Space Thriller

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2013)

Alfonso Cuaron's gripping 3D extravaganza finally delivers a movie well-worth its 3D special effects, which puts to shame the simplistic idiocy of "Avatar". Around the Earth's orbit a team of American astronauts are repairing communication lines on a space shuttle. While scientist-engineer Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) focuses on the technical issues, experienced, slightly cowboyish Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) frivolously space-walks engaging into boyish banter of 'did I ever tell you of the time...' When a Russian destruction of a obsolete satellite results in the a cascading domino effect of catastrophic scale, the shuttle is destroyed with Kowalski and Stone drifting in space with oxygen slowly running out.
Not exactly a sci-fi, as basically the only element that hints at anything remotely other-worldly is a short dream sequence near the end of the movie. Apart from that, save for some small script liberties, this is a factual riveting thriller, basically as down-to-earth as cosmic space stories goes as possible. Sandra Bullock returns to form with her great portrayal, grasping all the moments from despair and panic to resignation and the will to live. She is also expertly paired up with the whimsical, but stoic, Kowalski, together with some superb visuals and perfect building of tension, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase: In space no one will hear you scream...
The dramatic/philosophical edge to the movie may not work as well, with the whole backdrop of Stone's dead child somewhat struggling to add relevance to the story, nonetheless this is in no way written or delivered in a substandard way, thus not of any detriment to overall enjoyment.
Required watching. Just for the thrill of it! If nothing else.