Gravity - Review

Editor’s Note: This review contains spoilers. Parts of this review that contain spoilers are in gray font.

Lalit: So let's talk about GRAVITY

Tarun: Shoot.

Lalit: Sandra was looking hot, wasn't she?

Tarun: Yes she was. Especially in that suit.

Varun: Especially when she removed the suit.

Tarun: Varun had to remove the 3d glasses to get a better look at her when she took it off.

Varun: I usually don't like Sandra Bullock but I didn't mind her in this one.

Lalit: Yeah, why didn't all her clothes just get burnt off? Upon re-entry? I think that would have driven more Indian audiences into watching GRAVITY. I think that was a lost opportunity.

Varun: Indian audiences would have appreciated George Clooney surviving and marrying Sandra Bullock. We are emotional that way.

Lalit: THE REVIEW HAS BEGUN

If you say so. Now switch off CAPS LOCK.

Lalit: There have been instances where I am at a loss of words on how to begin writing my review. Alfonso Cuarón's GRAVITY has left me with the exact opposite feeling - I can't decide what to talk about first.

GRAVITY does not waste any time in sucking you into the most important element of the film from the very beginning - space.

Cuarón has developed the astounding ability of establishing and developing the characters even during intense action sequences, a prowess he showcased in the brilliant CHILDREN OF MEN. This is a very difficult art to replicate for which an equal amount of credit goes to his writer/son Jonás Cuarón. Speaking of the "action sequences", GRAVITY does not waste any time in sucking you into the most important element of the film from the very beginning - space. You are not allowed to get used to the vast emptiness of it, much like Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock), and that works very well for this film since you immediately develop the pivotal connection with the character and feel the uneasiness the character feels, which is then magnified ten-folds as the film progresses.

Throughout the film, the perils faced by Ryan Stone are not perils which you simply witness, but it becomes something that you experience along with the character. I cannot even recall the number of times I unintentionally held my breath or felt anxious along with the character. Cuarón actually made me believe I was in space. What makes the film even more impressive is the fact that minor elements which we take for granted, like breathing, became things to strategise about. Just pure brilliance. Also, this is where Bullock's superior acting comes into attention. She wasn't trying to sell her character to the audience, she just lived it. On the other end of the horizon, we had George Clooney's calm voice guide us through the perils and make us feel safe. If there's any actor that could make us believe that he is an actual astronaut, it is Clooney.

If there's any actor that could make us believe that he is an actual astronaut, it is Clooney.

Coming back to the film, and I know this has been said several times before, but this film is a true technological marvel. I have always had my reservations for 3D films and will probably continue to, but GRAVITY showed me that the 3D format is not just a gimmick and could actually facilitate selling the idea that we really are in space. With the 3D element in place, it actually feels like watching a documentary on the repair of the Hubble Telescope. Not for a second did any of the events seem implausible or unnatural. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people are suddenly deterred from their dream of becoming an astronaut after watching this film. Emmanuel Lubezki's amazing cinematography deserves an applause. It saddened me that his cinematography did not win the accolades it deserved for CHILDREN OF MEN, and for the sake of appreciation of this beautiful art, I hope this is not the case this year with GRAVITY.

From the initial 17-minute shot to the brilliantly choreographed camera movements, the film proved time and time again that every second was planned to perfection, leaving no lose ends. And it goes without saying that Steven Price's score rounded off the film to perfection.

The film demands a second viewing the moment you walk out of the theater and rightfully so. This is the closest I will get to space, and thanks to Cuarón, space is now added to my list of phobias.

BOOM

Varun: OMG! Lalit, I would prefer doing this on the laptop.

Lalit: Naughty boy.

Tarun: Hahahaha.

Absolutely. This is probably the first time after AVATAR where we got to see proper use of 3D.

Lalit: Absolutely. To be honest, mid-way through the movie I actually forgot I was watching it in 3D. This has never happened.

I actually forgot I was watching it in 3D. This has never happened.

Tarun: They had very interesting visuals and they weren't trying hard make the 3D visuals 3D-y like other films do. The way they showed the earth and the horizon was really mind blastingly mind blowing. Even the reflections in their helmets looked superb. It was the only thing I was looking at throughout the film. I will have to watch it again for the performances.

Lalit: Which is commendable. The 3D existed to create the depth in perception. But do you think this would have an effect in 2D viewings?

Tarun: We should watch it again in 2D to see how the visuals hold up. But I think they will.

Lalit: I read somewhere that Sandra Bullock and Cuarón actually discussed in great detail on how they could make the "breathing" a very important aspect of the performance. How the breathing would depict the current state of the character and so on. It just astonishes me that they went into such detail about such a minor detail.

Tarun: I don't think it was a minor detail as such, considering there’s no oxygen in space.

The breathing and the oxygen was, for most of the film, the only thing that bullock's character had to worry about to survive. So it probably was important that it comes off right on screen. Every time she got tense her helmet would fog up and that was an excellent touch. We usually take breathing for granted and they did a fine job to make us feel breathless in those scenes.

Lalit: There's also this element of rebirth in GRAVITY. Which is visually depicted by the "fetus" scene and the "learning to walk" scene at the end.

Tarun: I have to listen to the dialogue in the last scene again. I was a bit distracted by the visuals in the last scene.

Lalit: Yes, I need to pay more attention to Clooney's monologue in the last scene as well. It felt as though my mind processed the meaning of the dialogue, but I can't seem to recall what he said.

Tarun: But the film, overall, felt a bit lacking. It was EPIC no doubt. But my first thought after the film was that it should have been longer. The film is without doubt a technological marvel. The music was perfect. The performances top notch. But I felt like it was missing something.

My first thought after the film was that it should have been longer.

Lalit: For me, the length proved to be perfect. Stretching it any longer would only increase the chance of adding elements which might not have worked to the film's advantage. Everything that was projected on screen did end up working for the film's advantage. I'm not saying it would have definitely hampered the tale, but it would have just increased the chances.

Tarun: Maybe. I still want to watch the film a few more times.

Lalit: Yes, absolutely. I had that feeling as well, about something missing. But that was not Alfonso's vision. His vision was to narrate a horrific story, which I believe he narrated perfectly.

Tarun: My rating is 3.

Tarun’s FilmyFoodies Rating: 3 – EPIC

Lalit: Mine too.

Lalit’s FilmyFoodies Rating: 3 – EPIC

Lalit: 3 is the highest, right?

Tarun: Yes. There's nothing better than EPIC. Warner Brothers agree.

Lalit: Hahaha.

Tarun: I really hope more movies of this standard get made. Where they match good visuals with a good story.

Lalit: Yes, but this also made me realise how much the Indian Film Industry lacks in such technological advancements. We are still trying to perfect the art of storytelling where the cinema of the world is moving leaps and bounds ahead. We are still relying on ancient methods of filmmaking because it's "working". We're still in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" methodology.

Tarun: Currently we're in the "even if it's broke, keep selling it" mode.

Lalit: Absolutely.

Tarun: I can't get over the editing. It was really something. I didn't realise when they cut shots. The movie felt like one long, continuous shot to me.

The movie felt like one long, continuous shot.

Lalit: Oh yes, that's true. The whole movie felt like one big shot to me.

Tarun: I think the opening sequence has something to do with it. 17 mins. Everyone was quiet in the cinema.

Lalit: By the way, even though she was in complete danger, did you feel a strong sense of relief when Earth's gravity was pulling the re-entry capsule toward itself? It felt very comforting.

Tarun: I didn't notice. But very interesting.

Lalit: I just realised this now, thinking back about it. It just had this feeling of "going home". Earth might have its flaws, but there's no place like it in the vast emptiness of space. And when the capsule was being sucked in by Earth's gravity, it finally gave that feeling that "all is well" now. By the way, how ironic would it be if Sandra Bullock's character died by drowning towards the end?

Tarun: Hahahaha, spoilers! I didn't get that fetal position scene initially, but it makes sense now that she rediscovers herself through her ordeal and re-enters the world to live a new life.

Lalit: Yes, also signified by the fact that she struggles to walk at the end. As if she's just "learning to walk".

Tarun: Hmmm.

Lalit: Can't wait to watch the making of GRAVITY.

Tarun: I want to see the rig they shot in. Can't imagine what it would look like.

Lalit: To be honest, I just think they went up to space and shot it there.

Tarun: Hahahaha, the footage really looks like it might have been shot in space. I don't see this movie aging badly.

Lalit: In a few film festivals, Alfonso was asked how it was shooting in space

Tarun: Must have felt good to be asked that.

Lalit: Yes, but imagine if the interviewers actually thought he shot it in space. That conversation would have gone from funny to awkward real quick.

Tarun: Speaking of awkward, race is showing on TV.

Lalit: Never in a million years would I have imagined we would end up talking about RACE during our discussion of GRAVITY.

Tarun: Publish?

Lalit: Nahi ruk, Varun ka review toh aane de.

Tarun: I know, wanted to wait for his reaction.

Lalit: Which will come tomorrow.

Lalit: Holy shit Saul Goodman in How I Met Your Mother

Tarun: Say whaaaaaaaa??

Lalit: Yeah MBC4 pe How I Met Your Mother aa raha hai and whose there a scene with Bob Odenkirk in it.

Tarun: Oh ya Barney’s boss.

Lalit: Yeah, wait a minute, GNB is a law firm, right?

Tarun: Bank, Goliath national bank.

Have you heard the rip off of the KILL BILL theme in the Splash ad with Salman?

Lalit: OH GOD NO. Is Salman wearing a yellow jumpsuit or something?

Tarun: No, fortunately not.

Lalit: Publish?

Varun: Kal karte hai publish.

The next day, Varun finally catches up and is ready with his review.

Varun: Watching gravity was a terrific experience as I haven't seen anything like it in the cinema hall before and watching it in IMAX 3D made it even more enriching, maybe our seats were also so perfect. I would definitely give an extra point for the whole cinematic experience. I would agree with Tarun that there was something lacking but I wouldn't agree on the length, I thought that was just right. 

I would definitely give an extra point for the whole cinematic experience.

And thanks Lalit for letting us know that its the same maker from Children of Men, I didn’t know that. Cinematography superb. And as Tarun mentioned the editing was flawless. I think a movie is only as successful as how much it can grip you and I recall disconnecting myself from the movie in between and just noting whether this movie is shot in one go or not!

Bullocks performance was commendable, Clooney is just himself, I dont think I have seen a lot of him but how much ever I have, he does the same thing and does it well.

Music was impressive too.

My FF rating is 3.

Varun’s FilmyFoodies Rating: 3 – EPIC

Varun: BTW this might be our first EPIC rated movie, maybe.

Wait, I want to change my FF rating to 2. Woop!

Varun’s [controversially] revised FilmyFoodies Rating: 2 – GOOD

Varun surprises us by taking away a point, contradicting what he said a minute ago.

Lalit: 2? Why?

Varun: I thought something was missing.

Lalit: That's harsh.

Tarun: That's so mean. Poor Alfonso will be devastated.

Varun: I would regard the movie as very good.

Tarun: I too thought there was something missing in the movie. But we should watch it again because I think we got carried away by the visuals and missed a lot of the undertones and nuances. Maybe that's why it feels like something was missing, because we missed it.

Lalit: But what was missing? Aliens, perhaps?

Tarun: The movie felt too quick. Like there wasn't enough time to absorb what was going on. And aliens, of course.

Lalit: So you basically wanted Ryan to suffer more? You sadist fuck. You wanted to see Sandra's bullocks, didn't you?

Tarun: Not suffer more. But maybe for a bit longer. Which she did in the course of the film. The time frame of the film is about 4-5 hours, of which we get to see only 90 minutes.

Lalit: Haha

Varun: What did you guys think about the re-entry of George Clooney? As soon as he came in, I thought it didn't fit in and I would have thought they would have had to extinguish him again. For a moment, we didn’t think we were in the movie theatre, how magnificent that was.

Lalit: Re-entry toh sirf Sandra ki hui thee naa.

Varun: Woh jo uska bhoot aaya tha.

Lalit: Thoda emotional thaa. And it was good. Nothing new, but they worked a good element of reminding us that there is no sound in space as well.

Varun: I think bhoots have easier accessibility outside earth provided they lose their lives in the space.

Lalit: Which was the underlying theme of GRAVITY since it was mentioned in the beginning.

Tarun: Acha touch tha. Expected but heartwarming.

Lalit: Yeah, and the Clooney charm worked really well there. Touch kar gaya nirmoya.

Varun: Yus, it did.

Tarun: Like Varun mentioned, Clooney's performances aren't too different in each of his films. But he manages to own each character he plays.

Lalit: That's the "Clooney Charm"

Filmy Foodies Aggregate: 3 – EPIC

The review ends here. The rest is random banter.

Tarun: I guess it is.

Lalit: Except for Batman, I've liked all his performances even though he's just being Clooney.

Tarun: I liked him as Batman.

I was watching UP IN THE AIR yesterday. Brilliant performances from him and Vera.

Lalit: And Anna Kendrick, don't forget her.

Varun: Anna kahaan se aagayi idhar. I love love Anna Kendrick.

I love love Anna Kendrick. Bullock, I don't like her too much but I liked her removing the suit.

Bullock, I don't like her too much but I liked her removing the suit. Oh have I already mentioned that.

Tarun: Yes you have.

Lalit: He was good as Bruce Wayne, but for me his Batman/Batnipple was an abomination that should have never been made.

Tarun: It was artistic. Who would've thought batman would have erect nipples all the time.

Who would've thought batman would have erect nipples all the time.

Lalit: Schumacher, that asshole, he did.

Tarun: Let's close this discussion. Anything to add? It's gotten out of hand.

Lalit: Yes, we went from Gravity to Bat nipples in no time.

Tarun: Say the word and I'll start editing.

Lalit: BATNIPPLES

Tarun: This discussion is officially closed. Good night and good luck

Lalit: That should be our official word indicating that the review is over and editing should commence.

Oh yeah need to see that film.

Tarun: Me too.

Varun: Me too.

Me too.

Lalit: Me too.

Varun: Me too.

Tarun: Gimli?

Gimli?

Lalit: FUCK!

Varun: WTF is Gimli? Is it that Ben Affleck-JLo movie? I think that's Gigli.

Tarun: Hahahahahahahaha

Lalit: For some reason I can't find that video anymore. I hope it has been deleted forever and ever.

Tarun: I downloaded it for safekeeping.

Lalit: Fuck you. You really are a sadist.

Varun: Lol.

Tarun: This is Gimli: