[DB]

So what was the magic force that kept pulling on Clooney when Bullock is holding his line while her foot is tangled in lines? A force that just kept on pulling even though all their momentum had already come to a complete stop...

[Cboldt]

Dark Energy.

[jim999]

I’d have to back and look, but it was probably because they were orbiting over D.C. at the time. Or maybe CERN.

[calljack]

Maybe it was.....

Wait for it.....

GRAVITY.

No, that was a little bit of scientific inaccuracy there.
Too bad it was so important the film. They could have done
that plot point any number of ways. They choose poorly.

[dr_lew]

So what was the magic force that kept pulling on Clooney when Bullock is holding his line while her foot is tangled in lines?

I just saw it tonight and this stuck out as a problem, even though there were many technical errors and broader implausibilities. Especially since they had just done a very long and plausibly choreographed scene involving the dynamics of tethering. It occurred to me afterwards that centrifugal force could be offered as an explanation, but the scene gives no hint of rotation, and there is a long shot of the scene which highlights the inexplicable force that you mention.

To me, this bespeaks the complete indifference of the director to physical constraints. There were scenes that showed respect for the physical realities, but that was just a directorial decision to listen to some physics wonks to establish credibility. In this case he had PLOT in mind.

[Loud Mime]

That force was created by that machine in the movie “The Rock” that was running although Alcatraz was closed. It’s the same force that had the “Good Old Boys” showing up at Bob’s Country Bunker after it had closed. It’s the same force that has people voting for Obama despite his packing us with debt.