For a film so long in gestation and production, we know remarkably little about Gravity. The barest of plot details (astronauts in a shuttle, debris causes damage, try to get back to Earth) and a few early reports that it's like nothing else we've seen. That may remind you of Avatar; this has a budget about a quarter of Avatar's size, but it does have Alfonso Cuaron, and word is that the effects and the cinematography (it's Emmanuel Lubezki, and he's up to his Children of Men long-takes tricks again) are on #anotherlevel. Glad to see a girl get top billing - whether or not it's box office darling Sandra Bullock, whether or not it's alphabetical, it's certainly promising when any female gets billed ahead of George Clooney.
I have such a fear of images of space, most acutely images of Earth in space, that the Universal theme music makes me tremble. I watched half of Star Trek through my fingers. Gravity is this year's Life of Pi for me - I'm enormously excited to see it - only there's a reasonable chance I might watch most of it through my tightly-closed eyelids.
Awesome writing. Highly anticipated. Cuaron is the master storyteller. But what perturbs me more than the delay is the 3D post-production conversion. With someone as Lubezki going digital and an additional DP, post-conversion makes me uncomfortable. And we aren't dealing with Marvel blockbusters here. Hoping it has turned out well. Trailer in 15 hours. Hell of a poster, by the way. Will it finally rewards Lubezki his 1st Oscar? Remains to be seen. To the Wonder is immensely divided for any recognition apparently.
ReplyDeleteComing to Clooney, he is gonna have another great year ahead. He would be contesting for almost 5 Oscar nominations- Best picture, director, adapted screenplay, actor/ supporting actor for Monuments Men and best picture for August: Osage County. And supporting actor for Gravity as well. Unbelievable.
George Clooney could make a sex tape and he'd win an Oscar for it. Funny thing is, he seems to win Oscars for some of his lesser work. I can think of at least a dozen other things he's done which are more deserved of Oscar recognition than his performance in Syriana and his producing of Argo.
DeleteI trust Emmanuel Lubezki under any and all circumstances, but I feel your concern. I think digital is the right approach for a film such as this (although I've no idea what it looks like yet!), and also 3D, as long as its well-used. Post-production conversion has disappointed me consistently, but I imagine Alfonso Cuaron knows what he's doing.
If Lubezki is even nominated for To the Wonder, I'll be delighted. That cinematography was breathtaking.
Lol on Clooney's comment.
DeleteLubezki, fingers crossed.
And Greengrass' Captain Philips trailer has come online.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eruwOiHoTTo.
Looks great. Judging by the trailers, it looks to be the most sophisticated oscar-bait movie besides The Buttler of course. Tom Hanks could make a comeback to Oscars after almost 12 years. And he has Saving Mr Banks this year as well. With his recent debut Broadway success of Lucky Guy reaping 6 Tony nominations, including one for himself, will this be his year in movies as well? Hoping to be.
Thanks for letting me know!
DeletePaul Greengrass is owed an Oscar after United 93. Tom Hanks, not so much.
And Greengrass faces off with Scorcese this year yet again after 2006.
ReplyDelete