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Gravity (2013)

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Edgy MD Oct 05 2013 02:19 PM

George F. Clooney and Sandra Bullock are two astronauts cast adrift on a spacewalk like Major F. Tom. Get these guys home, Ed Harris. Going to see it now.

Edgy MD Oct 06 2013 04:53 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Well, this was really a visually arresting movie, with all the action taking place while the rivers, forests, painted deserts and civilizations of the world rotate beneath you in the corner of the screen. It's almost 100% a two-character film, with everyone besides Bullock and Clooney being mere radio voices or figures in the distance who exit the show pretty early on, as the same disaster that sets the film in motion also takes out communications satellites. In other words, the skills of Ed Harris (as the voice of Ground Control), such as they are, are totally not needed, so he's there pretty much entirely to draw a parallel between this film and Apollo 13, but he's not getting them home this time. These two are totally on their own. Except for the whole world passing silently below. As beautiful as it is, it's totally a thriller, and reminded me of Aliens in how it doesn't bother building tension toward a climactic peak, but rather threw one tense sequence upon another bam-bam-bam through most of the movie. This is it's grace (among it's many graces really), as a character is frequently left with one chance to grab onto another or onto the hull of a ship, or be thrown off into the horror of drifting forever into space, waiting for their oxygen to run out and to die utterly alone, and I imagine carbon dioxide poisoning is a shitty way to die. But it's also a failing, as it doesn't hit as deep as it could, or wrestle much with the big questions that hovering over the planet with one's existence on the line might raise, such as 2001 or Solyaris did. (Interestingly, Clooney's last space vehicle was Solaris, an English-language remake of Solyaris.) Bullock becomes sort of a female version of a Jack London-type protagonist, a mission specialist (and therefore not a career astronaut) who starts the film overwhelmed by the challenges of space work even on a run-of-the-mill mission, but when everything goes haywire and the mission turns to survival, somehow finds a way to go on even though she has every reason to quit, and somehow finds just enough of her training stuck with her so that when calms the heck down and stops hyperventilating and gulps all her oxygen away (if you watch in 3D, you'll want to slap her), she's able, maybe, to figure out a way home. The science in it is both great [list][*]the realities of pressure bursts and Newtonian momentum in space,[/*:m] [*]the magic of weightlessness as she swims from chamber to chamber on the space station, or when she starts sobbing and her tears detach from her face and float out toward you in beautiful glycerin globules.[/*:m][/list:u] and not so great [list][*]All the space stations and vehicles that they hop across trying to find a way home --- their shuttle, the Hubble telescope, the international space station with a docked Russian capsule, the Chinese space station with a capsule of their own --- are not only in reasonably close proximity, but in more or less the same orbit as each other[/*:m] [*]They are also in the same orbit as communications satellites, which I would imagine orbit at much higher altitudes than the International Space Station.[/*:m][/list:u] But, while Clooney may strike some as a little oily in general and over-ingratiating in this role, if you don't root for Sandra Bullock, then you're not particularly American. (I'm not saying that this is a jingoist movie, I'm just sayin' what I'm sayin'.) This movie's a heckuva thing, even if not quite a helluva thing.

Edgy MD Oct 06 2013 08:32 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Oh, and I went shopping at Sears afterwards. It had been a while, but I bought a coffee maker and a hair clipper and I can't say enough loving things about that place. I was thinking it might actually go out of business while we were in the store.

Vic Sage Oct 07 2013 10:40 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Loved it. I found that the film's "thriller" structure did not hinder character development; instead, it provided the reason for it. Frankly, i would classify this a character study, from a narrative structure POV... a thrilling one, to be sure. When she becomes an "embryo" (as a visual metaphor) we know we are going to witness her transformation, and we do. Clooney's good humored commander on one last mission did not strike me as oily in the least. He becomes (quite literally) the sympathetic voice in her head that drives her towards survival, in contrast to those voices from Earth which are entirely impotent. I care not a smidgen or a whit about distances between space stations or relative orbits of satellites. They were far enough away from each other to provide the necessary tension when they're hopping from one to the next, and that's what matters here. As to big questions, well no, it doesn't posit theories about the nature of evolution, or the need for conservation to save our blue planet, nor does it deal with our relative place in the universe, but it addresses the biggest questions and, frankly, the only ones that really matter... the ones about our humanity. How does a life go on when its soul has been frozen in place? How do we reach into ourselves and find the strength to keep going, every single day? How do you get up and walk on the shifting sands when the gravity of your life is literally pulling you down? It deals with pretty profound shit, emotionally speaking. I'm not saying it does so perfectly or deeply, but it's not just an empty thrill ride of a movie, despite its non-stop tension and velocity. It is an exhausting film to watch, though, as we watch Bullock's misfortunes accumulate relentlessly. For some, it's just too much (as it was for my wife); for others, its impact can be powerful. Other than SOLARIS and 2001 (already mentioned), and APOLLO 13 and MAROONED (these are obvious), GRAVITY evokes films about a person confronting themselves in a struggle to survive... 127 HOURS comes to mind. A MAN CALLED HORSE. The "real time" aspect heightens the tension, too, as it did in HIGH NOON. I don't know if it's strictly "real time", but it sure feels like it. By the way, it looks amazing and Bullock gives an award-winning performance.

Edgy MD Oct 07 2013 10:44 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

I didn't mean to say this character was oily, only that some may find him generally so. And "doesn't hit as deep as it could" does not mean to suggest that it's "an empty thrill ride of a movie."

Frayed Knot Oct 07 2013 10:55 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

* One review I read, from a confirmed 3D skeptic, said that this is the type of movie that 3D was made for and that should be seen in 3D * Bullock, even with a best actress Oscar already on her shelf, still seems to carry the rep of a light (or, at best, middle) weight among portions of the general public. Perhaps this will begin to change that. * Ed Harris space movies are almost becoming numerous enough to be their own sub-genre: as John Glenn in THE RIGHT STUFF, as Gene Krantz in APOLLO 13, and now 'voice' in GRAVITY. Two more and you've got a whole Jeopardy category.

Vic Sage Oct 07 2013 10:58 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

i'm sorry, Edgy. While i was using comments in your post as a jumping off point, i wasn't necessarily disagreeing or criticizing your viewpoint. It's your viewpoint. I think our views overlap more than they don't, but i've heard some of the criticisms of the film you've offered more generally (which demonstrates that its not an unsupportable view) and so am responding to it generally. To say it "doesn't hit as deep as it could" certainly does not mean that it fails to hit deep at all, or that it's superficial, or that it has nothing on its mind but thrills. But i think the movie does hit deep. And there's the rub.

Edgy MD Oct 07 2013 11:00 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Harris also got to wear a pressure suit of a different sort in The Abyss (his inner space movie). But really, this is an Ed Harris film only in the most literal sense.

Edgy MD Oct 07 2013 11:04 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Vic Sage wrote: I think our views overlap more than they don't How do you feel about Sears?

metsmarathon Oct 07 2013 11:58 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

whenever i go to the mall, i park at sears.

Ceetar Oct 07 2013 12:38 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

metsmarathon wrote: whenever i go to the mall, i park at sears. clearly, it's usually where you get the best spots. I just bought a grill from them and put it together while gravity tried to dump acorns on my head. It seems like you guys are saying this is worth seeing.

Vic Sage Oct 07 2013 01:24 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

...and that Sears is worth shopping at.

metirish Oct 08 2013 08:00 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

I'm going to watch this with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, should be fun.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 08 2013 08:21 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

metirish wrote: I'm going to watch this with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, should be fun. Did you see his series of tweets nitpicking -er- picking up on major scientific errors in the movie?

Mets – Willets Point Oct 08 2013 08:24 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Here's a summary from Grantland: http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood ... th-gravity I love Neil deGrasse Tyson.

metirish Oct 08 2013 08:25 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Mets – Willets Point wrote: metirish wrote: I'm going to watch this with Neil DeGrasse Tyson, should be fun. Did you see his series of tweets nitpicking -er- picking up on major scientific errors in the movie? Yes , I like the guy a lot, he did say he enjoyed the movie though. Meanwhile there is this [youtube]6vdLM5gMJN0[/youtube]

Edgy MD Oct 08 2013 08:37 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Neil deGrasse Tyson ? @neiltyson Mysteries of #Gravity: Satellite communications were disrupted at 230 mi up, but communications satellites orbit 100x higher. There you go. I ain't so dumble dumb.

TransMonk Oct 12 2013 04:36 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Saw Gravity this afternoon, and I loved it for all of the reasons Edgy and Vic have mentioned. I'm not a big fan of Bullock, but she was impressive in what had to be an emotionally demanding role. I don't know that I have seen a 3D movie in a theater since I was about 8 (Creature From The Black Lagoon, 1954)...and to speak to FK's point about being the type of movie that 3D was made for, I really can't imagine this movie being nearly as effective in 2D. I don't watch a lot of superhero/fantasy/CGI-action flicks (much less at a theater and much, much less in 3D), but I was amazed at the tension that the 3D images built on their own and found myself completely immersed in the film, the action and the story. I have never experienced any other 3D film that has fully pulled that off. This afternoon is certainly the closest I have ever come to truly imagine what the conditions of space must be like. Pretty effective film. Four stars.

Vic Sage Oct 15 2013 08:00 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

actually, i based my high rating of this film on a 2D viewing, so i don't think it matters for this film all that much. i rarely see 3D versions... it gives me a headache, and usually doesn't look as good, and its almost never worth the extra cost (Imax 3D). The only film that i've seen both 3D and 2D versions of, and that is markedly better in 3D, is AVATAR. There, Cameron created a fully immersive experience about a guy going through a fully immersive experience, so it made thematic sense, and he's one of the few technician/directors that can pull it off so well.

themetfairy Oct 19 2013 09:18 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

It's beautiful, but ultimately a bore. It just didn't engage me.

Edgy MD Oct 20 2013 05:49 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

There seems to be developing an anti-hater backlash on this film not seen since Titanic where to dislike it is in some quarters is to provoke outrage and heartbreak and to place yourself outside the realm of decent society.

themetfairy Oct 20 2013 06:37 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

Those quarters can go to Hell. I'm not going to pretend to like something just because it's fashionable.

Edgy MD Oct 20 2013 02:14 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

I would not think to encourage you to.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 20 2013 05:42 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Edgy MD wrote: There seems to be developing an anti-hater backlash on this film not seen since Titanic where to dislike it is in some quarters is to provoke outrage and heartbreak and to place yourself outside the realm of decent society. People thought it criminal to dislike Titanic? Like, people who weren't looking forward to training bras and homeroom tomorrow?

Edgy MD Oct 20 2013 08:57 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

I got ripped at a business meeting. A training, actually Supervisor: "So before we begin, it looks like we're waiting on few folks. Everybody have a nice weekend?" All: "Grumf. Grumf." Supervisor: "Edge, what did you do?" Edge: "Went to the movies." Supervisor: "Oh, cool. Anything good?" Edge: "Mmmm. Not really." Supervisor: "Ohhhh. Have you seen Titanic yet?" Edge: "Well, actually, that's what I saw?" Supervisor: "Oh, I heard it was really good. What didn't you like?" Edge: "Just not for me, I guess." Fellow Trainee, tightening up: "What 'wasn't for you'?" Edge: "Um, just didn't... I dunno. A bunch of storyboard dialogue. Two dimensional stereotypes for characters. A bunch of real people with real stories died on that ship. But then there's this fictional girl who wants to kill herself when her mother tells her to stop smoking." (I went way too far before that remark, but kaboom! that one broke the camel's back!) Fellow Trainee: "It's a GREAT movie with WONDERFUL characters, and if you weren't a MAN you'd understand that!" Edge: "OK" (thinking silently) "of course, a man wrote it, directed it, designed it, used his stupid sketches for key incidental art, and ditched his wife for one of the stars during the filming." (/silent thoughts) Supervisor: "Well, I guess... we're all... entitled to different opinions." Fellow Trainee: "We're not entitled to STUPID opinions." Edge: (thinking silently) "People are really fucked up. And yet, you totally could have avoided this, you stupid, big-mouthed career suicide." (/silent thoughts) *** After training... Another fellow trainee: "Well, I guess that we can add film to religion and politics among the subjects you shouldn't discuss in polite company or at work." Edge: "I wouldn't be seen talking to me if I were you."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Oct 22 2013 09:02 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Good gravy. Is it overly speculative to guess that the people who lovedlovedLOVED Titanic were the same sort of people (14-year-olds and emotional 14-year-olds?) who tended toward the... um... mallrat-Manichean with their cultural opinions?

dgwphotography Oct 23 2013 07:27 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Good gravy. Is it overly speculative to guess that the people who lovedlovedLOVED Titanic were the same sort of people (14-year-olds and emotional 14-year-olds?) who tended toward the... um... mallrat-Manichean with their cultural opinions? Nope - It seems like those who loved Titanic also loved Twilight. Going by my admittedly small sample size, both of my daughters hated Titanic, and also hated Twilight. Then again, they prefer shows like Supernatural, and Vikings...

MFS62 Oct 23 2013 08:35 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

TransMonk wrote: I don't know that I have seen a 3D movie in a theater since I was about 8 (Creature From The Black Lagoon, 1954)... What? You missed House of Wax with Vincent Price? I didn't like Titanic either. Told wifey that I would see if if it would have a different ending from the other film versions of the story I had seen. Didn't work. She dragged me to see it and didn't understand why I didn't like it (for all the reasons mentioned in this thread). Reading this thread makes me want to see Gravity. Later

Frayed Knot Oct 23 2013 09:46 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

My TITANIC experience was--'ruined' is probably too strong a word so let's just say 'diminished'--by the presence of a child a row in back of me constantly asking her mother about the whereabouts of Jack & Rose each time (the few times) they weren't on the screen. Picking up bits of the conversation between the mothers of these kids I pieced together that the kids had learned all about the Titanic story in school, except that they weren't taught the actual story but rather the fictional one as played out by Kate & Leo. The lesson, in other words, seemed designed mainly to prep them for the flick. It got me wondering whether this was one of those cases where the movie studio sent out their product to schools as "educational material" for lazy educators to pick up and use to teach pseudo history. Oliver Stone's 'JFK' was a popular one for that purpose around the time of its release. Spike Lee, if I recall, simply encouraged students to cut school in order to see his Malcolm X project. Anyway, not sure if it was studio-induced in this case but it was apparent that, to this little girl, she "learned" before ever entering the theatre that the story of the Titanic was strictly a two-person affair.

Mets – Willets Point Oct 23 2013 09:59 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

I liked Titanic. Saw it on a date in the theater and it was much better than expected. Probably won't every watch it again, but it was good that one time. Still need to see Gravity.

Vic Sage Oct 28 2013 01:57 PM Re: Gravity (2013) Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 29 2013 03:13 PM

My son asked me why she didn't move her fat ass over, so Leo could climb on too? I had no acceptable response. Other than that, i enjoyed TITANIC for what it was, but wished it weren't about the actual event; it trivializes that tragedy by making it all background to their UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS romance.

metsmarathon Oct 28 2013 08:28 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

i've only ever seen bits and pieces of titanic. i still need to see gravity.

Ashie62 Oct 31 2013 04:20 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Reminds me of Elaine not liking The English Patient.

Edgy MD Oct 31 2013 05:32 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Has nobody seen anything else besides Grav? Anything? How 'bout that porn addict movie?

Benjamin Grimm Nov 12 2013 06:39 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

I liked it a lot too. Nice to see a movie with great special effects that also has suspense and characterization.

Elster88 Nov 12 2013 10:14 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

Very very good. 4.5 stars. It is not possible to be bored by this movie, unless the watcher goes in with their mind made up.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 03 2014 10:20 PM Re: Gravity (2013)

I thought Gravity was all right. I like Sears, generally. They are run today by a nutjob financial guy who posits that their strategy of closing dozens of stores each year makes them more "modern" than those foolish retailers who build more and more every year. I mean, he's right in a crazy way. When we finally get a new range, we're gonna buy it at Sears.

metirish Jul 21 2014 07:55 AM Re: Gravity (2013)

themetfairy wrote: It's beautiful, but ultimately a bore. It just didn't engage me. this , I was so looking forward to seeing this that maybe the expectation killed it for me.