Astonishing space drama

Rating: 9/10 (3 December 2013)

Alfonso Cuaron directs his first movie since Children of Men in 2006 with this breathtaking survival drama set in orbit about the Earth. The hostility and beauty of space is brought to the screen in a quite spectacular manner, with stunning views of our beautiful planet dominating the screen. Its serenity really needs to be seen on a cinema screen to be fully appreciated, although I was surprised the Moon didn't feature at all, even at long range.
Only two actors appear in this film. George Clooney is the veteran Kowalski and Sandra Bullock is the rookie Stone. Clooney is, well, George Clooney as we all know him, acting as though it were all a walk in the park. He might have been on the set of Ocean's Thirteen. This gave centre stage to Sandra Bullock, whose film this was. She has been in a spate of disappointing films these last few years (apart from Crash), so it was great to see her carry this film with no little conviction through some scenes of panic, exhaustion, hopelessness, determination, and whatever emotion is required to confront such an awesome sequence of disasters. I think her performance is worth at least a Nomination for Best Actress.
I loved the long takes and the silences. I thought the 3D was impressive but not overpowering.
I have learned that the interiors of the ISS and the Soyuz modules have been verified by astronauts and after a diet of iPod-style ship interiors from Star Trek I was surprised at the clunky nature of the technology on display. (You certainly wouldn't get me up there in one of those things!)
If I could find a fault (being picky) I was surprised at the length of time Stone kept breathing excessive CO2 at a certain point, I don't think the film would have suffered if she had had a little more O2 in the tank at that point. I also didn't understand the purpose behind the dog howling. This must have been a transmission from Earth, I am not sure how it fit in with the film.
Anyway, a triumph in cinematography and panicky suspense – don't miss it. 9/10.