Can't stop thinking about this film

Rating: 10/10 (8 October 2013)

I must tip my hat off to the director, Alfonso Cuarón. I honesty don't think anyone in Hollywood could have ever pulled this off the way he did. I am a huge fan of movies, especially sci-fi, thrillers, and drama themed movies and this film seemed to merge all 3 genres in one. The sheer claustrophobia from the pov from the actors view made you feel at times that you couldn't breathe and where in that space suit with them. Yet the grand, realistic looking CGI visuals of space and mother Earth made you feel the camera was actually filming from that very location.
I was not a fan of Sandra Bullock for many years. When she first came out in the 1990's I remember thinking she was an over-hyped, standard boring, whiny actress that the industry for whatever reason wouldn't stop promoting until she became a household name. I didn't think she deserved or earned any of the major roles she received throughout her career.
My mind did start to change when I saw the movie The Blind Side. I do seem to prefer her more serious roles and less of her predictable romantic comedies. Now after seeing this epic masterpiece of a film , I think Sandra has clearly learned a thing or two about screen presence and actually acting smaller to get a point across. She was simply brilliant and on her A game. When I say acting small. It's kind of what George Clooney does in all of his movies. You never see him putting on a show, he just acts. He acts like an normal guy in the same situation would act. It's so simple but it has the most desirable effect. It's real, and it's done well. Not every actor is expected to give us a character, like poor Johnny Depp who is plagued with every role he now lands having to be even bigger and more larger than life of the previous role.
Sandra in this movie is likable, easy to watch and you can believe her story and feel the pain/fear of her situation as the movie progresses. I have never felt that way about any Sandra Bullock performance until now. Without question an Oscar contender for both Sandra Bullock and Alfonso Cuarón.