Gravity Review: 10/10

TLDR. MINOR spoilers for the spoiler queens

Please note this review is not for the posters who want to hate this movie. I'm looking at you, Durantula, you trolltard.


From the moment I watched the Starchild appear on screen in 2001: A Space Odyssey at ripe age of 19, my movie watching life had changed forever. I had realized that the medium of film wasn't just a passive activity to do on a Saturday night, but it was a true art form. Ever since then, I have been waiting for the 21st Century's answer to 2001. By that, I mean a visually dazzling an complex science fiction film that makes us ponder our own significance in the grand scheme of things.

Several recent films have tried to enter the same atmosphere (pun-intended) as Kubrick's masterpiece - Moon and Prometheus instantly come to mind - but they ultimately fell short. Enter Alfonso Cuaron's nerve-shredding Gravity.

It doesn't ask the really deep questions about our place in the universe, but, it doesn't really want to. Although I believe the film, like 2001, reminds us that we humans are no match for the frontier of outer space. What Gravity does most effectively is deliver one of the most gripping movie experiences that I can remember while showcasing the most visually compelling space film since Kubrick's innovative special effects in 1968. The 1-2 punch of cinematography and special effects in this film is off the charts incredible. How they pulled off many of those shots, especially the opening 16 minute shot, is something to behold. The Academy should just go ahead and hand the Oscar off to Emmanuel Lubezki right now.

What about the biggest question marks regarding the two main actors? We all know about the general dislike of Sandra Bullock, but like I suspected, she pulled out a compelling performance and you really wanted her to get home. The scene of her in the fetal position after getting out of her suit was downright poetic and reminded me of something Andrei Tarkovsky might have tried to do. What about Clooney? He was a revelation. His last scene damn near had me tearing up because it was such a poignant moment. He was the perfect yin to Bullock's yang.

Overall, Gravity delivers one of the best movie theater experiences I have ever had. Some scenes will leave you holding your breath and gripping your chair. Some scenes will astonish you and leave you asking yourself. "How in the Hell did they pull that off?" Some scenes will mesmerize you with their poetic beauty. But most importantly, the critics were right: This film has pushed the boundaries of what a film can accomplish.