Gravity

Gravity – Novice astronaut Dr. Ryan Stone and her more experienced colleague Matt Kowalsky are completing a routine maintenance mission in earth orbit. But suddenly disaster strikes as their shuttle is destroyed and they’re left drifting with only each other to hold on to. As their oxygen starts to run low they desperately search for a way to make it back to earth before time runs out.

Gravity (2013) – Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Rating: 12A

Running Length: 90 mins

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

Genre: Drama, Science Fiction

REVIEW: ‘GRAVITY’

‘Gravity’ is a stunningly made, fully immersive thriller, whose unprecedented technological developments and long, complex shots allow us to feel as never before what it must be like to float free of the Earth’s gravity in the cold vacuum of space. But while the beautifully filmed action scenes and seamless CGI catch the attention, it’s the human story, and specifically Sandra Bullock’s performance, which pull you in and give the story emotional depth, making it much more than a simple disaster or survival tale.

In fact this is pretty much a one-woman show. Clooney is the only other actor we see on-screen, and he’s absent for long stretches, leaving Bullock to fend for herself and face her own fears and complexes. There’s a good balance between exciting scenes of desperate attempts to reach safety and slower, dreamier scenes of the two main characters trying to keep each other awake, focused and maintain hope of a solution to their predicament.

Later in the film we switch gear as Bullock’s character has to face her own mortality and past trauma and come to some tough personal decisions. While her final, self-motivating speech may be too much for some as it slips into sentimentality, there’s no denying the power and emotional rush of the climax.

CONTENT: IS ‘GRAVITY’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

While there is no sex or violence and virtually no bad language in ‘Gravity’, it should be noted that it’s extremely tense throughout, and the scene near the start of the film where the shuttle is destroyed and the astronauts are sent hurtling helplessly out into the void are intense and pretty scary, with Bullock’s character coming close to having a full-blown panic attack.

Several scenes feature characters in extreme physical peril as they crash repeatedly into parts of the shuttle and space station, although no physical injuries are depicted. However one minor character is killed outright by flying debris, and when his corpse is discovered later in the film we are treated to a clear shot in close up, held for several seconds, of his head which has had a large whole blasted straight through it, obliterating his face. There is no blood or gore as the vacuum has effectively “cleaned” the wound, but it’s still a disturbing image.

Later in the same scene characters explore the wreckage of the shuttle and discover a few corpses floating, one of which pops into frame suddenly in order to startle, which will likely make children jump out of their seats.

In one of the film’s quieter moments Sandra Bullock’s character describes the sudden death of her four-year old daughter after a fall in the playground, and towards the end this traumatic episode is recalled again as she imagines her daughter in heaven. She also breaks down in tears while attempting to make radio contact with someone back on Earth.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘GRAVITY’ FOR KIDS?

‘Gravity’ is an intense but breathtaking experience, with bold direction and groundbreaking effects, but anchored by a strong central performance from Sandra Bullock. The scariness of some of the action scenes, as well as the seemingly certainty of death at moments, and a couple of graphic shots of corpses are cause for concern for taking children to see it, but for those older kids with a strong stomach it offers unparalleled thrills and an emotional roller-coaster ride.

• Violence: 2/5 (physical danger but no violence inflicted by other people. A couple of shots of corpses)
• Emotional Distress: 3/5 (the protagonist suffers anxiety and hyperventilates due to the stress of her predicament, and breaks down in tears when convinced she will die)
• Fear Factor: 4/5 (high tension and peril throughout)
• Sexual Content: 0/5 (no sexual references)
• Bad Language: 2/5 (a couple of moderate curse words)
• Dialogue: 2/5 (references to death of a small child)
• Other notes: (deals with themes of imminent death, despair, hopelessness, and self-sacrifice)

GUEST POST: Words by Simon Litton

Simon is a British father of three living in Brussels. He blogs at http://simonlitton.wordpress.com/ about films, books, food and photography.

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