“No sight that human eyes can look upon is more provocative of awe than is the night sky scattered thick with stars.”
-- Llewelyn Powys
-- Llewelyn Powys
If you watch Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity, and think that Avatar had more impressive visuals, you're missing the point of what movies can be. Visuals can be more impressive because you don't notice them, instead of the not-quite-real, soulless eyes of CGI. And man, does this movie ever abound in visuals you won't consciously notice, but will linger at the edge of your thoughts, constantly reminding you subconsciously of what a feat this movie really is. The comparison I make to Avatar isn't by accident, as this film languished in development hell for four years, while waiting for technology to catch up with Cuarón's vision, which finally happened with Avatar's release. In the meantime, the female lead went through a cavalcade of actresses being attached, ranging from Angelina Jolie, Marion Cotillard, and Natalie Portman, to Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively. While several of these names are intriguing (Hi, Natalie!), Bullock definitely nails the role in a way that makes you skeptical the movie would've been the same without her. Similar to Buried, which featured Ryan Reynolds as the only actor to ever see the screen, Gravity asks Sandra Bullock to shoulder the load, with George Clooney having less screen-time than his A-list status would have you assume.
Cuarón has always been a fan of the continuous shot and doesn't shy away from them here. His CGI trickery to extend scenes between cuts may be more obvious in Gravity than his previous works, but given the focus on Bullock, is incredibly effective at heightening the tension, and giving the audience a stake in the events transpiring. There isn't much more to say about the plot without giving away too much. You know Bullock and Clooney will be in space. You know things will not go well for them. The art is in the execution.
As pedantic as I can be about movies, my only complaint would be the implausibility of some her narrow escapes. But don't take my word for it. James Cameron, the director of Avatar and Aliens, said, "I think it's the best space film ever done." Bottom line: it's the first film of 2013 to guarantee itself a spot in the Best Picture nominations, and you need to see it.
As pedantic as I can be about movies, my only complaint would be the implausibility of some her narrow escapes. But don't take my word for it. James Cameron, the director of Avatar and Aliens, said, "I think it's the best space film ever done." Bottom line: it's the first film of 2013 to guarantee itself a spot in the Best Picture nominations, and you need to see it.
A brilliant movie that pushes the boundaries of filmmaking and keeps you on the edge of your seat