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| Courtesy of Warner Bros. |
I’ve
had nightmares about that exact scenario, so seeing it play out in front of me
on a giant screen triggered an intense, immediate reaction in me. It also made
me question whether I could handle watching the movie. If the trailer caused me
to freak out like that, what would I do during a two-hour movie?
On
the bright side, Gravity is only 90 minutes long. Nevertheless, that
seemingly short amount of time is crammed with relentless tension. I feel
confident in assuming it’ll be one of the wildest experiences you’ll have in a
theater all year. Thanks to innovative filmmaking techniques, breathtaking
practical and visual effects, and a remarkable lead performance, Cuaron has
crafted a stunning work of art.
In
a role that’s practically guaranteed to earn her another Oscar nomination, Bullock
plays Ryan Stone, a fiercely intelligent medical engineer who is about to complete
her first shuttle mission. She’s working alongside veteran astronaut Matt
Kowalski (George Clooney), who is only hours away from wrapping up a
respectable career. He might even nab the record for longest spacewalk.
But
then disaster strikes. While they’re in the middle of some routine repairs
outside the shuttle, a giant debris field destroys the craft and the rest of
the crew. Stone and Kowalski are tethered together, but they are spiraling out
into the darkness. The resounding silence indifferently tells them the disaster
has severed all communication with Earth and there is no chance of a rescue
mission.
Even
though they’re terrified, panic is not an option. Freaking out costs a ton of
oxygen, and breathable air is notoriously hard to find in outer space. However,
there is still a sliver of hope: Kowalski has a highly improbable plan that
might get them home. They both know it probably won’t work, but it’s better
than giving up.
Though Gravity is being advertised as a team up of two Hollywood giants, it’s
actually a one-woman show for the bulk of the running time. Clooney pops up
occasionally, but mostly Kowalski’s voice coaches Stone through their suits’
communication systems.
That
is what makes Bullock’s performance so affecting. For most of the film’s shoot,
she had no co-stars to interact with and no scenery to use for motivation (the
cast and crew couldn’t exactly travel to space for a few months to make the
movie). Considering these factors, the finished product is astonishing.
Clooney is also effective, in part because the film uses him so sparingly. When he shares the screen with Bullock, his character is a welcome source of dry humor. In the scenes featuring only his voice, he has a calming effect on Stone that allows the character to accomplish life-saving tasks that would be otherwise impossible for her.
To
create the illusion of Stone and Kowalski being marooned in space, Cuaron
practically invented a brand new shooting technique. Bullock and Clooney spent
most days strapped into harnesses or crammed into boxes while cameras orbited
around them to simulate weightlessness. The physical discomfort and emotional
stress they experienced while filming lends depth and raw emotion to the
actors’ performances, and the result of the process is a stunning atmosphere
that doesn’t feel like it was created with obvious visual effects.
Another
vital aspect of Gravity is its realistic depiction of sound in space – namely
that it doesn’t exist. When the debris field destroys a gigantic piece of
equipment, it happens in total silence instead of accompanied by deafening
booms. The result is immensely unnerving, since it contradicts everything big-budget
movies teach audiences to expect from disasters.
The
screenplay (co-written by Cuaron and his son, Jonas) is brutally efficient. It gets
down to business immediately, staging the catastrophe, establishing the stakes
and giving the characters a plan to execute. That’s the bulk of the film,
followed by a quick wrap-up so the audience can see if the longshot plan is
successful. My gut tells me that the ending will divide audiences, but I was
pleased with how the Cuarons chose to wrap up the story.
The
term “roller coaster ride” is a tired cliché, but it’s a fitting summation for
the experience most viewers will have with Gravity. The stellar performances,
thought-provoking narrative, and innovative tech work elevate the film’s
quality even further. If you’re not emotionally and physically exhausted as you
walk out of the theater, you’re made of stronger stuff than me.
Gravity
is rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief
strong language.
Grade:
A-
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