Gravity

 The 3D genre for most, including this reviewer had seemed to run its course again. After the shock and awe that films such as "Avatar" and "Tron Legacy" brought to those that viewed them in their big screen glory went to the wayside as seemingly every movie that comes out each subsequent week had a lame post 3D conversion to squeeze another dollar out of the moviegoers pocket. With the release of "Gravity", the epic new space opera starring arguably the biggest movie stars in the world: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock the genre has been flipped on its ear and brings moviemaking technology and cinema on its own right to a level not seen before. In a word "Gravity" is simply breathtaking.

The simple premise is two astronauts, the veteran played by George Clooney and the rookie played by Sandra Bullock in easily her least Sandra Bullockly role get stranded in outer space after an accident involving a Russian missile debris leaves their space shuttle inoperable and the two of them spinning seemingly into oblivion. The director, Alfonso Cuaron has created some of the best visuals that I've ever viewed in a movie theater and his use of 3D completely immerses you in outer space as if you are there. There are moments that will leave you breathless and leave your heart racing all in one fail swoop, the film is being released as well in 3D IMAX locations and I can only imagine how much more the large formatted screen adds to it, to be sure standard 3D at the minimum is the only way to view this film. Seeing it in 2D would just be a disservice. Cuaron is almost assured a best director Oscar nomination, there are segments of the film that are just one long take that do nothing but help put yourself in the place of the two astronauts he has crafted this skill even more since his last film 2006's inhumanely underrated "Children of Men". Technical Oscars such as editing, sound, cinematography and of course special effects are a lock.

Other than Ed Harris's voice, Bullock and Clooney are the only ones here. While Clooney does a good job as the veteran astronaut and the calm to Bullock's panicky frenzied Dr. Ryan Stone don't be fooled, this is Bullocks movie in easily the best role of her career. The idea alone of two astronauts floating in space isn't anything groundbreaking, nor that interesting. The two performances intertwined with the visuals are what sells it. The scripted dialogue itself isn't anything to write home about and even has quite a few clichés towards the end but Bullock and to a lesser degree Clooney since he doesn't have the same amount of screen time that Bullock does make you believe and feel that they are in peril.

The runtime is a crisp 90 minutes, any longer and I'd have probably needed a Valium to calm myself. "Gravity" for me was more than a movie-its art. Wherever the 3D technology goes from here "Gravity" will be looked on as the film that took the next step, its the type of film that there needs to be more of it is what makes the movie going experience simply that, an experience.