Gravity

The nerve-shredding tension of Speed meets the technical perfection of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: a Space Odyssey in this intimate sci-fi spectacular. Sandra Bullock stars as a talented medical engineer making her first space-shuttle mission under the command of veteran astronaut George Clooney. As the team carries out a service on the Hubble Space Telescope, a planned missile strike on a defunct Russian satellite sends shards of dangerous debris hurtling towards them, instantly destroying the shuttle. With limited oxygen supplies remaining, Bullock and Clooney find themselves trapped in the void, setting the clock ticking on an intense and exhilarating fight for survival. The special effects are tremendous, making full and immersive use of the 3D visuals, while Bullock's almost balletic performance imbues this vertiginous fantasy with a humanity and grace that beautifully complements director Alfonso Cuarón's breathtaking vision.