Grand Elevation

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 2013)

Gravity doesn't seem like a big epic film like what most Sci-Fi pictures are treated today. The concept is quite simple, but despite of being simple, it's surprisingly more of a rewarding experience than you would expect. The real idea of the film is to portray how nature can bring both wonder and danger within the universe. The movie takes place in space, but there's definitely no alien twists to consider, because gravity and physics themselves are already their enemy, and all you have to do is to take its ride like you've never seen space before. The genius of the film is just being simple, but what's extraordinary is how it elevates the use of CGI and a direction giving us a good amount of suspense we need for a space thriller. Gravity is a cinematic experience that anyone shouldn't miss.
The plot is indeed straightforward, in spite of some scenes when the astronauts' are talking about their personal lives. The rest is all amazingly put together set pieces where danger can happen anytime and anywhere; it can be a struggle by the difficult movement in space, satellite debris destroying anything that passes, or just losing oxygen. Watching these characters trying survive the disaster going on is technically the only plot here, and how the film realized these incidents is astounding. I think the most memorable feat is whenever a soundless destruction occurs as the music score's beat replaces the clash. But really, most of the time is built in tension, and while everything is supposed to look terrifying, it also looks quite spectacular.
But it's not always about the the terror, the film is already remarkably stunning, with the marvelous perspectives that the camera picks. Most of its shots linger as it flies around from people to people and place to place, and it rarely shifts angles until it actually needed to. This brilliant camera-work makes you feel like you're part of the ride, which is pretty obvious for a film like this. Big budgeted CGI is usually used for blockbusters to impress the audience how cool the movie looks, but this is one of those that is able to be both cool, and electrifying. Looking at planet Earth is indeed a breathtaking view that may give you goosebumps, until an equally spellbinding peril happens up there. It, of course, had some human elements, but it works better in the exhaustion and longing of the characters' situation than the drama they make about their backstories. The performances makes it all easy to relate, if not nuanced. This is, most of the time, Sandra Bullock's show, and she controls the role decently. And George Clooney is always likable in any of his scenes.
Gravity is a magnificent achievement. It can also be an alternative to the genre in a while since Sci-Fi is recently (or has always been) taken over by epics with aliens and giant robots or whatever, but never forget what's scarier than those myths, simply just how force of nature works. This review probably sounds too hyperbolic that some might expand their expectations. One thing people should know about Gravity is it's a very simple film with a very simple story and concept, but by Alfonso Cuarón's strong ambition, all of its elements are perfectly fit together. As a result, an experience that may stuck in your memory for a long time. Gravity is easily one of the best films of the year, and again it should be seen in theaters, either 3D or not.