Gravity is a lesson in Newton’s Third Law. The rare Hollywood movie that not only takes the time to acknowledge that the laws of physics exist, but actually embraces them. You know, the sort of thing that pretty much ensures that shiny new script of yours will never get made into a movie.
But writer/director Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men) actually did the impossible and got his scientifically-aware movie made. And the irony of it all is, by doing nothing more than conceding a few of the basic tenets of space exploration he managed to make one of the more thoughtful and original thrillers in quite some time. It’s enough to make you wonder why no one has ever thought of this before…
The movie starts with a few basic repairs to the Hubble telescope. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a newbie in space. She has enough trouble keeping her lunch down let alone finishing the meticulous work in front of her. Her compatriot Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) is having a much better time. He’s on the cusp of breaking the record for the most time spent walking in space… yeah I know, but it gets better.
Before long the crew gets a message from Houston. The Russians have shot down one of their satellites with a missile, leaving a trail of debris shuttling through space at speeds even bullets are uncomfortable with (something China actually did back in 2007). That wreckage hits a few more satellites and before long our crew of astronauts is in some serious trouble.
Gravity has a rather deliberate pace. It’s shot in what seems like real time, cutting away only when it’s absolutely necessary. Some might find themselves bored with the films methodical pacing, but at the same time it seems to alternate between quiet moments of reflection and edge of your seat thrills so quickly it’s hard to feel safe for too long.
It’s in those latter moments especially – when it’s ramped up the action – where Gravity really shines. I didn’t mention Newton’s Third Law earlier by accident (for those of you who might be a little rusty on your high school science, that’s the one about actions and their equal and opposite reactions). Cuarón uses that simple principle to create obstacles and scenarios that just haven’t been seen on the screen before.
And the visual results are spectacular. Point of view shots convey just what exactly momentum means for a helpless astronaut. The orbit of each spacecraft against the backdrop of Earth evoke the incredible isolation of space. Even tears feel more picturesque. The film may be called Gravity, but it’s its lack thereof that makes it so intriguing.
Of course visuals aren’t everything and there are times when Gravity can struggle with its more contemplative moments. Early in the film especially I had trouble connecting with many of the characters backstories. Granted, it all ended up paying off quite beautifully in the third act, but it still felt too much like Cuarón was force feeding us their life stories.
The same goes for the film’s frequent attempts to educate the audience. It’s forgivable, as one gets the sense most of the people in the crowd could use the refresher. And it helps that most of the subject matter is quite interesting. But it does lead to that all too familiar problem of two characters explaining out concepts to each other that both should already know. Especially since a lot of it could just be implied anyway.
Now, I’m sure none of you probably expected this, but I am… a bit of a space geek (gasps). And because of that I was probably watching the film a little more critically than most. I know I’ve lauded Gravity for paying attention to scientific authenticity and the film is better than the majority of what’s out there (*cough* Armageddon *cough*), but it does have its problems here and there. It’s not enough to sink the movie, but if you’re the type of person who would care a lot about that (a nerd) I feel obligated to warn you that the film’s not perfect.
On the flip side, I don’t want anyone to think they’ll be buying a ticket to a science fair. Alfonso Cuarón has pieced together a tense and beautiful thriller, with an ending that resonates long after you’ve left the theatre. Whether you’re a fan of space or not, this one’s worth checking out.
Score: 4/5