Life is short, and the present moment is all we have.

Rating: 9/10 (1 November 2013)

The sight of the earth encompassed in a wide shot brings tears to one's eyes, as it can revive memories of 2001 A Space Odyssey. Although different from the craft of Stanley Kubrick, the work of Alfonso Cuaron as a filmmaker is bold and original in its attempt to create his own genuine odyssey. As an evolved species, we are constantly embarking on an odyssey of knowledge. Every day we encounter some fragment of life which further defines who we are, what we'll be. This journey is filled with wonder and excitement, but also with peril and fear, knowing that in the end there is death, waiting to part with us each of us. Gravity although classified more a thriller, in the element of survival, there comes the self-reflection of our futility in our struggle to survive. It is the fear of death that truly brings out the most vulnerable aspects of our character. In those crucial moments we are tested, thus acknowledging the value of life in an agnostic universe where there is still so little that we know.
The opening scene of Gravity is something to marvel at, with the sight of the earth in scope. The only thing missing is the poetic composition of Johann Strauss. Oddly though, we get the honkytonk country antics of Hank Williams Jr. as an even mellower LT. Kowalski (Clooney) rides through space in his final mission, with first time astronaut Dr. Strong (Bullock). After a few quirky stories and some perverted humor regarding tequila and a weekend at mardi gras, disaster strikes aboard their ship. The impact of high-speed debris devours the ship, quicker than rapid waves to a boat, with no sound making the use of Steven Price's music although more thrilling. Two survivors remain, with Stone being hurled into the black abyss that is space, and Kowalski couching her through her panic.
In the time that they remain separate, the scene cuts are rather long, playing out within each scene, and giving the feeling of zero gravity more authenticity as Stone struggles to survive, let along comprehend her situation. Clooney's Kowalski, a veteran astronaut is endowed with the more calm and reflexive qualities that bring back an earlier image of Michael Caine's Jasper from Children of Men. Both mellow, and serving more of a guide for Bullock's character, Clooney embodies the wise mentor in the moment of peril, having learned from life that although there is beauty, there is also danger within the self-awareness of the present moment.
Gravity, although made within the aspects of a disaster thriller, draws even greater strength from its existentialist themes. These questions regarding death, spirituality, and God are never answered, nor are they posed directly to our own understanding of their mystery. They are simply there through the situation, as Stone floats and panics with erratic fear, in an abyss of perpetual darkness. Her courage to move forward, despite her fear is moving as it symbolizes the true strength of the human spirit's devotion to survival. Initially that is what separates from other animals, our ability to be self-aware, granting us the distinct capability of knowing that we share the same fate as all other animals, death. So much can happen in those moments, that we pray, we cry, and we plead for mercy. At times, despite our doubts, the essence of the divine becomes relevant, be it through the beautiful aspects of Buddhism and Christianity, we derive some source of strength as a means of combatting our fears, into further rising from a pool of despair.
Within a mere ninety minutes, Gravity manages to capitalize a brilliant portrayal of the human struggle for survival. It marks a story of determination through conflict, as Sandra bullock's protagonist with the sorted flaws and gifts that make her conception all the more worth watching. It is through her own innocent and kind presence that Bullock is able to capture the fragility, as well as the courageous strength of her character. George Clooney as well captures a uniqueness to his character Kowalski, representing the wisdom of a person whos experienced life to the degree that he can fully comprehend that it is short, and not worth the indulgence of fear. He serves the role of the wise mentor, guiding Dr. Stone to Safety, despite her own doubts and fears towards death, as well as the denial of happiness she acknowledges. Gravity is brilliant in its execution of the disaster element, as well as equally compelling within its examination of the human condition. As much as we look at life and contemplate our situation of death, it all boils down to the present moment. The here and now is all we have. Regardless of what we hope for in the future, the only thing we can only be reliant on is the present moment. It is basically a leap of faith regardless of the unknown and the only thing we can do is make the best of it.