James Cameron called this sci-fi thriller ‘the best space movie ever made’ – and he’s right

Call James Cameron a science fiction legend is an understatement of the highest order. Not only did he create iconic film franchises like Avatar And Terminatorbut he also produced science fiction shows like Alita: Battle Angel. Cameron is also known for his extremely blunt ideas about the film industry, meaning a film will have to be very well designed to impress him. Gravity is a film like Cameron called it one of the best films he had ever seen. “I was stunned, absolutely stunned. I think it’s the best space photography ever made, I think it’s the best space movie ever made, and it’s the movie I’ve wanted to see for a very long time,” he said. Variety following a private screening.

Gravityas the name suggests, takes place in the vast depths of space and follows two astronauts, Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Lt. Matt Kowalski (George Clooney), who find themselves stranded when their shuttle is badly damaged. Stone and Kowalski work together to try to return to Earth, resulting in a very tense film that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Most movie buffs would point out Gravity as the kind of older drama that has become rare in Hollywood, but it’s also a great example of how science fiction can be used as a vehicle to tackle heavy themes.

‘Gravity’ wouldn’t work without Sandra Bullock

The genesis of Gravity lies in the discussions that the director Alfonso Cuarón had with his son Jonás on survival. Cuaron never intended to make a film set in space, until a singular image came to his mind. “I had this image of an astronaut circling in space, far from any human communication. The metaphor was already so obvious,” Cuaron said. The guardian while discussing the film. This image would inspire Gravitythe official poster of, and also brings home themes of loss and connection. Throughout GravityStone struggles to survive but is tested mentally and physically; she is forced to watch Kowalski go offline to give her a fighting chance, and when she discovers that her only path home is in jeopardy, she briefly considers suicide. Cuaron pulls no punches with Gravityand Bullock certainly doesn’t like his performance either.

Ironically, Bullock wasn’t the first choice to play Stone. Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, And Natalie Portman were among a long list of actors considered for the role, but scheduling conflicts ultimately led to Bullock getting the role. A similar twist of fate also brought Clooney Gravitythe orbit, since Robert Downey Jr. couldn’t play Kowalski’s role. The end result actually works; Bullock and Clooney have a natural rapport, whether it’s exchanging jokes in the film’s opening moments or relying on each other to stay alive in the vast starry void.

Bringing “Gravity” to life wasn’t easy, but it became a huge success

Even if Alfonso Cuaron had chosen his tracks for Gravityhe was faced with another daunting task. Shooting an entire movie in the depths of space requires intense visual effectswhich would either be costly or fall short of Cuaron’s vision – or both, according to his fellow filmmakers. “David Fincher Told us to forget it, there’s no technology, wait 6 years. And he wasn’t wrong,” Cuaron said IndieWire. “James Cameron told us how we could do it, but it was a $400 million movie. We told him only you could do it. And he said you were right. So we developed our own way.” This involved Volume, the cutting-edge filming technology used to present sci-fi shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds And The Mandalorian to life. Using volume, Cuaron, alongside the cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki and the VFX team created the striking visuals that shape Gravity.

Gravity is also known for being one of the most scientifically accurate space films ever made. Real astronauts said the feats Stone and Kowalski performed wouldn’t be so out of place, including a living legend Buzz Aldrin. Gravity received rave reviews, grossing $723 million at the box office and landing a best actress nomination for Bullock. It’s not hard to understand why Gravity impressed James Cameron, because it’s a bold film made by an equally bold filmmaker who takes his science seriously.

Release date

October 3, 2013

Runtime

1h 31min

Director

Alfonso Cuarón