Director: Alfonso Cuaron / Paul Greengrass
Since I was
able to see these movies across two consecutive nights, I’m taking the
opportunity to write my first dual movie review. It’s fitting both because of how I was able
to see them and also because they are both tense and unique survival stories
made with a high quality of craftsmanship.
I’ll review
them in the order in which I experienced them.
Gravity is probably the most
talked about movie in theatres right now.
It’s the “3D event that you must experience in the theatre”. As with anything that gets a lot of press, there
are a lot of haters. So, I tried to
expel any expectation I might have had for the movie and walk in ready for
whatever awaited me. I might add also that
I’ve been in a recent lull as far as movie watching goes. The quality is just not there in many of the
releases today and I was at a point where I felt like the only thing that will
really be worth waiting for is whatever Marvel Comics puts out next. At least I can count on those to entertain
me. If the timing hadn’t worked out for
me to have an opportunity to easily go see Gravity,
I probably wouldn’t have bothered. So,
not only did I walk into this movie with no real expectations, I also walked
into the movie and didn’t run in. The
old me would have been beating down the doors to get to something that was
causing this much chatter. Needless to
say, I needed something to excite me again to get me back into “movies”.
Having said
all that, I can confirm that Gravity
was the perfect movie for me to watch at this point in my life. The movie is so
interesting that it’s hard for me to even focus my points. It’s a game-changer of a movie. Structurally, the story just kind of floats
and moves along at a pace that is intended to let you get sucked into what the
storytellers want you to focus on, which is equal parts both the marvel and the
ultimate terror of being isolated in space.
Sandra Bullock plays Ryan Stone, an astronaut on her first trek into space,
and George Clooney is Kowalski, the seasoned vet accompanying her who is
planning to retire from space travel after this trip. The story is very simple. They are there to fix a broken satellite when
an unexpected problem occurs that threatens their ship and their ability to
return home. They end up separated and
fighting for their lives in what would appear to be a catastrophically hopeless
situation. Sandra’s character has a background
that we are told bits and pieces about.
She’s a mother who has lost her child to a freak accident, which means she
was already lost. She’s as lost as any
decent parent would be. Now, to compound
that, she’s in space and another freak accident is now threatening her
life. Her spirit will be her only chance
at survival, and as any parent should know, her will to live has already taken
a toll. So the movie centers on her
fight for survival and her finding the will to live, the will to go on. They incorporate some very interesting story
elements and visuals that make you realize she’s not only fighting for her
life, she’s going through a very spiritual experience.
I focused
on the elements of story first, because I really feel that beyond the 3D and
the technology that it took to create the visuals of being lost in space, the
movie would be flat if it didn’t engage you with characters that you can
connect with. Our protagonist’s plight is simple and her
feelings are universal. Of course, I can’t
ignore the visuals though. I’m not a
huge fan of 3D, but I was sure glad I elected to see this one in that format.
More than any other 3D film before it, including Avatar, I think Gravity
transcends by using the 3D to put you as close as possible into the character’s
world. In fact, after watching it I
would have been disappointed had they elected to not make this movie in
3D. It makes the film truly immersive
and enhances the experience. Even if
there are some points where I couldn’t focus very well, it was worth it. The film is truly a work of art of the
highest order. This includes the
wonderful job done in the music throughout the movie. Using a mash up of sounds that are creepy and
fascinating, the music drives the tension in the movie and becomes a key factor
in driving the story along. It’s some of
the more interesting music I’ve ever heard composed.
Well, after
the high of seeing Gravity, I seized
the opportunity to go back for another movie, hoping I would be just as pleased. Much to my fortune, I checked out Captain Phillips next. It was a safe bet being that it stars Tom
Hanks in a dramatic role and is directed by Paul Greengrass, who tore up the
screen with The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum (action doesn’t get
much better than those two movies).
Captain Phillips tells another riveting tale of survival, and this one
happens to be true. This is the story of
the 2009 seizing of the Maersk Alabama cargo ship by Somali pirates. More specifically, this is the story of
Captain Richard Phillips, who first guided his crew through with precision
while their ship was being taken by 4 Somali pirates with machine guns. Tom Hanks inhabits the moral courage and
strength it took for this every-day guy to stand up to these thugs and keep his
wits about him when others would rightly crumble into tears. The pacing is perfect and the movie does a
terrific job of cutting between what Phillips is enduring after he is taken
hostage in a lifeboat with the 4 pirates, and the struggles of the Navy to
manage what could be some very bad press for the country and the need to
protect one of our own. The movie is
really a testament to what people can endure under extreme stress and how some
situations hinge on every single moment.
By the end of the movie, I was worn out.
I probably won’t see another movie this year with such a strong and
immersive performance from the lead actor as well. As Sandra does in Gravity, Hanks takes you
right along with him on his trip to freedom and you feel every wave of emotion
just as he feels it. To me, this rivals
his work in Philadelphia, which was
another performance filled with deep struggle and emotion.
Captain Phillips is another
expertly crafted film, but with a very different style, of course, from Gravity.
The movie holds you during points of high tension and extends that
tension through quick edits, pounding music and bravura acting from the
cast. The 4 guys selected to play the
Somali pirates have never acted before, I’ve read, but they were perfect for
the parts. They do a spectacular job and
bring authenticity to the film. If you see the film, I’m not giving anything
away by saying that I think the last 10 minutes of the movie will win Hanks the
best actor Oscar for this year. He’s
that good.
On that
note, it’s possible I’ve seen two Best Picture nominees back to back. If you told me right now that Tom Hanks would
pick up Best Actor for his role as Phillips and Sandra Bullock would attain
Best Actress for her creation of Ryan Stone, I would say fantastic! I think they deserve it if only for restoring
my faith in movies and what they mean to me.
