Gravity

Gravity (2013)
Directed by Alfonso Cuaron.

I know I'm a little late to this party, but I think this deserves to get posted even though I'll probably just be repeating a lot of the same things that others have already said about the film. Most importantly: I loved it.

So it didn't have much of a plot. I didn't care.

So it got some of the science wrong. I'm not a scientist, so it seemed realistic enough for me.

So it pretty much only had one actor. I don't mind spending an hour and a half with one person as long as they give me a reason to want to.

So the whole thing was CG. Well that was kind of the point.

I'm trying to think of anything that I didn't like about the film, but at the moment nothing is coming to mind. I may be able to think of some criticisms after watching it a few more times, but my first viewing of the film was one of those rare near-perfect moviegoing experiences. Huge theater. Dolby Atmos. 3D. Respectful audience. Perfection.

The experience of seeing this film in the most immersive way possible proves just how wrong Spielberg and Lucas are when they predict the impending death of the movie theater. Gravity's $175 million (and growing) domestic gross proves that the general public is still willing to make the journey to the theater to see a film (and even pay the 3D premiums) if you give them a reason to want to; if you provide them with an experience that they can't get from home or mobile viewing.

But back to the point...this film is one of the most visually, aurally, and emotionally beautiful films I've seen in a very long time, and in case you haven't figured this out yet, I loved it.

Five out of five stars.
Viewed October 8, 2013 at LOOK Cinemas Prestenwood in Dallas, TX.

Weekend Preview: Don't Let Go

After wowing audiences at Venice and Telluride, Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity flies into 3,575 theaters domestically this weekend, while Ben Affleck/Justin Timberlake thriller Runner Runner tries to win big in 3,024 theaters, and Metallica Through the Never continues the fantasy after last weekend's IMAX exclusive opening by rocking audiences in 650 theaters this weekend.

Critics are already hailing Gravity as this year's Life of Pi and a frontrunner in several Oscar races. But how will it fare at the box office? The subject matter is going to be a barrier for some people, like my better half, who have no interest in putting themselves through the anxiety of watching Sandra Bullock floating stranded in space. Hopefully the prospect of seeing some of the most innovative visual effects since Avatar will help some people master their fears. I have no question that hardcore science fiction fans will show up in droves, which will launch Gravity to the top of the box office, but how high it will go is hard to say. Pi opened last November to $22 million. 2013 so far has been an okay year for original sci-fi, with Elysium and Pacific Rim opening to $29 and $37 million respectively. Without much competition, two beloved stars, and rave reviews out the wazoo, Gravity should easily open around $35 million domestically.

Ben Affleck made headlines recently by signing up for the cowl and cape in Zack Snyder's upcoming Batman and Superman movie, but will that and goodwill from his Oscar winning Argo help convince audiences to show up to see him share screen time with Justin Timberlake? Runner Runner comes to us from Brad Furman, director of 2011's decently successful The Lincoln Lawyer, which helped Matthew McConaughey re-brand himself as a serious actor. Counter-programming should also give Runner a boost, with the film hoping to snatch up those who think Gravity will be too spacey. Action thrillers haven't performed very well so far this year, with Snitch claiming the highest opening weekend with $20 million. I expect Runner to open somewhere between The Lincoln Lawyer's $13 and Argo's $19 million opening weekends, though there's no chance that Runner will have the legs to match the latter's $136 million total domestic gross.

Metallica Through the Never's IMAX exclusive opening weekend brought in $1.5 million from 305 theaters, which is pretty close to last year's Raiders of the Lost Ark IMAX re-release's $1.6 million opening weekend in 267 theaters. Metallica looks to take the show to a wider audience this week by doubling its theater count. Unfortunately, it is going to lose most of its IMAX screens to Gravity. A $3 million gross this weekend would be nice, but this film is a hard sell outside of the band's dedicated fanbase, even with good reviews.

Also opening this weekend:
A.C.O.D. - three theaters;
All is Bright - ten theaters;
Argento's Dracula 3D - six theaters;
Bad Milo!;
Besharam - 217 theaters;
Concussion;
Dislecksia: The Movie;
Grace Unplugged - 511 theaters;
The Institute;
Let the Fire Burn;
Linsanity;
Nothing to Fear - five theaters;
Parkland - 217 theaters;
Pulling Strings - 387 theaters;
Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde;
The Summit - eight theaters.

Tune in next week to see if Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips can fight off Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills.

October 2013 Preview!

Here is a quick look at the films I plan to see in October:

Gravity (10/4/13)
Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star in Alfonso Cuaron's sci-fi thriller as astronauts stranded during a spacewalk after their shuttle gets hit by a piece of debris.

Parkland (10/4/13)
I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to cast Zac Efron, but everything else makes this seem like an interesting and thought provoking look at an event that is still controversial fifty years later.

Captain Phillips (10/11/13)
The first of Tom Hanks' Oscar contenders, based on the true story of Richard Phillips, captain of the MV Maersk Alabama which was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009.

Kill Your Darlings (10/16/13)
Daniel Radcliffe. What more do you need?

12 Years a Slave (10/18/13)
Steve McQueen (the British one)'s third collaboration with Michael Fassbender, this time taking on slavery via the true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who was abducted and sold into slavery.

Carrie (10/18/13)
Remaking a classic is sometimes blasphemous, but I'm definitely interested in seeing Chloë Grace Moretz as Carrie White.

The Fifth Estate (10/18/13)
Another based-on-a-true-story, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Blue is the Warmest Color (10/25/13)
It won the Palme d'Or, but you might have a hard time finding a theater that will play it, considering its NC-17 rating.

The Counselor (10/25/13)
Michael Fassbender's second release this month, this time in Ridley Scott's drug trafficking thriller. Also starring Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Cameron Diaz, and Penelope Cruz.

Which new releases are you most excited to see in October?