Review of Gravity (2013) by Song L — 28 May 2016

I've always been fascinated by outer space. From NASA's space program to nebulas that are millions of light years away, some part of space always seems intriguing to me. Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity provides an exciting and emotional adventure in the far reaches of Earth's atmosphere unlike any I've experienced before.

Gravity focuses on two astronauts, played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, as their Space Shuttle mission is torn apart (literally) by an orbiting field of space debris. The rest of the film focuses on their struggle to survive in the silent, zero-gravity, and zero-oxygen environment above earth.

The main standouts in the film are the performances by the main (and only) actors, Bullock and Clooney (but did anyone catch Ed Harris' voice as Mission Control?). Bullock's performance is especially good: her portrayal of a scared, vulnerable amateur astronaut is believable, emotionally compelling, and empowering.

And while Clooney's performance as a fatherlike, veteran astronaut is easily overshadowed by his co-star's, he also does a great job. The visual effects in the film also deserve praise, because as far as I could tell, the majority of Gravity was actually filmed in space.

The above-earth shots are impressive and dazzling, and the scene of the destruction of the International Space Station stood out as some of the thriller's finest eye-candy. Aside from that, the screenplay and script, the beautiful cinematography, the soundtrack (which is sometimes non-existent to emphasize the silence of space), and the story are all spectacular.

Gravity defines itself as one of the best thrillers, dramas, and space adventures to ever set foot in the film industry, and it, along with its brilliant director, deserves a thunderous round of applause.