Plot – Two astronauts work together to survive after an accident leaves them stranded in space – Gravity.
Director – Alfonso Cuaron
Starring – Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Genre – Sci-Fi | Drama | Thriller
Released – 2013
I can only praise director Alfonso Cuarón for overseeing such an intensely enjoyable film, it’s very rare that a film like Gravity comes along. And by that I mean one that takes a rather simple sounding story about an astronaut trapped alone in space trying to get back to solid ground and through a mix of excellent acting, direction and special effects, produces a nail-biting, intelligent and artistic a cinematic experience. This is modern Science fiction at its finest. All while underpinning it with a level of authenticity not normally seen in space thrillers.
Clooney was once again charming and memorable as Kowalski, but this is Bullocks film, reminding me just how good of an actor she can be, easily helping you forget you’re watching an A-list Hollywood star, but rather Ryan Stone, an astronaut dealing with both past trauma and a hugely stressful situation. With the film jumping almost straight into the action, her skill also helps to invest the viewer without the usual development.
When it comes to the direction and cinematography, Cuaron created a film that at times could pass for a documentary, with plenty of long shots that will take your breath away, fully highlighting the bleakness and dangers of spaceflight while simultaneously showcasing its beauty. Wonderfully hiding the film’s special effects along the way.
Gravity is a film about survival, told elegantly through stunning cinematography and hammered home by the Oscar-nominated acting of Sandra Bullock. Watching this on the big screen is a truly magical experience.
If you liked: Ad Astra, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey