Gravity 3D

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

Cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney & Ed Harris

Certifcate: 12A

Gravity begins with a few simple lines of text, the last of which is “Life in space is impossible” before leading us into a jaw droppingly beautiful, dizzying, unbroken 17 minute opening sequence. It’s mesmerising. I’m pretty sure that I drooled into my popcorn at one point. If you think that I’m getting carried away, just watch it for yourselves. It will blow your socks off.

During this barrage of gorgeous imagery, we are introduced to Dr Ryan Stone (Bullock), who is on her first shuttle mission and veteran commander Matt Kowalsky (Clooney), who is on his last. There is a constant stream of humorous banter between them and ground control (Ed Harris in a repeat of his Apollo 13 duties) as they carry out a routine space walk. It all seems to be going so well, until they are warned of an impending danger.

A Russian satellite has been destroyed and the debris, orbiting the earth faster than a speeding bullet, is heading straight for them. They are warned that it’s knocking out all other satellites and communication may soon be lost. For you all you geeks out there, this is known as the Kessler effect.

When the debris finally hits, it is a beautiful ballet of destruction. The shuttle is destroyed and Stone and Kowalsky are left to drift, terrifyingly, into space. Clooney, for once, is not the centre of attention and as good as he is here, this really is Bullocks film. Giving arguably the performance of her career, it is a nuanced turn of heartbreaking emotion and well judged, reigned in fear. There are no over the top histrionics as she portrays the rookie medical engineers unbelievable fight for her life.

Eventually alone, Dr Stone has to try and make her way back to the Space Station and the escape pod that waits.

Director Alfonso Cuaron hasn’t made a film since 2006s excellent Children of Men and its clear to see why. Every last frame of this film has been painstakingly planned and realised in amazing detail; it’s a technical tour de force and the special effects are flawless. Pens, tear drops and in one eerily hypnotizing scene, a parachutes ropes waving like tentacles from an alien squid, float by in the most wonderfully immersive 3D I’ve ever seen.

What’s equally impressive is that this was filmed in 2D and converted in post production. Proof that if it’s done right and the film lends itself to the medium, 3D can be truly great and not the cynical cash cow some studios milk it for.

The Verdict 5/5

Without a doubt, this is the film of the year. A thrilling, tension filled sci-fi that’s one of the best looking movies you’ll ever see, and frankly, it’s a bloody masterpiece.