Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Big Names: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (kinda)
Don't worry, there IS more to this movie than Sandra Bullock breathing heavily and spinning around in Outer Space.
To be honest, I had absolutely no idea where this movie was going to go. The commercials showed a bunch of bad things happening to Georgey Boy and Bullock, but there had to be some kind of plot, right? Sort of. This movie could just as easily been titled "The Worst Thing That Could Possibly Happen to a Human Being." Because all that happened through out the entirety of this film was a bunch of bad situations going worse.
Before I continue to blast this script (which, by the way, left my girlfriend and I speechless all the way back to our car--and we couldn't decide wether it was a good speechless or not) I would like to talk about the pros of this movie. It was visually stunning. Like, Oscar and Golden Globe nomination stunning. Alfonso Cuaron is most well known for directing Children of Men, a piece of cinematography gold, and this was certainly fantastic as well. I loved the cinematography and the CGI, and I had no idea that this guy directed another one of my visual favorites, which I would claim is a testament to Cuaron's skill, creativity, and genuine expertise.
Outer Space looks amazing and so do the space stations. There are no glitches, nothing that stands out at all, especially if you see it in 3D. In fact I'd go as far as to say this is the best 3D movie I've seen. Nothing is in there just for the sake of being in 3D, and the visuals flow so smoothly that they're barely noticeable.
Speaking of 3D.... That reminds me! I spent $14 to watch this damn thing! Not worth $14 dollars to me, but for all the CGI nerds out there: you'll love it.
Back to the script--Clooney probably filmed this movie in like 2 and a half hours. His face is in the movie for 6 or 7 times longer than his full body is and it all adds up to practically nothing. His name is clearly on the cast list to attract middle aged women and people who were hoping for one of those strong acting jobs he can be known for.
As for Bullock, she is the story's central character--who does develop nicely--but I can't help thinking that this would have made a much better book. I don't mean that in the stereotypical "Meh, meh, mehhhhh. The book is always better than the movie. Blah, blah, I'm a cat person," sort of way. I mean that her character's struggle was extremely internal. It's about a person who goes through a psychological, emotional, and somewhat spiritual change that just-so-happens to have occurred during her time above the atmosphere.
I wanted to know what she was thinking and feel how her thought process worked. I wanted to experience her flashbacks with her. And, most of all, I DON'T want to hear her talk aloud to herself! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is cornier to me than a character talking to themselves out loud. Especially when it is unrealistic and forced into the script solely for the sake of the audience. This isn't Shakespeare, people. Asides are not allowed.
Like I said earlier, this is a movie that you must see in theaters (I don't care how good your surround sound system is), but only do so if you have a strong interest in seeing the movie. And most importantly, this review is only my opinion--not Greg's and certainly not yours. It's worth checking out if curiosity is pulling you like gravity (I'm so sorry, I couldn't help it) in that direction.
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