a breathtaking visual journey but oddly impersonal

Rating: 7/10 (13 December 2013)

the film is a very sensual experience. Cuarón is careful to put us up there with the astronauts, seeing everything from their perspective. looking so good, the visual aspect is nothing to complain about. the film is relentless in delivering wonderful (really meaning it elicits wonder) sequences, one after the other. it keeps you mesmerized and fixated on the suspense that ceases not to arise along the ride.
however, in between all of the wondrous and sensory pleasing input, therein lies my issue with the film. given the fact that it is almost entirely set in outer space, the film is able to let space become a character of its own, and it does that to good effect, portraying its majestic beauty and its cruel indifference, but not quite enough. it seemed to me that the film's determination to continue building thrill caused it to lack depth and ultimately miss out on other interesting characteristics of space, such as the idea that floating out of Earth, above most things, puts in perspective just how much we belong to - or better, are one with - the universe, opening up a range of exciting and curious existential musings and uncertainty. in the final scene, i felt that any intended allusions to the evolution of life crawling out of the sea onto the land is undeserved.
the result is a breathtaking journey and a distinctive visual experience, with an oddly impersonal significance that leaves it slightly limping.