 1977 with its break through in special effects. Jurassic Park brought dinosaurs to life in 1993 with the perfect blend of animatronics and CGI. In 1999, The Matrix changed how action films are made. In 2013, Gravity has taken all these milestones that have come before it and has greatly expanded into unknown territory.
The story is simple. A group of astronauts are repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. Sandra Bullock plays Mission Specialist Dr. Ryan Stone while George Clooney plays the reassuring veteran astronaut, Matt Kowalski, who is on his final mission. All hell breaks loose when a destroyed Russian satellite collides with their shuttle and sends Dr. Stone spinning into outer space. Gravity then turns into a simplistic survival story, but I promise you, you have never seen anything like this before.
Sandra Bullock carries the movie on her shoulders. She gives an authentic and emotional performance that is worthy of Oscar consideration. But let's make no mistake here, the real star of the film is writer/producer/editor/director Alfonso Cuaron. Cuaron may not be known to the average movie-goer, but he has been on the map since the critically acclaimed foreign film Y Tu Mama Tambien was released in 2002. In 2004, Cuaron directed the third installment of the Harry Potter franchise, The Prisoner of Azkaban, which was well-received by both critics and audiences. In 2006, Cuaron directed the amazing Children of Men. He has had the idea for Gravity for many years, but it was not until 2009 that he felt confident enough in the advancement of visual effects technology. It has been a film four years in the making, but the wait has been well worth it.
The visuals of this movie are simply astounding. The opening sequence is a continuous single take that last for 15 minutes. The second shot lasts for nearly another 10 minutes. Pay attention to the timing of his camera movements, and also to the actors and their delivery. I do not think people realize how impressive it is for a director to experiment with such long shots without a single cut. Fortunately for Gravity, Cuaron is a master of his craft, a true visionary.
I saw this film in the recommended format: IMAX 3D. I am not an advocate for films in 3D; I think it is totally unnecessary. That being said, this was the most amazing 3D film I've seen. The concept of zero gravity and the use of 3D only complimented each other. The images were crisp and clear. Coming from a hater of 3D, it goes a long way when I say that the 3D in this film was incredible. Don't get me wrong, this would still be an incredible feat of filmmaking without 3D, but I would agree that this is the best way to see the movie. See it on the biggest screen you can and give 3D a try. I still don't believe every movie needs to be in 3D, but this one is the exception. It was awe-inspiring.
Gravity is a visual marvel and easily the most impressive film of 2013. I was easily more astonished by this film than any effects in Avatar or Pacific Rim. All hail Alfonso Cuaron!
RATING: A+
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