As stated previously, one of the central conceits of the film is its attempt to depict the experience of being in outer space as faithfully and realistically as possible, and a major part of this endeavor was capturing the eeriness of the setting’s lack of sound. The images we’ve been shown in previous movies taking place in space, Star Wars being the most prominent example, largely consist of noisy explosions. What makes a lot of the action sequences in Gravity so terrifying is the utter lack of sound, which translates into stuff flying at you with no warning, emphasizing the isolation and lack of protection from the type of unforeseen events the movie chronicles.
The use of silence also enhances the relative simplicity of the movie’s narrative: it’s really just about a couple of people getting lost in space. Dialogue is almost superfluous. What does make a difference, though, is Gravity’s use of music, which, on its own, is marvelous, but used in conjunction with the action and, more importantly, the psychological state of the Sandra Bullock character, it becomes the principal emotional bridge between her and us. Simply put, the film finds the right moments when silence is most effective, and just the right times to blow our ears out with an amazing musical score to validate and intensify the feelings we’re feeling.
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