I watched Gravity a couple of hours ago, and my mind is still processing what I just saw. One thing is for sure though -- this is my favorite film of the year, so far. I don't need a second viewing for this one to say that. It's that good. Gravity is directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who is best known for the amazing 2006 film Children of Men (seriously, if you haven't watched that one, do it ASAP), and it features Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as two astronauts trying to survive when debris from a satellite crashes into their space shuttle. It's a straightforward storytelling, but what Cuarón does here is that he puts these two characters in a vast and visually amazing world, and gives them depth in these unique and mind-blowing situations in space.
I can't recall the last time I felt like this while watching a movie. I really don't. There is just something about how Cuarón captured space that is hauntingly beautiful. First, I want to mention just how stunning this movie looks. Wow. Emmanuel Lubezki's cinematography is brilliant, featuring some of the most amazing shots I have ever seen in a film. They are striking, gorgeous and simply incredible. Alfonso Cuarón is no stranger to long scenes with no cuts, and
Gravity has a 10-15 minutes single-take opening shot. Yep. That is something to admire. I was watching that, and to be honest, I don't think I blinked. I was simply amazed by this whole experience. To say that it's all about visuals would be wrong. Sandra Bullock simply shines with her emotional and Oscar-worthy performance as Dr. Ryan Stone. There are a lot of moments where Bullock absolutely made this her movie with some truly powerful scenes. This is a character who lost someone and simply lost her way. This is her first mission in space, and things just went wrong. You see her struggle, you care for her, you root for her. Definitely Bullock's best performance to date. Next to her, we have George Clooney as veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski. This is a character who gives the film a little bit of humor, and Clooney played it perfectly. There is a scene between the two when things go terribly wrong, and it's done in a way that you know this is the only choice. This is why the script is great. It's emotionally rewarding. The score by Steven Price is also wonderful, as it works fantastic with the whole film, especially those quiet moments in space.
This is one of those rare films that you just want to watch over and over again. I loved every minute of it.
Gravity is a true cinematic experience, a heart-pounding journey through space that everyone needs to see on the big screen.
RATING: 10/10