‘Gravity’ took five years to make, and the result is astounding. The film uses space as an incredible backdrop to a high tension thriller that is well worth the price of admission.

While servicing the Hubble Telescope, astronauts Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) become stranded in space after parts from a decommissioned russian satellite damage their space shuttle. After the two astronauts find each other once the destruction dies down, they set out to find find a way back to Earth without radio contact or a functioning ship.

From the fifteen minute long opening sequence forward, director Alfonso Cuarón shifts between a deep admiration for the beauty of space and how unforgiving it can be. I was consistently impressed with how real the zero gravity scenes looked, especially when coupled with the smooth flow of the camera from scene to scene. Making this movie was mind-blowingly complicated, but few movies have done space as well as ‘Gravity’.

I’m one of the seemingly few people who enjoy 3D, and this film ranks up with ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Coraline’ on my list of 3D done right. Seeing a lone astronaut in the vast blackness of space really makes you feel how isolated the characters feel. I didn’t get a chance to see ‘Gravity’ in IMAX, but even on a standard screen it was hard not to feel completely immersed.

The film is primarily held up by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney’s  performances. There are a few supporting actors, but generally they are voice only. I’m not a huge fan of Bullock, but she really shines in this film. She plays a character that has to deal with immense stress, and the audience feels it. One scene in which she manages to contact Earth was especially powerful and really shows why she was chosen for this film. Clooney was charming, as always, but he still makes it clear why he’s an Academy Award winner with his almost zen performance as Matt Kowalski.

My one complaint with the film would have to be the dialogue. If it weren’t for the two lead actors, many of the lines would come off as cheesy. It’s a small complaint in an otherwise masterfully made film, but Clooney sometimes comes off as overly obnoxious. Even an astronaut that looks like George Clooney wouldn’t mention his beauty every twenty minutes.

As a whole, this movie is incredible. Seeing the earth on such a massive scale compared to the fragility of life in space really puts things in perspective. This movie was clearly intended to be seen in 3D, but my second viewing in 2D was still impressive. This film really is a testament to how far film has come and is well worth the short hour and a half running time.

5/5 Stars