“Gravity”: The Best Film (Scifi or Not) of 2013

I saw the film "Gravity" last night with some friends and it totally wrecked me.  This is definitely the movie of the year for me, and in the top 10 science-fiction films of all time, for sure.  Has there ever been a sci-fi movie created on such a grand scale but with such an intimate and simple story?  I don't think so.

I had some serious doubts about the casting of Sandra Bullock in the lead role, but I almost complete forgot about the actress for the entire 90 minutes.  She totally committed to the character, and both her internal and external journeys were incredibly well acted.  And it's her interior struggle that I'm still wrestling with a day later.

George Clooney of course was fantastic, but I have always liked his work. His easy charm and good lucks elevate any film he is in. But he also is perfectly cast as the older, more experienced astronaut.

But the main character of the film is space itself. The effects are simply mind-blowing, demonstrating what a talented director, gift cinematographer, and hundreds of FX artists can create with state-of-the-art tools. I never questioned that the film took place in zero gravity the entire time, and lost myself in the wonder of seeing the earth from space and the black canvas of stars fill the screen.

Yes there was creative license taken with some of the physics, which Neil Degrasse Tyson and others have pointed out. But all of those scientists also admit that it's a damn good movie.  And despite it's dark material, I think "Gravity" could inspire a new generation about the possibilities of space research and exploration.

As for the multiple formats, this film NEEDS to be seen on IMAX and in 3D if at all possible. A standard screen just won't do it justice. I was in a packed IMAX theater in San Francisco, and the entire audience was silent and stunned for the first 15 minute opening tracking shot. If you see one movie this year in the theaters, this is the one.