Gravity

I feel like I should almost write two separate reviews for Gravity because I have such warring thoughts about the film. On one hand, it is such a visual, technical achievement that I want to heap tons of praise on it, but on the other - that script, or lack thereof.

The opening thirty minutes or so of Gravity are spectacular. They are mind boggling, spellbinding, and glorious. Director Alfonso Cuaron has managed to create a world that is so absolutely epic and wondrous that it blows your mind. This is brave new world of film-making, right here. The future is now and Cuaron has managed to craft a film that is technically perfect. It brings you into the wonder of space (which, I'm sorry, but shit is terrifying. I don't know why anyone would ever want to go to space) and manages to create a film that is rebellious, revolutionary, minimalist and epic all at the same time. The beginning of this film is so far and away from a mainstream sci-fi movie that it feels jarring. This is an art house film with crazy good CGI. Sure, it stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, two of the most famous and most likable people in acting, but other than that, this doesn't feel like that kind of star studded film. Bullock is a genius doctor, in space reluctantly to attach a protocol she has invented to a satellite. She is terribly uncomfortable and sick in space, which juxtaposes nicely with Clooney and his retiring astronaut who loves space so much and just wants to brake the space walk world record. Soon, debris from a nearby satellite mishap is flying around them and all hell breaks loose. Hell is not aliens in space. No, hell is drifting all alone into the endless blackness with no radio contact and absolutely no knowledge of how the hell you are going to survive. Of course, Bullock's Ryan does survive this thanks to Clooney saving her ass. The two make their way back toward the International Space Station, and that's when the move sort of lost me.

Those first thirty minutes or so are as damn near perfect as one could get in film-making. It's epic to watch, an absolute wonder, like you are seeing something for the first time. I kept thinking to myself, "My Lord. This is the best movie of the year by a mile." But then something happens. The first act relies so heavily on out of this world imagery and visuals and the direction, cinematography and camera work is so damn great, that it fools you into thinking you are watching a better movie than you really are. I am not saying Gravity is not a good movie, because it definitely is. But it's no masterpiece of movie making. It is a visual masterpiece, a technical one. But, as far as movies go, the lack of attention paid to the script really starts to be noticeable as you get further into the movie. And the movie just sort of continually gets worse. The first act is perfection. The second act is not so bad, especially the fake out ending which I sort of enjoyed. Then the final act is almost atrocious. The ending panders so much toward making sure the audience is happy with it, that it is sort of insulting. Where is the rebellious spirit of the first act?? It's long gone by the time we reach our conclusion, such a watered down thing that it really left a bad taste in my mouth. Which is not how I wanted to feel leaving this movie, especially after the powerhouse first act.

Another problem are the characters that aren't entirely fleshed out. Another by-product of spending all your waking moments on visual effects is that you lose the characters. The role Clooney plays isn't that large so he can get by on his charm alone. But Bullock has to carry this film and I'm not quite sure she does. It's not her fault. She is tremendous with what she has to work with and her performance especially gets great near the end. There is a ten or fifteen minute scene where I figure she has her second Oscar all wrapped up. Still, her character is weighted down with some sob sad back story to make her more likable, but all it really does it lend a cheesy sort of factor to the film. Why can't she just be a smart, strong woman? Why does she have to have this back story pushing her the whole movie? Again, to pander to a mainstream audience, probably.

For me, to enjoy Gravity from start to finish, you almost have to not think about it as a movie, and maybe think of it as an experience. The story and the characters take a back seat to the visuals here, and maybe that's okay for some. But since I'm talking movies here, it's not exactly ideal. I sincerely wish the entire movie had been more like the first thirty minutes, because those were the best moments I saw on a movie screen this year.

Grade: B