Gravity

I did myself a great disservice when I sat down in my living room to watch this movie.  Namely, I sat down in my living room and watched this film, and did not see it in a movie theater.  With that in mind, this is still a startling piece of work.  What makes it stand out to me is its simplicity.  This is a work of cinematic minimalism (if that is a category that actually exists).  Alfonso Cuaron brings us a movie with a singular title and a singular purpose.  Few times have I watched a movie that is so well summed up by its title.  The only other title I can think of for this movie would be "survival".  It is a simple story, told remarkably well.

Sandra Bullock stars as Ryan Stone, a scientist in space for the first time.  She is accompanied by two other astronauts.  One of them is Matt Kowalski, played by George Clooney.  Kowalski is a seasoned astronaut, and his experience is vital to Ryan Stone.  Within minutes of the film's beginning, the principal characters are told of a shower of debris that is headed straight for their space shuttle.  The debris completely destroys their spacecraft, and Kowalski and Stone are forced into survival mode.  This is the set up for the movie, and the rest of the movie really is about what happens next.

The movie is very short.  In this case, that actually helps it to be a cohesive work of art.  This is a simple movie, brilliantly realized.  In some ways it reminds me of a student film with a big budget.  We only see two living faces in this whole movie, and we hear only a couple more voices.  Part of the theme of this movie is survival in the face of being alone as well as being in danger, and the presence of so few actors assists us in seeing that theme.  Any discussion of this movie would also be incomplete without a thorough regard for its visual imagination.  Though I know that I am seeing unreal images, the images in this movie made me believe I was watching something quite real.  At the same time, paradoxically, the movie's images were just fanciful enough that I still was able to see great visual imagination rather than simple documentary style film making.

This movie received great accolades upon its release, and it actually went on to win more Oscars (7) than any other movie in 2014.  I have not yet seen "12 Years A Slave", so I will have to withhold judgement as to which of these movies "deserve" the award more.  It certainly becomes an interesting thing to debate when two movies with such different content are up for awards.  This movie certainly has a universal theme.  While it is set in space, the universal will of humans to survive (and the despair that can come when hope for survival seems lost) is a theme in many great works of art.  It also is worth noting that so many great works of suspense never fully receive their due (Alfred Hitchcock, after all, never won a best director Oscar).  This movie is a cinematic wonder, but I failed to be as wrapped up in it as I am with a Hitchcock film or other works of suspense.  As I mentioned above, I do think I lost something significant by seeing this at home (though I do have a sporty flat screen TV).  As my children continue to mature, I am sure I will begin to be able to be less selective of which movies I can get out to see.  However, there is a fine line between something which is artistically minimal and something which is predictable.  I knew before it was mentioned in the movie that the mission in question was probably Kowalski's last, because that seemed to fit with the genre I was watching.  Fortunately, the movie more than makes up for some of the predictability by many surprises, and by a basic humanity.  It gives every viewer a way to identify with its principle character.  I have not seen such effective uses of silence in a movie in quite some time (possibly since "2001: A Space Odyssey).  The silence serves a dual purpose.  It's awkwardness creates more tension, but it also reminds us of where the movie is set.  Space is silent, and the use of the lack of noise helps us feel Stone's danger all the more.  It may be that the Oscars got it right this year by giving the technical award to Cuaron and the grand prize to Steve McQueen (the director and producer of "12 Years A Slave).  When I see McQueen's work, it will let you all know what I think.

Ben Hur Revisited

I wrote an entry on "Ben Hur" 3 years ago.  I still have not watched it again, though the time may well be prime to watch it with my kids.  Two years ago, we celebrated Easter in Southern California with my family, and we did not know then how significant it would be.  My father died two months later, leaving me with an emotional resonance during this holiday that has begun to supersede other holidays.  Dad loved this movie, so I think I will always associate this movie with Easter and with him.  I rejoice in the hope we have in the resurrection of Christ.  This movie can remind us of how great an impact Christ's life had on one family.  This is the type of impact He has on all those who follow Him.  Here's my entry:

I remember watching this movie every year growing up, and I always loved it.  Whether you are religious or not, the epic scope of the film and the wonderful story certainly carry the day.  The film tells the story of two young men: Judah Ben-Hur, a young Jew from Jerusalem, and his boyhood friend Masala, a loyal Roman soldier who attempts to recruit his old friend in an attempt to bring the Jewish people into allegiance with the Roman Empire.  When Judah refuses to turn his back on his faith and his people, Masala casts off any loyalty to his old friend, and allows his to suffer in an almost Job-like manner.  Most of the film is Judah's story of how he survives imprisonment to come back and seek his revenge on Masala.  All of this takes place at the same time that a young teacher from Nazereth is beginning to gain a following.

The Christ of this film is seen as a powerful moral example.  The filmmakers make a  decision of never showing his face, only shooting him from the back or from a distance.  This is a very effective portrayal of Christ.  One of the most powerful scenes in the film is a foreshadowing piece.  As Judah is being led off to imprisonment through the desert, he staggers and falls in weakness.  There, he is met by Christ, who gives him a miraculously endless supply of water.  Judah never forgets this act of kindness, and when he sees this same man who gave him water fall under the weight of a heavy cross near a well in Jerusalem, there is only one thing he can do.

The film preaches the power of Christ's teaching of forgiveness.  Judah has to learn what he should do to Masala in the face of horrible injustice.  The injustice that has been done to Judah is enormous, and Masala does deserve recompense.  The question Judah has to come to grips with as his bitterness increases is what is he to do with the teachings of this young man from Nazereth?  Should he hold onto his anger, or should he let it go before it consumes him?

As a Christian myself, it is always wonderful to see elements of my faith brought to the screen well.  It seems that many times, elements of the faith are brought to the screen that are far too didactic.  In other words, why make a movie when the filmmaker would rather just deliver a lecture?  It has been years since I have seen this film, and I noticed that a new Blu-Ray is on its way this fall...maybe it's time to take another look.  Happy Easter.