The Greatest Showman #1000 - Core Change

"Gravity" is one of Renly's personal favorite movies.

Among all the nominated works at the 84th Academy Awards, Renly holds "Gravity" in the highest regard. He would personally choose it as the best film over 12 Years a Slave, which he views as a work of stability and moderation.

From a certain perspective, 12 Years a Slave is a variation of The King's Speech. It's crafted specifically for the awards season, with nothing particularly innovative in terms of art or ideas. It's old wine in new bottles, and even that new wine isn't particularly groundbreaking. In contrast, Gravity represents a much bolder and more innovative effort than films like The Social Network and Avatar.

Not only does Gravity feature an 18-minute-long opening shot that surpasses the technical challenges of Avatar, but the subsequent weightless shots set a near-insurmountable benchmark and open an entirely new chapter in filmmaking.

For many viewers, capturing the true excellence and deeper meaning of Gravity is challenging. While they marvel at the power of its technology and stunning visual effects, they often criticize the script's perceived weakness and the story's mediocrity, sometimes comparing it to 2001: A Space Odyssey and concluding that Gravity falls short of the latter's greatness.

In reality, both 2001: A Space Odyssey and Gravity are masterpieces. The former explores the mysteries of space and the betrayal of artificial intelligence. Its very title evokes a grand epic, akin to Homer's ancient Greek tales—its core message is one of exploration.

Gravity, however, tackles a different theme: the origin of humankind. Its essence lies in speculation, rather than exploration.

While the technical achievements of Gravity are remarkable, it's the film's simple script and its metaphorical undertones that truly resonate. Set in the vast emptiness of space, the film subtly alludes to humanity's origins, offering a meditation on survival and birth—similar to the themes of The Youth Pie's fantastical drift.

Though the script might feel sparse or minimal, preventing the film from delving into grander ideas, it's still profound enough to be considered great. The film's core ideas permeate quietly, with the heroine as the central vehicle. Through carefully crafted shots and the actors' performances, Gravity conveys deep philosophical reflections on life's gestation, the reproduction of life, and the origin of species. These themes are communicated not through dialogue, but through visual composition and acting.

The character's gender plays a significant role in this thematic exploration.

In the last life, Sandra Bullock played the protagonist. After winning an Oscar for The Blind Side, she faced some controversy. It was a relatively weak year for the Oscars, and her win was more about standing out in a lesser field than about her outstanding performance. However, in Gravity, Sandra truly proved her acting prowess.

Though Gravity and Buried Alive both center on survival in confined spaces, they present different challenges. In Buried Alive, the setting is grounded in reality—being trapped in a coffin—but in Gravity, the protagonist faces the surreal and alien environment of outer space.

Additionally, Buried Alive is more about urgency in a confined space, while Gravity is about isolation and panic in weightlessness. Whereas Buried Alive remains primarily a thriller that touches on social themes, Gravity extends far beyond survival to explore life's deeper meaning. The minimalist script relies heavily on the protagonist's emotional journey.

It's clear that, though both are one-man shows, the difficulty and depth of Gravity's performance far exceed those in Buried Alive. Sandra Bullock's performance is nuanced and layered—she draws the energy inward without diminishing the emotional resonance, all while capturing the film's poetic and philosophical themes.

Sandra's performance earned her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress that year, cementing her position as a leading Hollywood actress.

In Gravity, there are only two actors—Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. However, Clooney's role is secondary, making him a mere supporting figure in Sandra's star turn. Sandra truly made Gravity, and in return, Gravity elevated Sandra.

From a technical standpoint, Renly admires Gravity. From a performance perspective, Gravity presents a unique challenge not only in the actor's personal performance but also in adapting to the film's intricate technical demands—a challenge distinct from the stage productions of London's West End.

Logically, Renly would have no reason to refuse such a role; in fact, he should be eager to try it.

However, Renly believes that the female protagonist adds a deeper philosophical dimension to the film—something inherently missing from male-centered roles.

Without a doubt, Renly would be honored by the opportunity. But his love for the film made him realize that Sandra Bullock was the perfect choice for the role.

"From your description, this sounds like a survival story in a secret room in outer space. Are you planning something like Buried Alive?" Renly asked, though he hadn't seen the script yet. He couldn't predict the details, so he decided to guide Alfonso with more general questions.

"Buried Alive?" Alfonso's face was a picture of confusion.

Renly paused for a moment before bursting into laughter. Alfonso had confessed earlier that his knowledge of Renly's work was limited, mostly drawn from his stage performances at the Almeida Theatre, which had inspired him to seek out Renly. This was likely why Buried Alive was unfamiliar to Alfonso.

It was the first time Renly had met someone in the industry who had never heard of Buried Alive, but it certainly wasn't rare.

Renly smiled and changed the topic. "I mean, what's the core of the movie? Is it just about survival? I get that it's set in space, but surely that's not the entire point. Is there a deeper message for the actor's performance?"

"Yes, of course," Alfonso's eyes brightened. "The space predicament is just an external shell. The real meaning lies in the birth and origin of life."

Alfonso, not being an actor, may have struggled to express the nuances of the concept, so he paused before continuing, "It's like winter giving way to spring. Seeds sprout from the frozen earth, breaking through obstacles, and growing with tenacity and resilience. Life is precious because it's defined by struggle."

"In absolute loneliness and despair, Ryan is like a seed. By the way, Ryan is the protagonist of the script. He faces a choice: give up and perish, or persist and grasp even the faintest hope. The birth of life is similar—survival of the fittest, through struggle, life emerges."

Outer space, Alfonso continued, represents an environment like the womb—a place of silence, yet also of deep belief in survival and a yearning for Earth. That inner will to survive becomes the driving force for Ryan's eventual rescue.

Renly nodded. "It's like gravity," he said, as the title of the film suggests. The protagonist's connection to Earth—like gravity itself—pulls Ryan back from the weightlessness of space, mirroring the force of survival that brings life into existence.

"Exactly," Alfonso said, his eyes wide with excitement. "This is what the movie is about! How did you know?"

Renly chuckled inwardly, acknowledging Alfonso's excitement. He subtly deflected the moment, "Since it's about the origin of life, using a female character seems more fitting. You know, the symbolism and metaphorical weight that a woman embodies... it's always philosophical."

Alfonso laughed heartily, deeply moved by Renly's insight.