Visual effects dominate this otherwise predictable yet immersible sci-fi drama

Rating: 8/10 (9 October 2013)

GRAVITY (2013) *** Visual effects dominate this otherwise predictable yet immersible sci-fi drama about two astronauts (Sandra Bullock and George Clooney) who find themselves in a dire situation: while making repairs to their space station they wind up in jeopardy essentially lost in space with the clock ticking and insurmountable odds at surviving their cosmic calamity. With state-of-the-art filmmaking and accomplished direction by Alfonso Cuaron -who collaborated on the otherwise pedestrian screenplay with his son Jonas - putting his stars in great peril may be great storytelling in 'showing' then 'telling' (when in reality it would help if it was the opposite). And yes that is Ed Harris as the voice of Houston. Needs to be seen in IMAX 3-D to appreciate the splendor of outer space (and the nerve-shredding silences).