“Gravity” A Masterful Piece of Cinema

There are films that, after the lights go up in the theater, just glue you to your seat and make you think, “Wow.” “Gravity” is one of those films.

The film, director Alfonso Cuarón’s long awaited follow-up to his critically acclaimed “Children of Men” (2006), is a tour de force of filmmaking. Led by another Oscar-worthy performance by Sandra Bullock, the film finds a nice balance between tension, humor and pathos. The film follows Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) as they attempt to make it back to Earth after an accident leaves them adrift in space.

The film makes the audience care about its characters. Subtle hints at back story color the narrative, while each character’s personality gives the story the needed emotional weight to carry the film.

Whether it is Clooney’s charm and dry humor — in such statements as “Houston, I think we have a problem,” he describes the problem by comparing it to an experience he had during Mardi Gras — or Bullock’s shifts from being frightened or strong and determined, the chemistry is spot on. With a lesser director or lesser actors, the film would have fallen apart, despite the outstanding visuals.

The visuals, which are nothing short of awe-inspiring, are best appreciated in 3D or IMAX. The film is one of the best displays of digital and 3D technology since “Hugo” and “Life of Pi.”

Sorry, Stanley Kubrick. Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” has replaced “2001: A Space Odyssey” for the most spectacular space cinematography. There is one thing, however, that “Gravity” has in common with Kubrick’s masterpiece and does today what “2001” did for moviegoers back in 1968:

It dazzles the senses.

“Gravity” is playing at the AMC Fashion Valley 18 and AMC Mission Valley 20.

[4 out of 4 Stars]