Movie Review : Gravity

What is isolation? Is it, in its bare-bones form, simply the absence of entities, living or otherwise? Or is it a lack of a sense of direction and a sense of belonging in a world overflowing with people to know and things to own? These are some of the questions Alfonso Cuaron constantly pegs to his viewers in his latest sci-fi offering, Gravity. In it, Sandra Bullock’s Ryan Stone ever so subtly mentions how, after losing her daughter and being informed of the same while driving, finds solace only behind the wheel, (“I just drive, and listen to the radio. Don’t care what it is, as long as they aren't talking” she says) hinting at the clear absence of camaraderie between her and her co-workers, other family members and possibly her neighbors; a camaraderie she forges with George Clooney's Matt Kowalski even as the ominous threat of death looms upon them. And upon being stranded in space in the middle of nowhere, she longs to touch back down and kiss the very ground she so solemnly tries to cut all her ties to. It is at this instance that Cuaron lays down the groundwork for the highly clever and absolutely beautiful ironies and metaphors that he so lovingly sprinkles throughout the movie’s 90 minute runtime. 

The brilliance of Alfonso Cuaron's evocative masterpiece begins way before the movie ever takes flight. His choice of the title itself hints at a lot. The entire events in the movie transpire due to the lack of the titular entity, and naming the movie so displays Cuaron’s knack for toying with his audience’s sensibilities and their individual perceptions. For you, the movie might never be anything more than a visually arresting sci-fi saga that passes off as an excellent popcorn-munching affair, and for others it might hit where they live, resonating with them on a deeply personal and emotional level. That is one of the many beauties of Gravity.

Sandra Bullock delivers an exceptionally amazing performance in Gravity.

Gravity focuses on medical engineer and mission specialist Dr. Ryan Stone and Lieutenant Matt Kowalski, both part of a three-man team on a mission aboard the Space Shuttle Explorer. While performing a routine operation check, they’re notified of an incoming debris field owing to a Russian missile attacking a defunct satellite. The rest of the movie depicts how they make their escape. For its simple premise, the movie gets just about everything right. The visual effects are spectacular, immersing you in the world as only few movies ever have. Every little explosion, the tiniest detail is captured in glorious fashion that just pushes the boundaries of reality. It also features some of the best use of 3-D I’ve ever seen in a movie. Brownie points for that.

Secondly, the performances. Sandra Bullock delivers yet another stellar, moving, heart-felt performance. She imbues Ryan Stone with conviction, strength and determination that makes her struggle, both with her hostile environment and her metaphorical inner one, all the more believable. In a standout scene, she cries uncontrollably upon hearing a dog bark on the space station’s radio frequency and even joins the canine in its howling out of sheer elation on account of hearing another living being. Pure Magic.

Don't worry George Clooney, I haven't forgotten you!

I felt that George Clooney, while being at his maverick best, was a little underused. But it is for the most part understandable keeping in mind Gravity’s compact runtime, and the fact that it is mostly a showcase for Sandra Bullock’s acting prowess through and through. He fulfills Gravity’s humor quotient, and also paints the picture of a calm, composed overseer who’s as eager to narrate his tales of bravery and self-indulgence as he is to survive and safeguard his fellow crew members.

Steven Price’s background score deserves special mention. Although Gravity abounds in moments of extended silence and meaningful exchanges of dialogue, there are plenty of scenes with stuff exploding in zero-G which are accompanied with a sweeping orchestral score. The climax, especially, features a beautifully composed piece that just sticks with you long after the movie is over.

Gravity is one of those movies that just plays with your perception and forces you to think beyond what is being simply projected on the two-dimensional surface. It features brilliant performances by two of the industry’s most venerable actors and some extraordinary CGI. Ultimately, it never just remains an aesthetically captivating tale of survival, it transcends into something much more. And for that reason alone, it needs to be seen.

Rating : 5/5