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The race for the Academy’s Best Picture has officially begun. Though most of the films that earned early Oscar buzz have failed to impress, Alfonso Cuarón’s solitary space thriller, Gravity, definitely doesn’t disappoint. It could, in fact, be the first real must-see movie of the year.
During a mission to fix the Hubble Space Telescope, retiring astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney), medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock), and the rest of their crew are ordered to return to their ship after a damaged Russian satellite sends debris hurtling through space in their direction. The debris comes much sooner—and much heavier—than expected, and Stone and Kowalsky are the only two survivors, left with no working ship, no communication with Houston, and resources that are quickly depleting. Their only hope is to travel to the nearest space station and catch an escape pod home, but their time and oxygen supplies are both running out.
Gravity isn’t a big, elaborate film. It doesn’t have the massive set pieces or complicated storylines often found in a sci-fi thriller. Instead, it focuses more on the silence and the solitude of space—to the point that it’s sometimes unnerving. Cuarón does a remarkable job of capturing both the vastness and the strange isolation of the setting. It’s strikingly, hauntingly beautiful, but it’s also absolutely terrifying. After all, in space, there’s no background noise—no passing cars or humming computers or ringing phones. There’s no escape from the tasks—and, in this case, the crises—at hand. And that straightforward simplicity makes for an absolutely riveting experience.
Admittedly, though, it might take you a while to get completely caught up in the story—perhaps because of the strange casting. Clooney is an old pro at playing slick politicians and clever conmen, but he seems like a strange choice to play an astronaut. And Bullock is an adorable girl next door—but the girl next door tends to bake pies and take her kids to soccer games; she doesn’t get lost in space. While you may be as skeptical as I was of the unexpected cast, though, they’ll soon win you over. Not everyone in Hollywood could handle such a demanding film, but the two Oscar winners make it look easy. Bullock’s girl-next-door charm gives her character instant likability, while Clooney’s laid-back sense of humor gives the film some much-needed touches of comic relief. As unlikely as they may be, you’ll fall in love with their characters, and you’ll hold your breath as they fight to survive.
Gravity is what award season is all about. It’s a spellbinding film. It’s thrilling and suspenseful and powerfully dramatic. It’s got a remarkable cast. And when it comes to an end, you might have to stay through the credits, just to give yourself a chance to catch your breath.
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