Best Picture Movie Review: Gravity

Kai Zhu

Audiences were immensely hyped for the release of the highly anticipated science fiction film Gravity by relatively unknown director Alfonso Cuaron. This intense masterpiece is about Dr. Ryan Stone (Played by Sandra Bullock) as she impossibly tries to find a way back to Earth after her shuttle the “Explorer” becomes mortally damaged by space debris.

The stunning visuals of Gravity are a landmark in cinematic history. Never has there been a movie that took place in space where you actually felt like you were in space. The movie begins with a beautiful shot of earth millions of miles away while veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Played by George Clooney) casually converses with Mission Control during his final spacewalk. During this time Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) does usual repairs to their shuttle. The real story begins when Mission Control warns over the radio of missiles hitting satellites and debris heading into Kowalski and Stone’s direction.

After having their shuttle hit by debris, audiences are in for one of the most intense experiences in cinematic history. We see the characters trying to cling for anything to stop their motion, scream in panic and come close to being pulled out to the far reaches of the solar system. The numerous life or death situations and top notch acting by Sandra Bullock makes you want to root for her. Aside from marvelous acting, the stunning visuals seem to take the audience into space. Director Alfonso Cuaron utilized 3D technology to the fullest.

The space environment makes the movie feel like it’s the real deal. We see the many floating objects flying about, the perfectly placed motions of the actors and we hear the eerie sounds of silence in space. A perfect scene which demonstrates this art is shown when Stone sobs. For a minute we see a tear droplet floating about near Stone gracefully shimmering from the lighting of the shuttle and blobbing in all directions from the effects of zero gravity.

I am not able to say this was a ‘good’ movie because Gravity was more than that. Alfonso Cuaron didn’t copy the norms of Hollywood movie movie making; he went his own direction. The main concept Cuaron uses in Gravity is that he incorporates only two characters, focusing mainly on their struggles and emotions. There are many other aspects of this movie which I have left out, because you must see it to truly grasp its effects. I don’t want to spoil any more moments, so get yourself to a theater, see this movie in 3D and say this to yourself at the end: WOW.

Grade: A

Rating: PG-13