12 Years A Slave and Gravity; two movies without a lick in common, aside from the fact that both have been nominated for the richest prize Hollywood has to offer. Despite this, they have both garnered multiple nominations in key categories and are heavily viewed as the heavyweights of this coming Oscar season. It doesnt matter whether you like them or not, on Sunday March 2nd one of these critical darlings will forever lay claim to the stake of being the best film 2013 had to offer. Even with their painstakingly obvious differences though, theres a lot to compare and contrast. Sure, its a story of cinematic survival in space vs. a true story based around some horrifically honest slave brutality, but at the core of it all theyre still both films. All movies have acting in them, regardless of which genre they fall into, and any two can be compared (likewise for directing, soundtracks, writing, and more). Its all about judging each area of filmmaking individually and within the context of each film, and coming to a conclusion on which was utilised better in terms of telling the story at hand. And thats what Im here to do; dig into these outstanding films and pit them against one other in crucial aspects of filmmaking. There will also be no copping out with various ties awarded in categories; a definitive winner will be chosen! Its also imperative to note that this article contains major spoilers for both films. With that said, shall we begin?
