Death-Defying 'Gravity'

When "Alien" debuted in 1979, it came with the tagline "In space, no one can hear you scream." It was a fitting tagline for a movie that was set in space and was also quite terrifying.

Last year, director Alfonso Cuaron also delivered a tough movie about space, offering perhaps a more daunting tagline — "In space, life is impossible." He also delivered a brilliant visual film and one that has a surprising amount of heart.

"Gravity" was, rightly, nominated for a gaggle of Academy Awards last year. It was a stunning achievement and a memorable film, clocking in just under 90 minutes. It featured stunning visuals and a great performance from Sandra Bullock and good supporting work from George Clooney. Most people that saw the movie were focused on what a stunning achievement it was — especially in 3D or in large format theaters. And it was. But it was also a movie with an incredible amount of heart.

It's easy to lose the narrative among all the special effects provided by the film. But at heart, this is a story of survival — of a woman who lost a child, and lost a part of herself, but found the will to move on and to be strong.

There is a Christian movie I like called "The Ultimate Gift." In it James Garner plays a man at the end of his life looking back on regrets, one of which is the loss of his son. He says, "A parent should never have a child precede them in death. It is the most painful experience imaginable." It was a powerful line, powerfully delivered that has resonated with me.

But there is another part of that. The part of moving forward through the pain. Later his character says, "Our lives should be lived not avoiding problems but welcoming them as challenges that will strengthen us so that we can be victorious in the future." That, too, is an important part of life.

In "Gravity," when we meet Dr. Stone (Bullock) she is a bit lost. She lost her child, her world crumbled, and now she's alone in space. Early in the film, when trying to get her to find the will to push through, Matt (Clooney) asks her who is waiting for her at home. No one is, and worse yet Dr. Stone sees no real reason to push through.

Later, when the rescue ship is failing, Stone is content to give up. She hears happy sounds from back on Earth and it reminds her of what she doesn't have. She is defeated and ready to let go. But the spirit of Matt challenges her to make a choice — "either get busy living or get busy dying," to quote another great film, "The Shawshank Redemption."

It is the memory of her daughter that inspires her to push through, fighting for survival. It is that memory, and that inspiration, that pushes her to make it back home.

While many marveled at the cinematography and scope of the technical achievement — which they should — equally as powerful is the story of one woman finding her will to live in the most impossible of circumstances. That's what make "Gravity" an incredible film to watch.