Technical Dazzle Matched by Real Film-making

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2014)

Gravity is the most technically astounding and visually stimulating film I have ever seen. The immersive cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki lays the building blocks for fantastic visual achievement. It is built upon by amazing editing that makes the film seem seamless, with multiple- minute shots quite common. The awe-inspiring visual effects are laid on top, creating an incredibly accurate picture of space. The sound editing also accounts for the fact that no sound can be heard in space, as we only hear what the astronauts themselves can hear. This allows the film's score to take center stage, and it does just that. The score creates another immersive facet of this film due to its eerie tone and sudden stops. The production design is also top-notch, accurately portraying all of the spacecraft the astronauts utilize.
Now, all of this would be for naught if the story and acting were lackluster in any way. Thankfully, they both excel. The story has a very deliberate pace that excels at balancing character development and suspenseful action sequences. Because the movie is short, it never truly drops its pace, allowing it to pack quite a punch. The acting is truly impeccable. Sandra Bullock gives arguably the best performance of her career, while Clooney supports her nicely as Bullock's foil. Clooney, playing the more experienced astronaut, remains calm during the crises on screen; Bullock panics quite often and is always tense, being the rookie. Subtleties like these manifest themselves quite well on screen and fill in several unspoken pieces of character background. In conclusion, Gravity's technical dazzle is completely matched by its highly competent story and acting, creating a groundbreaking masterpiece.