Gravity
A review
October 9, 2013
Viewed October 8, 2013
***** out of *****
“And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when
even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you” Gibran
In life our bonds of hope are
tethers to the fabric of our existence.
From the time we take our first breaths to the day we breathe our last,
we are linked by the processes of our mind and the journeys of our hearts. We are thinking beings capable of creating
ideas, developing concepts, and yet dreaming bigger dreams, and we long to
escape from our world and understand the vast universe around us. Wherever those dreams find us and the
journeys they take us on we are forever linked to the memories we have made
prior. These little links are the
moment to moment miracle that our lives truly become, and the reason we will fight
with every last hope to stay alive.
There may yet be a better movie this
year than this searing, heartfelt, and stirring wonder that is Gravity, but if so please count me first
in line to see it. This film although
it runs only an hour and half is one of the most terrifically executed films to
come in some time. Great films are not accidents, and the work
here to create this film is evident in every signal frame, every small detail. This is a work that instantly invited you not
to watch, but to experience. The experience
is what sets this apart from many other films set in space and the endless
fantasy brigade that computer generated technology has allowed filmmakers to
expand our horizons, and make the fantastic come alive. Gravity
works because we feel a gripping sense of familiarity with the proceedings by
making the film about characters and ideas.
The film invites the viewer to explore the most nightmare of what if
scenarios, but instead of sitting back comfortable in our seats we are engaged
in our own struggle to survive.
The auteur of this experience is the
talented director, Alfonso Cuarón who as film producer, co-screenwriter, and
co-editor of this film has provided audiences with something that will appeal to
nearly everyone. This is heady
ambitious filmmaking that stirs the soul.
It is rare for any film to capture and push all of the human emotions of
fear, hope, and sadness, but that is exactly what Mr. Cuarón has been able to achieve. On a technical level alone Gravity is
likely to achieve award after award.
It is one of the most realistic looking films for its visual effects
ever created, and those involved in the challenge of making this film whether
they were involved in visual effects or production design should think about
investing in a great deal of formal wear.
Gravity’s
story is simple. Miles above space a
satellite has exploded sending debris directly in path of a space crew. Their ship destroyed and adrift in space with
mere minutes of oxygen left two people must find a way to survive in the vacuum
of space, and the options are limited.
It is here the true weight of the
story of Gravity begins and as an
audience we are asked again to explore the human character in the form of one indelible
creation, engineer Ryan Stone, as played by Sandra Bullock. Ms.
Bullock who has formed the greater part of her career as an actress that
audiences trust. This ability to be an
audience surrogate is part of the gift of Ms. Bullock. She is actually likely underrated as an
actress, and here with this role her gifts for establishing first and foremost
her ability to tackle such a complex role.
Ms. Bullock anchors the film by
our trust in her as a performer. In the
film’s two emotional centerpieces she is nothing short of amazing. As
her counterpart in the film George Clooney is his charming self, and like Ms.
Bullock he grounds the movie in a place both familiar and terrifying.
One of the many strengths of Gravity
is its ability to understand that less is more. The film provides little exposition or
background for the events. In this way
it will prove timeless. It asks simple
questions of its audience, but deeper questions of its characters. What does it mean to survive versus
live? A lesser movie would have been satisfied with
just the spectacle and presentation.
Make no mistake this is a film of ideas, and is one of this early
decades true masterpieces. Miles above
space, Dr. Stone confronts her humanity and her deepest fears, tethered as it were holding on tight, but
finally letting go.
Tommy
Key
Rated PG-13(
intense perilous sequences, disturbing images, brief strong language )
