“Gravity” Movie Review

I know, I know – the movie released ages ago. So why am I giving my review now? Well, for one thing, the movie is still running in theatres. But, more importantly, it’s a movie that redefines the movie going experience. It very successfully does what few movies do nowadays – leave you in awe. I recently saw the movie for a second time, and I was as moved as I was the first time. And now that I am back to writing reviews, I just had to write this one.

Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, and directed by the brilliant Alfonso Cuaron (it will be a disappointment if he doesn’t win the Best Director Oscar for this one), “Gravity” is essentially a ship-wreck survival story set in space. Medical engineer Dr. Ryan Stone (Bullock) and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) are part of the shuttle Explorer’s STS-157 mission. During a spacewalk to service the Hubble Station telescope, Mission Control in Houston warns the team about a Russian missile strike on an inoperative satellite, which has caused a chain reaction forming a cloud of space debris. High speed debris strikes the Explorer, killing all the team-members except Stone and Kowalski, who are stranded in space. The movie is about their attempt to get back to earth.

The movie works on every level – it is a tense thriller, and at the same time a story about the triumph of human will against seemingly insurmountable odds. And a big reason it works is the acting. It’s not an understatement that the acting rests squarely on the able shoulders of Sandra Bullock and George Clooney (they are, after all, the only actors in the movie – ignoring the voice actors). Clooney hits all the notes playing the wise-cracking Kowalski – he oozes charm and wit, but still conveys the experience of a veteran, and the concern and caring for Dr. Stone. As for Sandra Bullock, she gives a great, nuanced performance as Dr. Ryan Stone – from the nervousness of the character, to the sheer panic, to the despair, to the resolve to survive – the journey of the character has been portrayed beautifully.

Of course, I have to devote some words for the special effects, which are in a league of their own. This film makes the best use of 3D I have ever seen – hands down. The scenes where the debris is hurtling towards the screen would have most audiences ducking. If a movie had technology specifically made for it, you can imagine it would be worth something. A lot of the stuff on screen would have been very difficult to pull off, and it definitely pays off. The movie is visually stunning, and the vastness of space contrasted with the claustrophobic feeling of being in cramped spaces gives so much more depth to the scenes. For me, the experience I had was almost as if I was also floating in space.

At the end of the day, this movie is all about the director. Cuaron delivers another believable science fiction movie (if you haven’t seen “Children of Men”, I would highly recommend it) with a taut screenplay, and great attention to detail – I read that the science is pretty accurate (though I wouldn’t know, and it really doesn’t matter for a regular movie-goer). And of course there’s his love for long continuous scenes - just pay attention to the first scene, it’s 13 minutes long! There are a lot of beautiful shots, and despite all its technical brilliance, there is no compromise in the story or the characters. And the one thing that shines through is Alfonso Cuaron’s assured touch which makes, what could have been a really simple and ordinary movie, an extraordinary piece of work.

If you still haven’t seen Gravity, change that immediately. If you have seen Gravity, but not in 3D – change that immediately. This movie is a cinematic landmark, one that will stay on in your minds long after you have left the theatre.

P.S.: Once you see the movie, you may want to check out the short "Aningaaq".

“American Hustle” Review

With an incredible star cast, with the likes of Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence (oh, Jennifer Lawrence), and directed by David O. Russell, it can’t be bad. It emerged a big winner at the Golden Globes, and it has picked up 10 Oscar nominations, of which it will undoubtedly win atleast a few. So it can’t be bad, right? Well, let’s see.

Con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner in crime Sydney Prosser (a stunning Amy Adams) are forced to work for off-the-handle FBI agent Richie Di Maso (Bradley Cooper) to save themselves. What starts as being a plan to arrest four other cons quickly turns into a sting to get corrupt Congress officials and mob bosses when popular and straight as an arrow mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner) gets involved, and Di Maso keeps pushing the envelope against Rosenfeld’s instincts to keep it low-key. To make matters worse is Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife Rosalyn (Jennifer Lawrence, in what I am pretty sure will be her second Oscar winning role).

Needless to say, “American Hustle” isn’t bad. In fact, it’s great. But I have to say, at the end of the movie, I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Sure, the acting is top class, the direction has David O. Russell’s assured stamp, and the story (based on the FBI ABSCAM operation in the late 1970s and 80s) is definitely ripe for a great con movie, but somehow the movie is missing something. I think it could have used some of the manic energy that made “The Wolf of Wall Street” so enjoyable.

The movie has some really enjoyable moments. I particularly enjoyed the running joke where Di Maso’s superior is trying to tell him what happened to his brother on an ice-fishing trip. Some smart dialogues and great chemistry between the cast also elevate a lot of scenes, most of which I won’t elaborate on to avoid spoilers. The 70s vibe is created well - the costumes and hairstyles in particular (Bradley Cooper in curls, for crying out loud). The soundtrack is also great.

I could go on forever on the cast, but it should be no surprise that all of them are great. Christian Bale, whose body transformations are now a trademark, carries off the harassed Rosenfeld with ease, though it’s a little hard to digest him as being from the Bronx. Bradley Cooper gives Di Maso the necessary ‘loose cannon” eccentricity, and turns in a memorable performance – probably his best. Jeremy Renner is good as the quintessential nice guy. Louis C.K., as Di Maso’s superior, was a really pleasant surprise for me. But it’s the ladies who really shine here – Amy Adams as the seductive Sydney Prosser hits all the right notes, and shares cracking chemistry with both men. And Jennifer Lawrence is just oh-so-awesome!! I would never have imagined her in a role like Rosalyn’s, but she pulls it off brilliantly (Needless to say, I am extremely partial to Jennifer Lawrence, but with good reason).

At the end of the day, it really is David O. Russell’s show. It’s easy to see that there is a lot of improvisation here, and everyone is having a great time. He uses his ensemble cast and creates a good movie – definitely something playing to the awards jury. The dilemma of the characters and the unpredictability in their situations is shown well - it's a good character driver caper, and that's where the fun comes from. But I felt that the kind of tension one would associate with a con-movie, the feeling of excitement the audience should feel as the stakes keep getting higher, was missing for me. Which is a shame, and possibly the only flaw in the movie.

That being said, don’t miss this movie for anything. The cast alone is reason to book tickets for the next show. And with so much going right in the 138 minutes, it's definitely a must see.