An unforgettable experience for the eyes and the mind.

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2013)

Gravity is the kind of film that doesn't often get made in Hollywood. The film was shot in the United Kingdom and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Director Alfonso Cuaron manages to grab us from the beginning in this science-fiction thriller with majestic views of Earth from space. We get introduced to Dr. Ryan Stone, played by Sandra Bullock, and Lieutenant Matt Kowalski, played by George Clooney. The performances by Bullock and Clooney are both excellent. It's Bullock, however, who carries the film like an expert with a performance that makes her character sympathetic but also distant. Bullock is known both for her comedic roles (While You Were Sleeping, Demolition Man) and her dramatic roles (Speed, Crash). Gravity is very much an experience and the film should be seen in a theater. Cuaron combines drama and thrills for an emotionally satisfying result. The excellent visual effects may make some viewers wonder how they were achieved. They make us feel almost as if we're there in space with the characters. It's worth mentioning that Cuaron's work, and especially this film, has been influenced by director Elem Klimov's great 1985 war drama Come And See. If you watch both Gravity and Come And See you'll notice the striking similarities. In addition to Cuaron's expert direction and Emmanuel Lubezki's stunning cinematography we're also treated to an effective soundtrack by Steven Price, which works wonders in some scenes. Some reviewers ranked Gravity on the same level as science-fiction greats like Blade Runner (1982), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and Solaris (1972). I'm not going to jump to such conclusions at this time, but Gravity is easily one of the best films of recent years. I certainly recommend it.