An Expert Review by Sandra Bullock Gravity (2013) shows that the Oscar-winning space saga falls short of scientific rigor, except for one notable detail. Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the film stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts whose space mission goes catastrophically wrong and forces them to navigate the infinite void of space to return home to Earth.
In a video of Insiderretired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott evaluates scenes from Gravity, evaluating the representation of space in the film with 5/10 for realism. While she praises the visual precision of microgravity and the astronaut's movement in space, she finds other aspects lacking. Specifically, she notes that some safety protocols and Dr. Ryan Stone's (Bullock) response to fire in space are inaccurate, mentioning that astronauts would first secure a protective air mask during emergencies, which was absent in the film. Read more about Stott's perspective here:
Every astronaut, I think, who watches this is like, “Oh, my God, the first thing you're going to do in any fire is, before you even go and see what it is, you're going to put your mask on.”
[Bullock] sees this other space station that she wants to get to. If she sets off the fire extinguisher when she's looking directly at it and the thing comes out the back, it'll go in one direction or another. I don't know if it would really work the way they showed it in the movie. The idea is good. You even hear her in the scene calculate, do a 180, and pull the trigger. [Whether] whether the fire extinguisher would get you there or not, I don't even want to bet on that.
What this expert assessment means for severity
The challenges of representing space on screen
Stott analyzes two particularly intense scenes in Gravity. Although Stott's critique suggests that Gravity isn't perfect in terms of realism, it's important to note that science fiction dramas like Gravity often compromising scientific accuracy for narrative tension. Additionally, recognition of the retired astronaut for the film's efforts to Capturing microgravity accurately further adds legitimacy to the production, noting: "They also did a great job in this film, showing the way the fire grows inside the spaceship."
His insights demonstrate the challenges filmmakers face in portraying complex scientific concepts without alienating audiences. For viewers unfamiliar with space operations, some liberties, like the creative use of a fire extinguisher as propulsion or forgetting an emergency mask, can move the narrative forwardeven if it is beyond scientific reality. The film's most redeeming quality, according to Stott, lies in its depiction of spatial movement. She notes: "One of the things I loved Gravity were the images of the way astronauts moved in space. It's one of the best presentations I've ever seen."
Our Take on the Severity Accuracy Score
The tradeoff between realism and narrative
However Gravity may not fully satisfy space experts, its impact goes far beyond realism. The film won seven Oscars, including Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón and Best Visual Effects, largely because of its gripping narrative and technical achievements. While scientific precision is valuable, Gravity prioritizes emotional engagement, delivering a gripping survival story that resonates with audiences around the world.
The film's representation of space may not be perfect, but its success lies in its ability to evoke the isolation, danger and beauty of the cosmos. Even with some factual inconsistencies, Stott's review confirms that the film gets certain key elements right – especially in visualizing the disorienting experience of spatial movement. Ultimately, Gravity strikes a rare balance between cinematic spectacle and scientific ambition, and for many viewers, that's more than enough.
Source: Insider