A Beautiful, Deep, Intelligent Film

Rating: 10/10 (20 November 2014)

This is one of those movies that uses cutting edge technology to deliver a story that could never be delivered (as strongly) before. The effects, the level of fidelity that they were able to achieve, is amazing. The way the objects interact with each other, the way the weightlessness appears––it's all top notch. Every second of this movie feels as though you are in space along with the actors. But it does not end there.
During almost the entire film, there is a sense of dread, a sense that you do not belong in this world––that we as people do not belong in space. As you watch the characters, whose leads are portrayed by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, struggle to survive, you feel as though it were you. It is as though it is you that are helplessly floating around in this surreal, visceral world that is so dangerous, lonely, and empty. You feel as though you are floating away (even more if you are viewing it in 3D) to your death, to slowly die of lack of oxygen or to perhaps be ripped apart by space debris. These emotions of fear, anxiety, and sorrow, are all made to be real by Sandra Bullock's acting, which is some of the finest that I have seen.
There is a reason that Sandra Bullock has garnered so much critical praise for this movie, and it is simply this: her role in this movie is completely, utterly convincing. Every moment that her life is in danger, every instance of fear, the feeling that you want––need––to survive, you feel it along with her. Her performance alone makes the movies somewhat linear plot amazing.
The outline of the plot is this: Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock), a biomedical engineer on NASA space shuttle "Explorer," on her first mission with Matt Kowalski, which evidently turns out to be his last mission. During a "routine walk," they receive news that an old Russian satellite has been struck with a missile attack. This caused a chain of reaction which causes high speed space debris flying in the path of the "Explorer." They are told, by headquarters, that they need to begin re-entry immediately in order to avoid the debris. Before they can do this, however, the "Explorer" is struck and Dr. Stone and Kowalski are detached and spiral throughout space. The plot follows their attempts to survive and, somehow, against all odds, make it back home, to Earth.
The plot, as mentioned above, is linear, however, the compelling performances by the leads, most notably Sandra Bullocks, makes it all believable and realistic. When paired with all the technical marvels, and the overall believability, you get one of the best thrillers/dramas that has ever been released.