Tuesday Night is Film Night is here yet again. This week we branch out into the science fiction genre (cue a pun with the title), but will it be blast off? Or do we fall down to earth with a bump? As we watch;
Gravity
(Who thinks up these rubbish preludes?)
Enough of this tomfoolery, down to the business of reviewing the film. Well, it clearly divided the audience here at TNiFN Towers, as it is a clear departure from the much loved rom-com genre.
Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, as Dr Ryan Stone and Matt Kowalsky respectively. Kowalsky is an experienced astronaut, whilst Dr. Stone is a medical engineer on her first mission. The film opens with both of them working from the orbiting space shuttle, fixing a tethered Hubble Space Telescope. During their EVA (extra-vehicular activity) they encounter space debris from a recently destroyed Russian satellite which has destroyed other orbiting satellites, causing a massive wave of deadly debris. This debris smashes into the space shuttle, forcing Kowalsky and Stone to abandon their mission and their shuttle, as it is damaged beyond all use. Thus alone and drifting, with dwindling oxygen supplies and limited maneuverability left in Kowalsky's jet-pack, they need to find a way to safety.
OK as an opener, it is pretty spectacular. From a level headed, don't like sci-fi, prefer a bit of reality perspective, the actual concept of orbiting the earth, separated from the space shuttle, fixing a huge telescope is actually grounded in fact, whether anyone would feasibly survive a shower of satellite debris and the subsequent drift into to open space is another matter. However, you need to detach slightly from reality and go with the flow here, for what the film lacks in physical fact, it more than makes up for in cinematic splendour. The effects are quite simply stunning, if you step away from the screen for one one moment and try to work out how they manage to get Sandra Bullock floating weightlessly across the dark backdrop of space, you'll get a modicum of brain-ache. Visually, the physics and fluidity of weightless movement are spot on and are key to a film that sets out to blow your mind with the effects. In fact, the first establishing scene that you see, was filmed in one continuous shot, lasting over twelve minutes. It is stunningly beautiful to watch.
Unfortunately, the special effects, stunning as they are, are to the detriment of the story. The story is simple and it really only needs to be simple. You are stranded in space and need to get home, easy. However, writer, director and producer Alfonso Cuarón clearly wanted to add more action and we are somewhat over loaded by tragedy and events, that it became more and more less plausible that anyone should survive this calamitous adventure. It's almost Die Hard in Space. Yes, you need to suspend reality for a bit, but for a film grounded in fact, it would have been nice to lessen the action and heighten the drama, have less impossibles and more plausibles. Plus a tad more dialogue, more feeling and depth would have been nice. A film cannot be good just on effects alone.
Having said that, although it was spurned as being "not much cop" by some members of the judging panel, others were more positive about the film. It is clearly a film for those who enjoy space, science fiction, (as well as fact) and a bit of an action thriller.
Sandra Bullock is very impressive as Dr Ryan Stone, she also looks mightily impressive floating around the International Space Station (that she happens to hijack), after she discards her space suit! George Clooney is not so good, acting very much like a real life Buzz Lightyear.
In summary, Gravity is visually stunning, with plenty of action. Acting and storyline was somewhat disappointing. Watching Gravity at the cinema would have made it a lot more visually impressive, watching at home does not bring that cinematic experience, unless you have a very large 3D TV.
TNiFN Rating 56%
IMDB Link
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