GRAVITY

year: 2013 cast: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris, Amy Warren, Paul Sharma rating: ***

Being already 2013, it seems the critics praising GRAVITY as not only the best film of the year, but the greatest science-fiction movie of all time, desperately want something to finally surpass that famous odyssey of 2001. The comparison is mentioned in just about every review, and why not: Both are epic-quality, beautifully filmed, visual ballets, and each has an astronaut flying helplessly into outer space. Only Gary Lockwood’s Frank Poole isn’t as lucky… that’s right, lucky… as Doctor Ryan Stone, who, played by Sandra Bullock, is such a timid and whiny novice you’ll wonder why she’s out there at all.

Thankfully, Ryan has a big brother type in the form of a confident George Clooney. His rambling Matt Kowalski seems like a hotshot pilot telling stories, until debris from a Russian Satellite sends Ryan adrift into space, and right up the orbital creek… Here’s where Matt’s wry sarcasm morphs into a soulful, comforting tone not unlike a doctor’s voice during those few moments after anesthesia sets in. Both make a nice team, and perhaps the most intriguing part has the duo floating toward a Russian Satellite for safety, that is, until the next round of anticipated debris will return: malicious as hungry sharks in a stranded-at-sea adventure.

While capably taut, suspenseful and satisfying, GRAVITY feels more like an IMAX real-time roller coaster than a fleshed-out story, and yet it is character-driven, somewhat… Bullock plays a likable, vulnerable heroine but the special-effects, making the audience feel like they, too, are stranded above the glimmering Earth, is really what your 3D ticket pays for.