I wholeheartedly agree with Dorkman's comments.

I'll also note that I really am not sure I would have bought into the film as much if it had been Jolie and RDJ -- the two original "goal" cast members. I thought Bullock and Clooney worked amazingly well for the characters.

I was also impressed with how much of a "ride" it was. I, and several people I know, were worried it would get too introspective and "deep" to really just sit back and enjoy. However, there actually was very little of that, all things considered. There was the gratuitous "womb" shot (note to those that haven't seen it, it's not actually a shot of a womb), and clearly some high-concept exposition, but it fit in really fairly seamlessly with the madness that was happening.

This really was a technical and storytelling masterpiece, the likes of which we haven't seen a long while.

Can I also say -- I'm so incredibly thrilled it's doing well at the box office! From opening day to this past Thursday (one calendar week of showing) it's already surpassed it's production budget worldwide. Rumors were that they were hoping for it to clear $40 mil on opening weekend and it did $55 mil domestically and $85 worldwide. Considering the buzz that's been created -- I've yet to see a bad review or hear anyone not tell others to see it -- it might actually have some staying power, as well.

Both Cuaron & original Sci-Fi totally deserve this win. I can't wait to see what his next project is.

Ha! I have you now, Typo-Fixing Man!

JoLie.  As in Angelina.   Which might have worked, she actually is quite good, but gimme Sandy any day.   

JoDie nowadays in Gravity... I don't think so.  But Contact-era Jodie... my god, that would have been something to see.

But agreed on RDJ, no no no.

Trey, I don't think Jolie is terrible or anything...I just think Bullock is a better fit for the role. Especially since she's probably closer to Contact-era Foster at this point than Foster is.

I liked Sandra in this more than I have in...well, ever. I thought she was pretty mediocre in The Blind Side.

Ditto.  Who didn't already know Sandra Bullock was awesome?   She's that rare thing we've talked about often on the show - an Oscar-caliber actress who'll do genre movies.   

I bet Streep would be awesome to watch all by herself in a Soyuz capsule too... but she doesn't do that kind of movie.   

Fortunately we have Sandra, Jodie, Naomi, and a few others who will. 

Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side "controversy" and a series of weird and not well received dramas and rom-coms.

That's who Sandra Bullock has been for the last decade and a bit. Not exactly a strong push for the amazing versatile oscar caliber actress category. (in the eyes of the general viewing public)

Btw. Speed and Demolition Man were almost 20 years ago.

EDIT: Damn you Bullet!

Sure, and the general viewing audience is absolutely reknowned for being able to distinguish between a crappy movie and a good performance, it's one of thier specialties or so I've heard, along with calm rational thought on the internet and not getting emotional about people attacking things they love.

You, I, and this forum might know Bullocks awesome, but to the rest of the world she was in that football movie where she played some creepy mom with a weird fetish for a large black college guy, and that one where she was an FBI agent turned beauty pagenter, and then "that one thing about the bus that couldn't stop or something, is that right?"

And now all of a sudden she's out in these big studio movies kicking the shit out these roles and everyone's like WHO THE HELL IS THIS NOW?!?

Hey...this just in: GRAVITY has been a resounding commercial success!

Through Friday (the start of it's 3rd weekend), Gravity has made an estimated $148 mil domestically. Add in the estimated $68 mil overseas and that brings the current Total Box Office haul at $216 million! I'm not sure many people thought this movie would break $150 mil, and I'm quite sure no one would have predicted $200 mil...and it's possible Gravity may top $250 mil before it leaves theaters -- about 2.5x it's rumored production budget.

HUZZAH!

With these box office numbers, is there any way for the public to know how many people have seen the film in 3-D and/or IMAX 3-D and how many have seen it in standard projection? Strictly curiosity on my part here.