‘Gravity’ delivers suspense, melodrama, and visual astonishment
By Cazzy Lewchuk, Staff Writer
4/5
Gravity delivers an extremely realistic portrayal of being trapped in space, and has wonderful cinematography, visuals, and concept. It suffers from some weak dialogue and predictability, but nevertheless unfolds quite well. The film is a psychological thriller set in the scariest real place imaginable: space.
Although Gravity is technically science fiction, there are no sudden twists, aliens, or wormholes normally found in sci-fi movies. It’s just two astronauts, wrecked space shuttles, the vastness of space, and a journey to get home.
Gravity follows the plight of a group of astronauts after a satellite explodes and they become stranded in orbit. Sandra Bullock plays Dr. Ryan Stone, a somewhat depressed astronaut on her first mission with little left to live for. Some of her scenes are overly sad, panicky, or even just plain melodramatic.
George Clooney gives an excellent performance in his supporting role as Matt Kowalski, a veteran astronaut with a passion for jokes and stories who does everything in his power to keep his crew safe.
Heading in and out of the film, I didn’t know what to think. It’s a pretty good film, though it certainly wasn’t what I expected.
The film looks spectacular with its extremely long single-cut shots, accurate depiction of space, and some truly nail-biting suspenseful moments.
I personally wanted a little more from the storyline, and although I realize why the story unfolded the way it did, it leaves a bit to be desired. Still, while you may be able to determine what’s going to happen before the ending, it reinforces the realism.
Gravity has been widely praised for its acting, cinematography, and visuals. These aspects are certainly amazing, and the artistic direction the film takes has almost never been seen before on screen.
Normally I absolutely hate seeing a movie in the third dimension but I wish I had seen it in 3-D, preferably in IMAX. This film was made to be enjoyed on the largest screen imaginable. Seeing it in 2-D feels like you’re missing out on part of the experience.
A minimal number of cast members, wonderful visual effects, and powerful cinematography all make it a fun experience. If you don’t worry too much about what’s going to happen and just enjoy the ride, you may find yourself truly trapped in the dark along with the two astronauts trying to get back to Earth.
