Of course I had to review this movie, being it the movie everybody is talking about. My expectations where rather high but unfortunately the movie failed to fullfill them. I have to admit that I missed the first 5 minutes of the movie, but unless they totally change the perception of the movie I don't think that matters too much.
Let's start with positive side: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock! Both actors pull of wonderful performances, especially considering that for large parts they can just use their voices and their breathing as they are in the space suits. Also the visual effects are stunning as to be expected. The atmosphere is nightmarish managing to create a claustrophobic and agoraphobic impression at the same time.
Unfortunately this is where the positive things end for me. As the story is rather simple it is not possible to write a review without spoilers.
*spoilers*
As I writer I have stated several times in my reviews that I am annoyed by lazy writing. They say that for a novelist it is the greatest sin to edit their own book, maybe for a director it should be to shoot their own script and viceversa. Maybe Alfonso Cuaron should have gotten a script writer to work out his idea instead of writing the script himself with his son.
The first scene that in my opinion made no sense at all was that before the crisis is over and the safety is ensured, the mission commander (George Clooney) pulls Ryan (Sandra Bullock) to retrieve the corpse of a colleague. They don't know if the shuttle is functional or if someone injured needs help, but they go to retrieve the corpse, while Ryan is extremely low on oxygen? Of course they should do it once the crisis is over but the timing is completely illogical.
Also why does he insist in her keeping to talk when being low on oxygen? Wouldn't an experienced astronaut suggest the opposit? Of course then there would be no movie, but why writing the oxygen issue into the script in the first point? It seemed like a cheap way of adding some more tension.
It seems doubtful that someone who "crashes" the capsule everytime would actually make a space mission. Doesn't it? I mean, no doubt that she was qualified for her job but wouldn't others be too? How many people go into space per year? My guess would be 30-40 people maximum and I doubt anybody who failed something like the landing would make the programm considering that hundreds of people might be waiting in line to take their place.
Then we have twice the "story" of an abandoned space station being hit by the debris and destroyed. Luckily for the main character it happens in the right order, so she can "jump" from one to another.
Another scene was the mission commander's death scene which reminded me too much of the death scene of Tim Robbin's character in "Mission to Mars". It also seems scientifically wrong, as the characters didn't seem to be moving anymore but this could be just the impression. Since I am not very good as physics I won't argue about that.
*end of spoiler*
These are just a few points about the writing that I found implausible to the point where the movie lost its grip on me.
I thought it was pity that George Clooney didn't get more screen time (Most of the time he is in a space suit anyhow) as he and Sandra Bullock had a great chemistry and he is a wonderful actor, who did a good job with his voice in this movie.
All in all the movie had an interesting premise but not sufficient substance for a feature film in my opinion. The story would have made a great short film. The writing was uninspired and the story seemed to be constructed around the visual effects and to promote Sandra Bullocks acting abilities. If it hadn't been for the great acting I might have walked out of the cinema.
Points 4/10
