Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity opens with text describing the inhospitableness of outer space, concluding that in such an environment, “life is impossible.” And in the ensuing ninety minutes, the movie does everything imaginable to drive this point home. Everything that can go wrong, does go wrong, and what’s worse is that help is literally beyond reach. Luminous earth lies in the background, miles and miles away.
Gravity stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as two astronauts caught in the dead of space, their ship destroyed by a debris field. Every move is crucial, every breath vital, as the two struggle towards the safety of another ship. The stakes have never been higher, and both Bullock and Clooney do a fantastic job grounding the film. Their panic and fear are as plain as day, and the two have a natural, easy rapport that makes the characters believable and empathetic.
This movie is exhilarating and terrifying. One minute you’ll be marvelling at the beauty and majesty of space—this movie is gorgeous and is worth seeing on the biggest screen possible—and the next minute you’ll be horrified at the terrible things happening amidst such a pretty background. Gravity is, quite simply, a must-see.
Kevin Rosario is a contributing writer for Chulo Magazine. You can keep up with him on Twitter @DoodlesGalore.
Images are courtesy Warner Brothers Pictures.
