It’s been awhile since George Clooney donned a space suit, but he’s put one back on to star in the new Alfonso Cuarón movie ‘Gravity.’ Although the film is not yet finished (it’s still in the post production phase), Clooney was able to give USA Today some insight about what the film that he co-stars with Sandra Bullock in is all about.
‘Gravity’ is about two astronauts who work on a space station. “A satellite blows up, and space junk causes damage,” says Clooney. “We go out in space suits, and she and I are tethered together, floating through space. It’s a two-hander with only two actors in the whole film. It is a very odd film, really. Two people in space. No monsters. It’s more like ‘2001’ than an action film.”
The film marks the return of director Alfonso Cuarón (‘Children of Men’, ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’) to the sci-fi genre and many are anxiously waiting to see the final product. Apparently, Cuarón had to create a new camera technology specifically for the film. According to Cuarón’s best friend, Guillermo del Toro, Cuarón even consulted with James Cameron about some of his ideas and was told that they couldn’t be done at this time because the technology was not there yet. Cuarón still proceeded to direct the movie with the vision he had in mind anyway. Del Toro has said that Cuarón and his cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki (‘The Tree of Life’) are “absolutely pushing a new boundary in filmmaking, completely mindblowing. And the way they’re making that movie will, I think, forever change certain types of productions.”
Another component to the movie is that it will be in 3D. Although that may excite some fans, working on the 3D aspect of the film didn’t excite Clooney. “It is the first time I’ve been in 3-D and, hopefully, the last time.” he says. It’s been rumored that ‘Gravity’ has a 20 minute single take opening scene with the entire film possibly being made up of a few extended shots. Since the majority of the movie is in zero gravity space, the “mindblowing” technology might be how they capture that visual and sense of buoyancy in a 3D capacity.
The movie won’t be out for another year but the idea of sitting in the theater and getting the sense that you are floating in outer space with George Clooney (or Sandra Bullock – take your pick) is enough to put ‘Gravity’ on my must see movies list for next year. What do you think? Would you go see ‘Gravity’?
