Gravity review (by the other A Mrk!)

The movie Gravity, directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Sandra Bullock, is a triumph in every way. It is impossible to fully describe the technical accomplishment of the film, and within that, the degree of difficulty of Bullock's performance. Both Cuaron's direction and Bullock's acting are standouts for their professions.

The movie is the shortest great film ever. The first scene is the beginning of the story, every second from then is needed, and the last scene is the story's end. I cannot think of any film which tells its story in such a straightforward way. In the Q & A that followed Cuaron mentioned that the original cover page of the screenplay said: "A 3D suspense film in 90 minutes". It's the only time the length has been a vital part of the conception of the movie that I can remember. It shows the care and understanding Cuaron put into the movie, and that he never wanted to show off his skills, just to tell the story he had - which is a short, sharp one.


The look of the film is both awe-inspiring and yet never overtakes the story. The opening scene of the movie is a 13 minute continuous take. Unlike the battle-scene shot from Cuaron's Children of Men, which felt forced and unnatural, the scene feels completely right, perhaps because of the floating feel of zero-g means the movement of the camera necessary for a continuous take feels normal. The use of 3D is outstanding and adds enormously to the movie. And in many shots beautiful Earth forms the background, seen in darkness and daylight, sea and land, often with the brilliant chains of cities's lights.

But the most impressive aspect is the zero-g. Especially in the scene when Bullock has to work her way through the Russian space station, the feeling of floating is accomplished effortlessly. You almost have to remind yourself to notice it it feels so natural. Which brings us now to Bullock. Her acting was accomplished when she was attached by 12 wires which pulled and pushed her to simulate  no gravity. On top of this, virtually none of the movie was actually present around her. So she is accomplishing all her acting while being moved by wires in all three directions while remembering where each part of the set will be added in above and below her, left and right of her, and in front and behind her. She delivers a winning, outstanding performance, perfect from start to finish.

But not forgotten is George Clooney. Unique amongst A-list male actors Clooney happily accepts a supporting role. The scenes between the two actors are effortlessly done, whether under pleasant conversation or life-threatening danger. In the Q & A, Bullock mentioned that the dialogue in one of her excellent scenes was in fact written by Clooney. She and Cuaron had been struggling with the lines, and that night Clooney just decided to help out and emailed his own version, which is what they used.

TIFF wonderfully invited two real astronauts to see the screening, Dr. Roberta Bondar and Cmdr. Chris Hadfield. Hadfield was actually asked a question as to realism of the film and said the film was great. Cuaron admitted to a bit of nerves to hearing that question, but Hadfield confirmed the movie's excellent work.

The audience for this movie is everybody.  It offers suspense without violence and a wonderful, central female performance. Complimenting the technical side of movies sometimes turns people off, but this movie is so beautiful, and feel of being in space is so marvellouslly done, that it could be watched as a silent movie and enjoyed. Unlike anything you have seen before, one of the best movies of the last ten years, and maybe the best technical work since Star Wars in 1977.  Gravity is what movies are meant to be.