So with the minds of certain government officials seeming tobe on another planet, I headed to the local cinema this past weekend for alittle R&R time with the hubby, where we participated in the blockbusteropening weekend of the film
"Gravity." The film, directed by Alfonso Cuarón,stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts who survive a damagedSpace Shuttle. After debris from a Russian anti-satellite test causes a chainreaction of destruction, resulting in their aborted mission, communicationsfrom Mission Control are lost, and Bullock and Clooney are all alone up there.
"Gravity" is already being hailed as "the greatest spacemovie ever made" (high praise from Cuarón's friend and colleague, JamesCameron, he of the cinematic achievement that is "Avatar"), and critics predictit will dominate most categories at the next Academy Awards. "Gravity" is alsobeing praised by critics and scientists alike for its realistic depictions ofthe experience of space travel and its many potential complications, althoughthe film's crew owns up to taking certain creative liberties to drive the plotforward.
I should have been dazzled by the intricate performances,awe-inspiring cinematography and sweeping score, but instead, I found myselfdistracted. Don't you hate it when you spend nearly $30 on 3D escapism, only toremain with your feet firmly planted in reality? Even as I munched my rubberypopcorn, I began drawing parallels between the movie and the governmentshutdown.
Both important space missions and government shutdowns seem to happenabout once a decade. When their government counterparts on earth are silenced,Bullock and Clooney are literally flying blind—a position in which manybiomedical researchers are finding themselves with vital government fundingpulled out from under them. At one point, the film offers a stunning shot ofBullock floating in a spacecraft, curled up in the fetal position with no ideahow to pull herself out of this mess—and it seems like some Congressmen andwomen are doing the same thing.
I won't spoil the end of the movie, but if these parallelscontinue, there could be a happy ending in store for the U.S. government andthe millions of people who depend on it to operate normally and efficiently. Ornot. The whole thing could blow up in our faces, too (literally).
The gravity of thesituation cannot be overstated. We'll continue to report on its impact onscientific research next month, and if your research has been affected, feelfree to drop me an e-mail at swinderman@ddn-news.com. Until then, while you'retwiddling your thumbs and waiting for our elected officials to do what weelected them to do, consider going to see "Gravity" at a theater near you. Itpulled in $55.6 million to set an October box office record in its openingweekend. At least someone is doing well these days.
