“Gravity” pulls us in and transforms.
Sandra Bullock is so powerful in Director Writer Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity”. Visually breathtaking to watch—I saw it in 3D. Cuaron and Cinematographer Emmauel Lubezki simply awe us with the stunning 15-minute continuous camera shot set 6000 miles above the earth. However, it is Sandra Bullock, who authentically pulls us in Cuaron’s journey of loss and the rediscovery of our innate power.
There is a stark moment as she gazes at us from the screen with her sad and haunting beauty, saying “Who will pray for me?” “Gravity” sources its sheer power from its humanity. Bullock’s bold vulnerability touches and profoundly inspires. Bullock and George Clooney’s captivating chemistry levitates this tale of the human spirit.
At the movie’s narrative arc, Clooney’s Matthew Kowalski consoles Bullock’s Ryan in the throes of despair. His words resonate in a strange twist. Clooney basically in a supporting role, is brilliant balancing Matt’s brashness and deep seeded compassion. George is pure partnership in Sandra’s tour de force.
“Gravity” opens with the NASA Shuttle Explorer Mission to repair the Hubble Telescope orbiting above the earth. Bullock with close-cropped haircut is bookish Medical Mission Specialist Ryan Stone, on her first spacewalk. Isolated Ryan, suffers with a family tragedy. Clooney is at his gruff and boastful best as Mission Commander Matthew Kowalski. Old hat and on his last mission, Matt is out to break the spacewalk record. Suddenly, the routine mission turns deadly as fiery debris from a Russian Spy Satellite collides with Explorer.
The unthinkable happens, as Ryan becomes un-tethered and set adrift in deep space. Ryan and Matt now must do the impossible—find their way home. In space, there is no sound, but we can hear our hearts pound.
Director Cuaron captures the isolation and desolation of space. He leverages this into the haunting human desolation which lands with us. Sandra Bullock’s Ryan suffers emotional wounds from the past, not to give away. In her performance, she is also virtually alone. Bullock displays awesome physicality as she floats ballet-like on screen. She looks ageless and amazing as she reclaims her power. She lets go of all her defenses and touches our very souls.
Bullock as Ryan pushes through amidst great fear and loss. She has the unique gravitas of moving our souls with a silent glance. In this amazing journey, she is not the same person at the beginning of the story. Neither are we. “Gravity” will amaze and touch you.
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Photo credit: Shutterstock, modified