Gravity

Yet another major blockbuster film of 2013 I did not see at the flicks, and now yet another one I have finally got around to seeing on DVD. However, unlike other instances of cinema miss-hits, I did not actively want to see Gravity, despite the considerable hype surrounding its release and its subsequent critical praise, and nor was I that dissapointed when it transpired I had missed out on seeing it on the big screen. This is partly due to my personal taste, and the fact that whilst intrigued it was not fired up enough to want to see Gravity at the cinema (make of that what you will ) but mostly it is because I rejected the fuss a lot of people seemed to be making. I make no secret of the fact that broadly speaking I do not like nor agree with 3D films. a. because they send me eyes funny, b. because I don't think it is actually that impressive, and c. because I do think it is essentially another way for the film industry to squeeze yet another few quid out of the public when they want to go and see a film, which I heartily and angrily disagree with. Whilst I freely agree with the fact that the way Gravity was made might have endeared it above other films to being seen in 3D, as I say I am still not too miffed that I didn't get to. What's more, having now watched it on DVD, I am still content with not having seen it at the cinemas. But, to get away from all this waffling about cinema releases and 3D, I do feel Gravity itself to be a great film indeed.

Focusing chiefly upon two US astronauts, veteran George Clooney and new-comer Sandra Bullock, and how they are  flung into a disastrous situation when their shuttle mission goes horribly wrong, Gravity is a tale of survival, encased in a very novel and uniquely presented concept, highly stylized yet gritty and real; giving us some idea of what life in space is truly like.

First and foremost, it is well worth saying that as predicted, the visuals are simply stunning. Whilst they are not enough to sway me on 3D (I promise I shall try and stop ranting about this particular topic) director Alfonso Cuarón has certainly treated audiences to a cinematographic experience that is unlike any I have ever seen, and quite possibly unlike anything that has gone before. As 'space movies' go, Gravity is up there with the best of them, and in terms of the graphics, CGI, lighting and raw power of each shot, it is probably the best 'space movie' to date. It is very rare that I see a film where the imagery and CGI elements actually induce various states of emotion within me, as normally they are often just part of the overall tapestry of a film. However, the way in which they have been so intricately and efficiently woven into the story of Gravity, certainly led to a roller-coaster of reactions for me, ranging from genuine fear and panic, to sheer admiration and poignant reflection. 

You'd be forgiven for thinking that the visuals of Gravity are the stars of the show, and you would probably be right. Yet on top of this we are given two powerhouse characters played by two powerhouse star names - namely Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Critics and audiences alike have praised Bullock's performance throughout the film to the highest degree, and broadly speaking I would definitely concur. However, whilst many claim her performance was pretty much perfect, there were a couple of moments for me where I felt she ventured a tad into the two-dimensional, which slightly tarred an otherwise wonderfully layered performance. I also think they missed a trick with George Clooney; without wanting to give to much away, he is not in the film as much as expected, which I think is a shame as I think he takes to Gravity very well, and whilst occasionally drifting into the arrogant and clichéd, I feel he delivers one of the best performances I've seen from him in a while. In fact the highlight of the film for me is a scene in which Clooney quickly "returns" to Bullock in a time of pure desperation. This scene is wonderfully paced, visualized, human and original to me, and serves as a prime example of the chemistry that is possible between these two actors. I just feel it's a slight shame they weren't together that often on screen for it to be actualized. 

Just a quick point upon the story itself as well. Yes, it is highly original and for the most part, very well executed. However if I were to be critical, I would have to say that whilst from beginning to end we are presented with a very unique perspective of a very unique character journey, it is at times a bit drawn out, the more fast-paced action sequences feeling a tad stylized and forced for the sake of the audience's attention. Again the visuals of the film may come into play here, as it could be said that at times every other aspect of the film takes a hit and is sacrificed slightly for the sake of it looking great.

Yes, in my opinion there are a few issues present, but I still maintain that all in all Gravity is a spectacular film to behold. Within the genre and out of it, I do feel that it has broken a couple of molds, and will go on to become a very stylish, uniquely imagined, conceptualized and eventually realized modern classic of a film.