"Clear, with a chance of satellite debris."

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 2013)

Working in space is full of inherent dangers: astronauts on a space walk are always in danger of being untethered and flung into open space, to either drift eternally or fall to the Earth and burn up. An astronaut could run out of air and suffocate. If anything happens to the EVA suit, an astronaut could decompress. There's always the threat that random debris orbiting the planet could strike an astronaut and end his life very suddenly. Space is too wide open to have any margin of error; the film Gravity even starts with the statement that it is impossible for life to exist in space.
Some films have touched upon the dangers of space here and there, but of all the space movies out there, Gravity is easily the most earnest attempt to make a plausible and creditable thrill ride out of showing astronauts in peril. The film is simple and minimalistic, using only two main characters and a simple situation to make them struggle for their lives. As the astronauts suffer a tragic space accident and are forced to use their limited air and resources to find a way back to Earth, the film tracks their every move and focuses on all the dangers and problems they face. What makes the film great is that there is always a new problem to face: it's not just 90 minutes of floating in space, it's a survivalist story that smoothly progresses from one thing to another. Despite the perils on display, the film also showcases some gorgeous imagery, showing vast views of Earth from orbit, with city lights, clouds, and auroras clearly visible along the planet's surface. Some of the most jaw-dropping sequences, however, show a silently violent storm of debris that rips through space shuttles and space stations, obliterating them into thousands of pieces of debris. The experience overall is visually marvelous and tensely gripping.
The story is as minimal as it can be; the plot is solely devoted to the survival story, with the astronauts drifting from one target to another to try and reach home. Characters are colorful and likable, but aren't really explored in depth. The simplicity of the story, however, is part of what makes it great; the film takes its time to breathe and let the experience take precedence.
Part of what makes the film work, however, is its cameramanship, which is extraordinary. As an evolution of the prolonged shots used in Children of Men, Gravity has many sequences where the camera always moves and tracks the action without cutting. The opening sequence in particular must have run for ten minutes or so without a single cut. The camera swings around and swoops through space to replicate the effect of actually being in space, and it does so without being erratic or annoying; the imagery is always smooth and flowing. As such, the editing is ingenious. Acting is pretty decent: Sandra Bullock is surprisingly earnest in this role, and I believe this may be the best of her career, for she plays a character that we love to root for (and is not all that goofy either). George Clooney is pretty much himself. Writing is very good. This production uses very real-looking sets, props, costumes, and marvelous special effects. The film also uses a very interesting soundscape; because there is no air in space, the film keeps actual sound effects to a minimum, but it fills the void with the dialogue, and with Steven Price's enchanting music score.
Astronaut movies are few and far between as they are (the only other good contenders I know of would be The Right Stuff and Apollo 13, and I daresay Space Cowboys). As it is, Gravity is my new favorite among space movies, for it presents a fundamental story in a creditably fashion with superb skill and craftsmanship.
Recommended! 5/5 (Experience: Perfect | Story: Good | Film: Perfect)