*****SPOILER-FREE impressions of GRAVITY

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Alfonso Cuarón. Wow. The man is carving his initials on Hollywood, and the cinematic art form in general. From humble beginnings, as an independent filmmaker from Mexico... Look at him go. I think he owes a great deal to producer David Heyman for taking a chance on him years ago with HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (Of course, Cuarón delivered dramatically, helping to spin that film franchise off in a bold new direction, and off into greater heights of success. So, perhaps the debt is owed by Warner Bros. The studio certainly demonstrated their faith with this latest collaboration.).

With CHILDREN OF MEN, Cuarón took an even bigger leap forward, demanding that the film world take him more seriously, as an auteur. Now, with GRAVITY, the director has graduated to producer, and writer, and editor as well. And I notice that his stylization, the seamless transitions, the continuous shots without cutting (a difficult "stunt" in which other directors take much pride, including Cameron, and Whedon), has become more adventurous with the aid of digital effects. But I wouldn't call it "gimmicky," as I might with some other directors. It's a choice that always serves the story, carrying the viewer through an entire environment with a relentless focus on what's transpiring, putting us right there with the characters in the most realistic way. It never become impractical or distracting as it does in a film like CLOVERFIELD, where the cinema verité realism is diminished by the unforgiving premise (Would anyone seriously carry a camcorder through all of those events so unerringly?).

GRAVITY is something you've never seen before. Spectacle? Yup. Drama. You betcha. And all the more amazing for the way the story unfolds. Total commitment. Hollywood would never have permitted this movie to have been made a few years ago. Cuarón has earned clout. And to him I say, "¡Con mucho gusto-- bravo! ¡Bien hecho!"