a momentous achievement that must be seen as advertised

Rating: Null/10 (8 October 2013)

Spectacular, visually stunning space odyssey/suspense thriller focusing on a medical specialist (Bullock) on her first space shuttle mission, and a veteran astronaut (Clooney) commanding his final expedition, and their arduous journey after an accident leaves them stranded in outer space. With a setup that initially seems indistinguishable from other films in this genre there's reason to be skeptical, but it immediately grabs you by the collar with a taut, multilayered story of strength, faith, and survival, and overwhelms you with some of the most arresting visual effects ever put on film. If there were ever a case to justify using 3-D for a mainstream Hollywood movie, this would definitely be it! Bullock easily gives the finest performance of her career, creating genuine pathos and conveying a gamut of emotions that have not yet been seen in her previous efforts. To see it any other way than on the big screen would be an absolute crime. ***½