Gravity
Don't let go.
Overview
Dr. Ryan Stone, a brilliant medical engineer, is on her first Shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The Shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone-tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness of space. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Gravity taps into anxieties about technological dependence and the potential dangers of space exploration. Released amidst increasing private sector involvement in space travel, the film also subtly reflects the precariousness of human endeavors in the face of uncontrollable forces and the vastness of the universe, prompting existential contemplation.
- The film features stunning visual effects that realistically portray the vastness and unforgiving nature of space, creating a deeply immersive and visceral viewing experience.
- Sandra Bullock delivers a powerful and emotionally resonant performance as Dr. Ryan Stone, carrying the emotional weight of the film and portraying the struggle for survival with vulnerability and strength.
- The film explores themes of isolation, perseverance, and the human will to survive against overwhelming odds, prompting reflection on our own resilience and connection to humanity.
- The suspenseful plot keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, with constant threats and challenges forcing the protagonist to adapt and overcome obstacles in a high-stakes environment.
Fun Facts
- To simulate the feeling of zero gravity, Sandra Bullock spent hours practicing in specialized rigs and harnesses, requiring immense physical endurance.
- The sound design played a crucial role in conveying the disorienting silence of space, often relying on vibrations and internal sounds to create a sense of claustrophobia and isolation.
- Director Alfonso Cuarón initially envisioned a single, unbroken shot for the entire film, a concept that heavily influenced the film's long takes and immersive cinematography.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"Don't let go."
Français
FR
Title:
"Ne rien lâcher."
Português
PT
Title: Gravidade
"Não te largues."
Italiano
IT
Title: Gravity
"Non mollare ora."
Español
ES
Title:
"¿Alguien me recibe?"
Deutsch
DE
Title:
"Lass nicht los!"
Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
Great story, great cast and performances, great direction, FX, photography, care for the details, OST and editing.
Alfonso Cuarón is a real titan and Sandra Bullock goes for the Oscar.
It is not a 10 because at some point the chain of events goes further that it should.
There is no doubt that this is a very pleasing movie from a purely visual point of view. This is probably a movie that would benefit from being watched in a good theater with its grandiose scenery.
However, I have to say that I found the rest of the movie somewhat mediocre. The part that I felt dragged down the movie the most is that Dr. Ryan is behaving rather clumsily and amateurish first being real slow in obeying the order to evacuate and then floating around huffing and puffing, talking a lot when she should really conserve oxygen. Did they not give her the basic course before letting her up in space? I also found it soooo Hollywood that she was able to get onto the Chinese space station and seconds later it starts to descend into the atmosphere. In general I felt that the script writer was not really very technically knowledgeable.
Overlooking these, unfortunately all too often occurring issues, the movie is fairly okay as a whole. Obviously I cannot agree with the glowing all-star ratings that some people have been giving it but it is far from the single star trashing that other people have been giving it. Technically it was very good with nice special effects. Bullock performed as well as can be expected with the script she was given. Clooney felt a bit out-of-place as a skilled astronaut to me but then he was not really in the movie that much.
To me it was a fairly enjoyable popcorn movie.
**A cinematography masterclass!**
The cinematography of this movie is a breathtaking feat, unlike anything I have ever seen! The commitment to realism influenced every decision throwing the audience into the intensity of every moment. An enthralling ride from beginning to end with overwhelming effects and masterful storytelling that makes you feel every second. This movie absolutely earned its place on the list of “1001 Movies to See Before You Die.”
Gravity is an epic thrill ride that starts and never ends. I have not felt continued tension like this film in some time. The entire movie is so isolated and desperate, it is incredibly immersive. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The script is a bit rough at times, a large portion of the dialogue does not seem realistic and can come off as corny sometimes, especially with George Clooney's character. Overall, it is short, face paced, and thrilling and I would highly recommend.
Score: 82%
Verdict: Great
Sandra Bullock's acting prowess is truly remarkable. Whether she's in a hit or a miss, her performances are always worth watching multiple times. Even in her less successful films, she brings something special to the screen that keeps you captivated.
This particular movie was a rollercoaster of excitement, struggles, and emotions. It had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next. The thrill of the storyline held my attention throughout, leaving me both craving more and feeling a sense of fear about what might unfold. It was undeniably intense and kept me hooked from start to finish.
Simply terrible. I'm not a fan of the whole tens of improbable bad events happening in sequence genre, but this is just taking it to a whole other level.
The protagonist just presses random buttons and is so incompetent you wonder how she even became an astronaut. The physics and orbital mechanics in this movie make absolutely zero sense. One example out of the hundreds: it's highly improbable that the ISS and Tiangong would be within viewing distance of one another. And if they were they wouldn't stay that way for the roughly 2 hours the movie lasts, since they had very different inclinations. It would be impossible to reach one from the other with a single thrust designed for landing, even more impossible with manual controls. The first couple attempted rendezvous in history were from distances of 5 km (not the 100 in the movie) and failed, even though the pilots were clearly more competent than the protagonist here. There are so many errors here, I wouldn't be surprised if the Earth was flat (at least it would make the movie funny). This isn't just nitpicking since the movie tries to be realistic, but fails miserably.
Sure, the CGI is nice, but that's hardly a selling point in this day and age (or when the movie launched)
Oscar Awards
Wins
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 2013
Emmanuel Lubezki
DIRECTING - 2013
Alfonso Cuarón
FILM EDITING - 2013
Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger
MUSIC (Original Score) - 2013
Steven Price
SOUND EDITING - 2013
Glenn Freemantle
SOUND MIXING - 2013
Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro
VISUAL EFFECTS - 2013
Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould
Nominations
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE - 2013
Sandra Bullock
BEST PICTURE - 2013
Alfonso Cuarón, David Heyman
PRODUCTION DESIGN - 2013
Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woollard
Media
Featurette
'Gravity' | Crafting Oscar-Winning Visual Effects
Featurette
David Shirk | Behind the Oscars Speech
Featurette
Alfonso Cuarón and Gaspar Noé discuss Gravity | BFI IMAX Q&A