Best of the Decade, No. 17


Over the next 25 weeks I'll be rolling out my favorite films of the last decade. This is, as all lists of this kind, personal selections. Agree, disagree, make a comment and share your thoughts!

No. 17 Gravity (2013)
Starring: Sandra Bullock and George Clooney
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Academy Award Nominations: 10
Academy Award Wins: 7 (Best Director (Cuaron), Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Original Score)
About: As my countdown continues, I'm into a set of films that make it here because of their brilliance as a piece of cinematic art. It's not that I don't enjoy the films, but I am also moved by their craft. That's certainly true of "Gravity," which was a technically brilliant piece. Bullock is the face of the film, and she gives a good performance, but this is about the craft and storytelling. That's in part why it got 10 Academy Award nominations, and it's certainly why it won seven awards, all in the technical areas. It was honored for editing, cinematography, sound editing and mixing, visual effects, score and, of course, for the direction from Cuaron, who is a fantastic filmmaker. And all those were well deserved. This is a taut, visually stunning thriller. It's a movie that has a simple premise and plot, but pulls you in and keeps you gripped because of the idea and because it's a technical marvel. I was particularly taken with the visuals here, and I know I wasn't alone. This isn't always the easiest film to watch because of the story—no one wants to be stranded in space. In fact, I think this story is somewhat the stuff of people's nightmares. And you could argue it wraps up a bit too nicely at the end, sure. But even those closing sequences allow for some fascinating and stunning visuals. As a piece of art, this was one of the best and most memorable of the last decade. If you haven't seen it, find the biggest screen you can and check it out!
Rating: PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more