For the first time in its history, a 3-D movie – Warner Bros. heart pounding, techno-thriller Gravity – has been selected to open the prestigious Venice Film Festival on August 28. The film has only four stars, Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side, The Proposal), George Clooney (Up in the Air, Syriana), Earth, and Infinite Space.
Gravity is co-written by it’s director, Alfonso Cuaron, and his son, Jonas. The elder Cuaron also co-produced the film. Seven years have passed since Cuaron’s Oscar nominated masterpiece, Children Of Men. Gravity was shot at England’s Shepperton Studios by renowned cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.) Emmanuel choreographed the entire film to appear as zero gravity (a technical and artistic feat essential to the film’s premise).
Sandra Bullock plays Ryan Stone, a medical engineer on her first space mission, alongside veteran space traveler Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney). An unexpected meteor shower destroys their vehicle and the two are left tethered together floating in space. They can see the entire Earth below, but have no way of returning.
Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, and Robert Downey Jr. were all in talks to star in the film. The female lead is demanding, being compared to Tom Hanks’ character in Cast Away. She is on screen by herself for the majority of the film. This appears to be the reason why Jolie and Portman took a pass, and Robert Downey Jr. had scheduling complications, leaving the opportunity for Clooney to step in.
Alfonso Cuaron is planning to show some clips of Gravity at San Diego’s upcoming Comic-Con, July 18-21. The world wide premiere follows in Venice on August 28, and Gravity will open worldwide October 4, 2013. If the final product is anywhere near as thrilling as the teaser trailer (below), that release date can’t come fast enough.
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