Gravity (2013) Review

Or, the first actual roller coaster ride of a film in years. 

You can watch the trailer here.

Gravity (2013) was absolutely perfect, and so much more deserving of the Best Picture Oscar than 12 Years a Slave (2013). Seriously, how can a film possibly win the following accolades but not Best Picture?

• Best Achievement in Directing
• Best Achievement in Cinematography
• Best Achievement in Film Editing
• Best Achievement in Visual Effects
• Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
• Best Achievement in Sound Editing
• Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Of the 10 Oscar's it was nominated for it won 7. Every sum of its parts was listed as the best but it did not win best picture. The only other wins for 12 Years were Best Supporting Actress for Lupita Nyong'o (which was thoroughly deserved) and Best Adapted Screen Play. Grrrrrrr!

Anyway, I have already digressed. I can't say I often agree with the Oscar winners so why this came to be such a surprise for me I will never know. 12 Years was written to win an Oscar and white American slave guilt won out after all. I just wish they hadn't been so obvious about it.

I'm going to try and keep this short as my posts have been intolerably wrong recently and for that I apologise. I am an arrogant critic who loves to hear the sound of her own voice it would seem. Though this blog is done for my benefit more than anyone else's so if you don't like it, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!

Anyway, let's compose ourselves shall we. Here is your IMDB synopsis;

Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness.

The atmosphere (see what I did there!) throughout the film was fantastic. I haven't been made to feel in that way by Cinema for what feels like ages. It seemed like Hollywood had lost its ability to make us emphasise with a character without throwing in an hysterical tearjerker.

12 Years a Slave (2013) Review

Or, everyone should be equal, though it seems some are much more equal than others.

You can find the trailer here.

Now I just want to state from the very beginning (I still can't say that phrase without going into The Sound of Music in my head) that I very much enjoyed this film. Considering the length, it was fantastically well paced. Even in a theatre with a heater relentlessly trying to cook my legs, and a horrendous cough I was desperately trying to conceal (mostly with wine) it went by very quickly.

However, it must first be noted that I watched 12 Years a Slave (2013) after it had won the Best Picture Oscar so it had a lot to live up to.

For those who have been living under a rock, here is the IMDB synopsis;

Based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty (personified by a malevolent slave owner, portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist (Brad Pitt) will forever alter his life.

This was one of those films where I watched it thinking it was amazing, but as soon as the lights went up it didn't take too long before questions and doubts started crawling into my mind.

Here is a little insight into why I find 12 Years a Slave just a little too unnerving.