Nobody Can Hear You Scream

Well i will start this review by saying that if you will need to go to the toilet, or want to make a cup of tea, then i suggest you do it now, we may be here for a while! GRAVITY is a 2013 science fiction film directed by mexican director Alfonso Cuaron. The film is set in outer space and follows Dr Ryan Stone, played by Sandra Bullock in real time as she completes a spacewalk and  attempts to reach the international space station in order to return home.  The film is notable for containing very few actors, and Bullock is joined by George Clooney who plays a seasoned astronaut attempting to break the record for the most hours spacewalked. These are the only two actors seen in the film, however we do hear a few actors voices, most notably that of Ed Harris, playing mission control in Houston, Texas. This is a funny tongue in cheek reference to Harris' role in Apollo 13, a fun reference for the cinemaphiles amongst us.

Gravity is a dramatization of the Kessler syndrome, in which the density of objects in orbit is enough that collisions could cause a series of chain reactions, each collision producing debris and thus increasing the likelihood of other collisions and making space exploration impossible. The film may be categorized as a thriller, being fairly dark in nature and the whole film being fairly high strung. Despite being a science fiction film, GRAVITY is much less allegorical than other Sci-Fi films, and is much less a tale of morals than say, 2001 or WALL-E. Instead GRAVITY is a psychological analysis, with the story being the example of a relentless murphys law and with Ryan Stone's solitude becoming a source of her strength, technology is also used as a metaphor in some cases with Stone finding the last bit of power on the spaceship, and the last bit of energy from within in order to survive.

GRAVITY is in 3D, and whereas most films use 3D to a financial end, GRAVITY takes 3D technology to new heights. GRAVITY is the third film that i have seen in 3D, and it is so far the only one that i felt would have been missing something without the added third dimension. The first film i saw was Toy Story 3, and whilst the 3D was perfectly acceptable, it was not a necessity, and the film was fine without it. The second film i saw was Iron Man 3, and whilst the 3D was tolerable, it was hardly necessary. GRAVITY would be a shame in 2D, as the 3D is used primarily to add dept, and the technology creates a point of reference which is useful, this is particularly important during the numerous scenes featuring space debris. In two dimensions there would normally be no real size difference between the debris and star, however in 3D the debris is in a different plane to the stars, and is thus easily discernible. The 3D allows us to experience the film, and to dodge pieces of solar panel with Ryan Stone, rather than just watching her dodge them!

George Clooney plays Lieutenant Matt Kowalski, the head of the mission, and a veteran astronaut. Kowalski as played by Clooney is charismatic, bright funny and caring, much like the man himself. Sandra Bullock plays Dr Ryan Stone, an engineer and rookie astronaut. Stone's character is headstrong, brave and focused, what is so amazing about this film is that despite the film not being very long and being told entirely in real time, we feel as if we know Bullocks character, and this is entirely thanks to her phenomenal skill as an actor, lets just give her the Oscar now shall we? GRAVITY also looks fantastic, and one might almost believe that this whole film was actually made in space, until logical reasoning tells us that this is impossible! The film is incredibly realistic and the visual effects are derived of necessity rather than animators attempting to prove their self worth.

Overall GRAVITY is a film that transcends genre, only enhanced by 3D GRAVITY is a film which encourages the audience to experience it, to live it rather than to simply watch it, and which is not simply a trip to the cinema, but a trip to outer space, these stars will shine for light years to come. Rating: A+

Matt Kowalski: Houston, I have a bad feeling about this mission.