Along with The Avengers and Batman, Prometheus was(is) at the top of my must-see list for 2012. I've seen it twice(as I have The Avengers), and am happy to report that this wasn't a result of technical faults(it's mostly 'cause I film-cheated on my wife and saw it before her)! I'm also happy to report that I enjoyed Prometheus even more the second time!
I don't think I'm spoiling anything when I say Prometheus has some links to the Alien franchise? The proverbial face-hugger was let out the egg when the first trailer premièred some weeks back - and the Giger-inspired designs were there for all to see!
In the directors chair sits Ridley Scott, the man responsible for the very first Alien film. Scott had much to live up to, yet a considerable amount of confidence had been bestowed upon him, based on his phenomenal out-put since Alien in 1979.
Save for the first trailer, I made a concerted effort to avoid any further trailers or tv spots for Prometheus. As excited as I am to see all these movies, I'm getting a little tired of being exposed to them in their entirety, in under 3 minutes! I know it's show-BUSINESS, but surely trailers are there to tempt and to tease audiences, not potentially turn them away? Anyway, I believe not seeing or reading anything prior to it's release, made Prometheus a far-more entertaining affair - rant over!
The film begins with stunning arial shots of primordial-like landscapes, devoid of any life. This sequence alone makes any doubt in Scott to deliver, simply disappear. The cinematography is breathtaking throughout - this is certainly a movie to see on the big screen, and rewards those who see the value in continuing to go to the 'pictures'.
The visual elements of this movie are certainly the stars - from the design and physical manufacture of everything to the special effects and afore-mentioned photography - this film will stay with you for these reasons alone.
The film has a pretty great cast to boast about also. Noomi Rapace is convincingly sympathetic in the role of Elizabeth Shaw, a scientist with untapped survival instincts. Michael Fassbender excels in the role of David, the android. Charlize Theron and Idris Elba are also strong, as Meredith Vickers and Janek, respectively - two employees of Weyland Industries, one more directly than the other. The supporting cast are solid throughout. Too many to mention here - 17 crew in total.
Shaw and her partner Holloway(Logan Marshall-Green) discover a repeating image in ancient human hieroglyphs, which are known to have existed independently of one another - by hundreds of years in some cases. The two scientists are convinced that this image holds some credence to the existence of extraterrestrial life - and consequently the origins of human existence. The image shows a constellation similar to Earths solar system - one that could potentially sustain life. The scientists find this constellation, and the crew and ship Prometheus are tasked with finding it and potentially making contact - a meet and greet, if you will!
Ok, first things first, Prometheus is not an Alien film. It shares it's timeline and takes place in the same universe, but is not part of the same story. Ridley Scott and his team have made a very different movie with Prometheus - and have taken pains to emphasise so.
The plot for example, asks many questions about where we came from - and consequently challenges are beliefs in both religion and evolution. It comments on human existence and our curious nature. As we continue to question our origins and where we came from, we rarely think to question our legacy, as slowly but surely we get lost in technology and our delusions of grandeur.
Despite these deeper themes, there is still much fun to be had - in what is essentially a thriller. After the teen-friendly Predators and Alien vs Predator movies, I was happy to find myself horrified once again. Not that Prometheus is any more violent than these movies(if anything it's less), but certainly more psychological - creeping under the skin and staying with you long after the credits have rolled.
I believe the lingering issue most people will have with Prometheus is that it asks about as many questions as it answers. This is no bad thing. This movie breeds discussion and conjecture - no doubt we'll be surmising until a sequel is made. I'm sure there is a larger story to be told here. There's certainly plenty of time to fill between the end of this movie and the first Alien movie. I for one would definitely come back for more - and despite my own curiosity, would be happy for them to leave just a few of these questions unanswered - 4/5!
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
The Innkeepers
Ti West has officially joined the ranks of directors to watch, as far as I'm concerned! Wests previous film, The House of the Devil is currently available on DVD and I urge any horror fan to check it out! The cover for The House of the Devil caught my eye long ago - it's a terrific 70's style image, evocative of the(horror) films of that time. The film itself didn't disappoint - and consequently led me to his imdb page! I've since seen his Cabin Fever sequel(loses it's way towards the end, but hugely entertaining none the less) and was hotly anticipating The Innkeepers.
The Innkeepers stars Sara Paxton(as Claire) and Pat Healy(as Luke) - two employees of The Yankee Pedlar Inn. The Inn is on the verge of closure and Claire and Luke have been left in charge for it's last weekend of business.
An opening credit sequence shows the Pedlar Inn through the ages(it is in fact a real hotel). The Inn is supposedly haunted and this historical sequence gives credence to the spiritual visitations of Madeline O'Malley - a woman who was supposedly murdered at the hotel many years ago. The affiliation with anything supernatural has obviously rubbed off on Claire and Luke, as they spend much of their time at the Inn trying to find evidence to legitimise this particular ghost story.
Save for his Cabin Fever sequel, West has forgone the use of gore in his movies in favour of old-fashioned scares. West builds tension by putting relatable characters in jeopardy - leaving his audience sunken in their chairs and clinging to the armrests, come the third act.
Claire and Luke are two such characters - bored, horny(Luke) and disillusioned with their place in the world. Both Paxton and Healy play their parts to perfection. For a start they're playing characters the same age as themselves. Paxton is pretty, but neither actor is there for their looks alone. There are some knowing exchanges between the two leads, but never a forth-dimensional wink to the audience, a la Scream or I know what you did last summer.
West lulls us into a false sense of security by having us engage with his leads and their jovial antics - before slapping us across the proverbial face, as proceedings take on a more sinister tone. It's a tried and tested technic, but West is bringing it back - both The Innkeepers and The House of the Devil are stunning examples of this!
There is some fine support from the Inns limited clientèle also - notably Kelly McGillis, as a washed up actress with an interest in energies and healing.
Congratulations must finally go to West again, for producing another great horror film, which is as entertaining as it is agonising to watch - exceeding audience expectation rather than pandering to it - 4/5!
The Innkeepers stars Sara Paxton(as Claire) and Pat Healy(as Luke) - two employees of The Yankee Pedlar Inn. The Inn is on the verge of closure and Claire and Luke have been left in charge for it's last weekend of business.
An opening credit sequence shows the Pedlar Inn through the ages(it is in fact a real hotel). The Inn is supposedly haunted and this historical sequence gives credence to the spiritual visitations of Madeline O'Malley - a woman who was supposedly murdered at the hotel many years ago. The affiliation with anything supernatural has obviously rubbed off on Claire and Luke, as they spend much of their time at the Inn trying to find evidence to legitimise this particular ghost story.
Save for his Cabin Fever sequel, West has forgone the use of gore in his movies in favour of old-fashioned scares. West builds tension by putting relatable characters in jeopardy - leaving his audience sunken in their chairs and clinging to the armrests, come the third act.
Claire and Luke are two such characters - bored, horny(Luke) and disillusioned with their place in the world. Both Paxton and Healy play their parts to perfection. For a start they're playing characters the same age as themselves. Paxton is pretty, but neither actor is there for their looks alone. There are some knowing exchanges between the two leads, but never a forth-dimensional wink to the audience, a la Scream or I know what you did last summer.
West lulls us into a false sense of security by having us engage with his leads and their jovial antics - before slapping us across the proverbial face, as proceedings take on a more sinister tone. It's a tried and tested technic, but West is bringing it back - both The Innkeepers and The House of the Devil are stunning examples of this!
There is some fine support from the Inns limited clientèle also - notably Kelly McGillis, as a washed up actress with an interest in energies and healing.
Congratulations must finally go to West again, for producing another great horror film, which is as entertaining as it is agonising to watch - exceeding audience expectation rather than pandering to it - 4/5!
Friday, 8 June 2012
The Five-Year Engagement
This is the second film this year from Nicholas Stoller and Jason Segel. Hot on the heels of their Muppets collaboration comes this 'lengthy' love story starring Segel and Emily Blunt.
I'm a big fan of Forgetting Sarah Marshall(Stoller and Segels first collaboration) and found The Muppets to be hugely entertaining. The Five-Year Engagement is funny and honest, but doesn't quite live up to the success of their previous efforts.
Tom(Segel) and Violet(Blunt) meet at a fancy dress party on New Years Eve. A year to the day, Tom proposes to Violet. Unfortunately circumstances prevent the couple from being married immediately - and so they engage on their five-year odyssey!
Violet receives a dream job offer from Michigan University, which calls for the pair to move from their home in San Francisco - and for Tom to quit his prestigious sous-chef job.
The University offers Violet a two year contract initially, but she is soon offered an extension. It's too good an opportunity for Violet to pass up, however Tom is struggling to find a job to match his previous position, or even one which would require his particular skill-set.
Tom regresses to a Neanderthal-like state, while Violet catches the attention of her new boss. To make matters worse, grandparents are dying left and right - and Violets sister has beaten them to the punch with both a wedding and a pregnancy!
The Five-Year Engagement is quite a long film and one could argue that it needs to be. Interestingly the flow of time is integral to the plot - yet I couldn't help but feel the running time could have been trimmed a little. As a lite comedic affair the film was in danger of losing it's charm - like going to McDonald's and being served a four-course meal. Not that McDonald's has any particular charm(bad example)!
The Five-Year Engagement has some interesting things to say about relationships also, particularly their tumultuous nature - resulting in Segel ans Stollers most mature offering to date.
At the University, Violet is part of a team studying psychology. The film cleverly duplicates that which is studied in the classroom. With differing results, the over-all realisation is that life doesn't adhere to academic formula. Playful flashbacks to Violet and Toms first meeting are a nice touch too and remind us all why we get into these things in the first place.
The supporting cast are great with Chris Pratt and Alison Brie the stand-outs. Alison Brie is particularly good in the role of Violets sister, Suzie. Her British accent is superb and one particular scene she shares with Emily Blunt will have you giggling incessantly!
The Five-Year Engagement is a fun and entertaining affair, which will resonate particularly with anyone who's ever been engaged or wed - 3/5.
I'm a big fan of Forgetting Sarah Marshall(Stoller and Segels first collaboration) and found The Muppets to be hugely entertaining. The Five-Year Engagement is funny and honest, but doesn't quite live up to the success of their previous efforts.
Tom(Segel) and Violet(Blunt) meet at a fancy dress party on New Years Eve. A year to the day, Tom proposes to Violet. Unfortunately circumstances prevent the couple from being married immediately - and so they engage on their five-year odyssey!
Violet receives a dream job offer from Michigan University, which calls for the pair to move from their home in San Francisco - and for Tom to quit his prestigious sous-chef job.
The University offers Violet a two year contract initially, but she is soon offered an extension. It's too good an opportunity for Violet to pass up, however Tom is struggling to find a job to match his previous position, or even one which would require his particular skill-set.
Tom regresses to a Neanderthal-like state, while Violet catches the attention of her new boss. To make matters worse, grandparents are dying left and right - and Violets sister has beaten them to the punch with both a wedding and a pregnancy!
The Five-Year Engagement is quite a long film and one could argue that it needs to be. Interestingly the flow of time is integral to the plot - yet I couldn't help but feel the running time could have been trimmed a little. As a lite comedic affair the film was in danger of losing it's charm - like going to McDonald's and being served a four-course meal. Not that McDonald's has any particular charm(bad example)!
The Five-Year Engagement has some interesting things to say about relationships also, particularly their tumultuous nature - resulting in Segel ans Stollers most mature offering to date.
At the University, Violet is part of a team studying psychology. The film cleverly duplicates that which is studied in the classroom. With differing results, the over-all realisation is that life doesn't adhere to academic formula. Playful flashbacks to Violet and Toms first meeting are a nice touch too and remind us all why we get into these things in the first place.
The supporting cast are great with Chris Pratt and Alison Brie the stand-outs. Alison Brie is particularly good in the role of Violets sister, Suzie. Her British accent is superb and one particular scene she shares with Emily Blunt will have you giggling incessantly!
The Five-Year Engagement is a fun and entertaining affair, which will resonate particularly with anyone who's ever been engaged or wed - 3/5.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Dark Shadows
Spoiler Alert!
I've been hotly anticipating a great many films this year. Dark Shadows crept up on me and caught me unaware however. The only Burton production that was on my 2012 list was Frankenweenie - Burton's stop-motion feature, adapted from his own early short.
I have to admit to giving the last couple of Burton movies a wide birth. I'm a huge fan of his earlier works such as; Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and Batman, but have grown weary of the seemingly endless remakes and adaptations he's been tackling. There's no question he's a talented director with a unique vision, but personally I've been craving something original from the man.
When I first heard of Dark Shadows, I thought my hopes had been realised - only to discover that this new film was in fact an adaptation of an early television sitcom. Apparently the sitcom in question is a favourite of many a Hollywood film-maker - and a planned adaptation had been on the cards for some time.
The film begins in 1752 and tells the story of Barnabas Collins(played by Burton regular, Johnny Depp) - the only child to Joshua and Naomi Collins. An entrepreneurial type, Joshua Collins establishes himself as a forerunner of the fishing industry on the east coast of North America - resulting in the building of Collinsport. Barnabas is heir to his fathers considerable fortune, however things turn sour for the Collins' before Barnabas can take up his mantle.
A love-struck employee named Angelique(played by Eva Green), fails to earn the affections of Barnabas, and so she casts a pall over the Collins family and transforms Barnabas into a vampire. With the help of the townsfolk, Barnabas is buried in the ground for close to 200 years.
Cut to 1972 and Barnabas is re-awoken to discover the world has changed considerably! He returns to his estate to find the last few descendants of his family struggling to keep their home and business in a style to which Barnabas remembered. To make matters worse, Angelique is still alive. Seemingly immortal - her penchant for witchcraft has kept her looking young and voluptuous still.
Dark Shadows is a gothic dramedy(echoing that of the original sitcom I imagine). It's a fish-out-of-water tale with Barnabas' contemporary exchanges the butt of many a joke!
Much has been said about Burton and Depps ongoing collaborative relationship. Dark Shadows is their 8th collaboration and some have said they should call it a day. The truth is Burton and Depp work considerably well together. Depp is pitch-perfect in the roll of Barnabas and steals every scene he's in. I can't imagine Depp would have suited the roll of Batman or even Captain Leo Davidson(from Planet of the Apes), but Burton cast accordingly. As for the films Burton has cast Depp in, well each character has been a desperately kooky, loner-type. Why wouldn't you cast Depp - he's excellent in these roles!
Interestingly the main criticism I have of this film is a result of Depps star turn! The supporting cast are given short shrift, with only Michelle Pfeiffer and Helana Bonham Carter memorable in the parts of Elizabeth Collins and Dr. Julia Hoffman respectively. As a new-comer to Burtons world, Eva Green is surprisingly good as Angelique, but all are let down by a bleak and hollow ending.
Dark Shadows is an entertaining and fun movie, full of rich detail and endearing characters. Having invested in the endeavours of it's principle cast, one should have been rewarded with a wholly uplifting ending - with Barnabas reclaiming his birth-rite and his extended family free to bask in their newly found wealth. Instead(and somewhat unsurprisingly) the film goes in a darker direction, ending on a particular Burton-esque note - 3/5!
I've been hotly anticipating a great many films this year. Dark Shadows crept up on me and caught me unaware however. The only Burton production that was on my 2012 list was Frankenweenie - Burton's stop-motion feature, adapted from his own early short.
I have to admit to giving the last couple of Burton movies a wide birth. I'm a huge fan of his earlier works such as; Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and Batman, but have grown weary of the seemingly endless remakes and adaptations he's been tackling. There's no question he's a talented director with a unique vision, but personally I've been craving something original from the man.
When I first heard of Dark Shadows, I thought my hopes had been realised - only to discover that this new film was in fact an adaptation of an early television sitcom. Apparently the sitcom in question is a favourite of many a Hollywood film-maker - and a planned adaptation had been on the cards for some time.
The film begins in 1752 and tells the story of Barnabas Collins(played by Burton regular, Johnny Depp) - the only child to Joshua and Naomi Collins. An entrepreneurial type, Joshua Collins establishes himself as a forerunner of the fishing industry on the east coast of North America - resulting in the building of Collinsport. Barnabas is heir to his fathers considerable fortune, however things turn sour for the Collins' before Barnabas can take up his mantle.
A love-struck employee named Angelique(played by Eva Green), fails to earn the affections of Barnabas, and so she casts a pall over the Collins family and transforms Barnabas into a vampire. With the help of the townsfolk, Barnabas is buried in the ground for close to 200 years.
Cut to 1972 and Barnabas is re-awoken to discover the world has changed considerably! He returns to his estate to find the last few descendants of his family struggling to keep their home and business in a style to which Barnabas remembered. To make matters worse, Angelique is still alive. Seemingly immortal - her penchant for witchcraft has kept her looking young and voluptuous still.
Dark Shadows is a gothic dramedy(echoing that of the original sitcom I imagine). It's a fish-out-of-water tale with Barnabas' contemporary exchanges the butt of many a joke!
Much has been said about Burton and Depps ongoing collaborative relationship. Dark Shadows is their 8th collaboration and some have said they should call it a day. The truth is Burton and Depp work considerably well together. Depp is pitch-perfect in the roll of Barnabas and steals every scene he's in. I can't imagine Depp would have suited the roll of Batman or even Captain Leo Davidson(from Planet of the Apes), but Burton cast accordingly. As for the films Burton has cast Depp in, well each character has been a desperately kooky, loner-type. Why wouldn't you cast Depp - he's excellent in these roles!
Interestingly the main criticism I have of this film is a result of Depps star turn! The supporting cast are given short shrift, with only Michelle Pfeiffer and Helana Bonham Carter memorable in the parts of Elizabeth Collins and Dr. Julia Hoffman respectively. As a new-comer to Burtons world, Eva Green is surprisingly good as Angelique, but all are let down by a bleak and hollow ending.
Dark Shadows is an entertaining and fun movie, full of rich detail and endearing characters. Having invested in the endeavours of it's principle cast, one should have been rewarded with a wholly uplifting ending - with Barnabas reclaiming his birth-rite and his extended family free to bask in their newly found wealth. Instead(and somewhat unsurprisingly) the film goes in a darker direction, ending on a particular Burton-esque note - 3/5!
Saturday, 19 May 2012
The Avengers
So, I had to see this movie twice before I could review it. If The Avengers was going to be good, then I was going to see it at least twice anyway - yet at no point did I factor into account another technical fault!
My first viewing started with an ugly scratch in the centre of the screen. I leapt out of my chair in an effort to address the problem as soon as humanly possible - I had waited too long and hard for The Avengers to be sullied by a scratch or possible hair caught in the projector!
Alas, it took a good 15 or so minutes for the problem to be rectified - and to add insult to injury, it returned towards the end of the movie as well!
Despite this wholly agonising problem, I enjoyed The Avengers immensely - a damn-fine indication of any great movie!
I saw it a second time and enjoyed it even more. This time I was able to concentrate on the opening scenes without distraction, resulting in a significantly more relaxed experience.
The Avengers is the culmination of 5 previous movies, which have introduced it's core characters independently. From the first Iron man to Captain America: The First Avenger, each film has been hugely successful, both in popularity and in honouring it's characters and their rich history's. For me the only one which didn't quite deliver on the scale of the others was The Incredible Hulk(a lesser film than the Ang Lee/Eric Bana effort, in my view). Incidentally, the only character to be recast in The Avengers is that of Bruce Banner/Hulk. Mark Ruffalo is the best incarnation yet - lets hope he sticks around!
The Avengers features the characters and actors we've come to know and love from the previous 5 Marvel movies. This is the films major draw and the banter and play between each character is pulled off magnificently! Many a comic-book sequel increases it's character quota with each new chapter, yet is often unable to pull off the interaction between a multitude of characters. The Avengers has the advantage of featuring previously established characters and manages to balance the screen-time between them effortlessly - this could have been more Iron Man than Thor, or more Captain America than Hulk.
I believe this is thanks, in no small part to the director and co-writer Joss Whedon - no stranger to handling movie and television projects with large casts. Without discrediting co-writer Zak Penn, The Avengers feels like a Joss Whedon movie. There's a solid story here, with commentary on the human race; our subservient nature and our predilection towards war, well realised character arcs, fantastic special effects and a considerable amount of comedy! The Marvel universe is known for it's lightness of touch(much more jovial than the DC universe) and never has this playfulness been better captured than in this Avengers adaptation.
The plot to The Avengers sees Loki(brother of Thor) wield the Tesseract(from Captain America; The First Avenger), in an attempt to rule the human race. With the help of a few minions(all in a trance-like state), Loki plans to open a portal to another world - which would allow an alien race(the Chitauri) to help him conquer the Earth.
Meanwhile, the Avengers are assembled! They are thrust into Nick Fury's world of S.H.I.E.L.D, and discover what's at stake for the humans. Despite their previous independence, each hero takes their place in the worlds most powerful team, in an effort to save the Earth and bring Loki to task.
The Avengers is a great movie. It's been incredibly well thought out, with no character given short shrift. The effects really are magnificent(only a few hover-board-like sequences look out of place). The movie delivers on both spectacle and story - and come the conclusion, you'll be hotly anticipating the next instalment(there's a sweet nod at what's to follow, so stay seated after the initial credits have rolled) - 4/5!
My first viewing started with an ugly scratch in the centre of the screen. I leapt out of my chair in an effort to address the problem as soon as humanly possible - I had waited too long and hard for The Avengers to be sullied by a scratch or possible hair caught in the projector!
Alas, it took a good 15 or so minutes for the problem to be rectified - and to add insult to injury, it returned towards the end of the movie as well!
Despite this wholly agonising problem, I enjoyed The Avengers immensely - a damn-fine indication of any great movie!
I saw it a second time and enjoyed it even more. This time I was able to concentrate on the opening scenes without distraction, resulting in a significantly more relaxed experience.
The Avengers is the culmination of 5 previous movies, which have introduced it's core characters independently. From the first Iron man to Captain America: The First Avenger, each film has been hugely successful, both in popularity and in honouring it's characters and their rich history's. For me the only one which didn't quite deliver on the scale of the others was The Incredible Hulk(a lesser film than the Ang Lee/Eric Bana effort, in my view). Incidentally, the only character to be recast in The Avengers is that of Bruce Banner/Hulk. Mark Ruffalo is the best incarnation yet - lets hope he sticks around!
The Avengers features the characters and actors we've come to know and love from the previous 5 Marvel movies. This is the films major draw and the banter and play between each character is pulled off magnificently! Many a comic-book sequel increases it's character quota with each new chapter, yet is often unable to pull off the interaction between a multitude of characters. The Avengers has the advantage of featuring previously established characters and manages to balance the screen-time between them effortlessly - this could have been more Iron Man than Thor, or more Captain America than Hulk.
I believe this is thanks, in no small part to the director and co-writer Joss Whedon - no stranger to handling movie and television projects with large casts. Without discrediting co-writer Zak Penn, The Avengers feels like a Joss Whedon movie. There's a solid story here, with commentary on the human race; our subservient nature and our predilection towards war, well realised character arcs, fantastic special effects and a considerable amount of comedy! The Marvel universe is known for it's lightness of touch(much more jovial than the DC universe) and never has this playfulness been better captured than in this Avengers adaptation.
The plot to The Avengers sees Loki(brother of Thor) wield the Tesseract(from Captain America; The First Avenger), in an attempt to rule the human race. With the help of a few minions(all in a trance-like state), Loki plans to open a portal to another world - which would allow an alien race(the Chitauri) to help him conquer the Earth.
Meanwhile, the Avengers are assembled! They are thrust into Nick Fury's world of S.H.I.E.L.D, and discover what's at stake for the humans. Despite their previous independence, each hero takes their place in the worlds most powerful team, in an effort to save the Earth and bring Loki to task.
The Avengers is a great movie. It's been incredibly well thought out, with no character given short shrift. The effects really are magnificent(only a few hover-board-like sequences look out of place). The movie delivers on both spectacle and story - and come the conclusion, you'll be hotly anticipating the next instalment(there's a sweet nod at what's to follow, so stay seated after the initial credits have rolled) - 4/5!
Friday, 27 April 2012
Johnny Big Toes - the whole gang!
copyright Alex Smith 2012
You've already met Johnny and Lee - now meet Lee's boss Nicky Lah and his car, 'Red'!
Pre-orders of Johnny Big Toes are now available at: www.ashworthpublishing.com
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
50/50
I had long been anticipating the release of 50/50. My brother had seen it in the UK, in November of last year and had raved about it(I believe it was one of his films of the year for 2011). Four months later and it's finally released here in Melbourne - to an exclusive run at the Nova cinema in Carlton(www.cinemanova.com.au) - that is all!
Why this movie was only deemed a singular run, I don't know. Perhaps the reasons remain the same for the direct-to-DVD issue?
Anyway, I managed to catch a screening with friends, close to the end of it's run - and was very glad I did. Obviously I had high expectations, having heard so much from my brother, but it didn't disappoint.
50/50 tells the story of Adam(played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a driven and creative young man working in radio, who believes in doing the very best job he can - especially in this age of mediocrity. You get the sense that Adam is a great believer in karma. He is considerate of rules and regulations and does his upmost to treat others as he would like to be treated. Unfortunately Adam's living in a world where the majority act differently.
Adam lives a fairly normal life, spending much of his time with friend and colleague, Kyle(played by the ever watchable Seth Rogen). His mother(played by Angelica Huston)and father live close by. Despite his mothers best efforts, Adam avoids seeing too much of his parents - undoubtedly due to his fathers failing health(he has alzheimer's). Adam is also dating Rachael(Bryce Dallas Howard) - an attractive, yet frivolous artist.
After going to the doctors complaining of back pain, Adam discovers he has a rare form of spinal cancer. Adam undergoes chemotherapy to treat the cancer and is ordered to see a therapist for the duration of his treatment.
Adam's world is turned upside down as anyone's world would be. His nearest and dearest are hugely sympathetic, but achieve varying degrees of success with their support. Adam's therapist, Katherine(played by Anna Kendrick) is in the process of earning her doctorate at what we discover to be a teaching hospital. Adam is Katherine's third patient and as two relatively young people, their character arc is deepest - as they discover just as much about themselves as they do each other.
50/50 is partly inspired by the experiences of screenwriter, Will Reiser and his own battle with cancer. The result is an incredibly honest account of one person's battle with a debilitating disease and how that person's life and relationships are affected - for better or for worse.
The cast are fabulous and they play their parts to perfection. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is particularly good in the lead. Pre-diagnosis he is calm and gentle. He sustains this mood throughout, but manages to subtly display a sense of hopelessness and despair beneath his skin.
With Reiser and Rogen having previously worked on Da Ali G Show together, there is much laughter to be found in 50/50. Much of which comes from the interplay between Adam and Kyle. Adam's fellow patients offer some respite from proceedings also - proving once again how necessary laughter is, in the fight of any serious illness.
50/50 is subtle yet deeply affecting in it's account of one man's battle with cancer. Almost every human emotion is displayed on screen - and not without reason. This comedy/drama is rich with detail and character development and will appear wholly familiar to anyone who's undergone a similar experience - or for that matter, anyone with friends and family - 4/5.
Why this movie was only deemed a singular run, I don't know. Perhaps the reasons remain the same for the direct-to-DVD issue?
Anyway, I managed to catch a screening with friends, close to the end of it's run - and was very glad I did. Obviously I had high expectations, having heard so much from my brother, but it didn't disappoint.
50/50 tells the story of Adam(played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a driven and creative young man working in radio, who believes in doing the very best job he can - especially in this age of mediocrity. You get the sense that Adam is a great believer in karma. He is considerate of rules and regulations and does his upmost to treat others as he would like to be treated. Unfortunately Adam's living in a world where the majority act differently.
Adam lives a fairly normal life, spending much of his time with friend and colleague, Kyle(played by the ever watchable Seth Rogen). His mother(played by Angelica Huston)and father live close by. Despite his mothers best efforts, Adam avoids seeing too much of his parents - undoubtedly due to his fathers failing health(he has alzheimer's). Adam is also dating Rachael(Bryce Dallas Howard) - an attractive, yet frivolous artist.
After going to the doctors complaining of back pain, Adam discovers he has a rare form of spinal cancer. Adam undergoes chemotherapy to treat the cancer and is ordered to see a therapist for the duration of his treatment.
Adam's world is turned upside down as anyone's world would be. His nearest and dearest are hugely sympathetic, but achieve varying degrees of success with their support. Adam's therapist, Katherine(played by Anna Kendrick) is in the process of earning her doctorate at what we discover to be a teaching hospital. Adam is Katherine's third patient and as two relatively young people, their character arc is deepest - as they discover just as much about themselves as they do each other.
50/50 is partly inspired by the experiences of screenwriter, Will Reiser and his own battle with cancer. The result is an incredibly honest account of one person's battle with a debilitating disease and how that person's life and relationships are affected - for better or for worse.
The cast are fabulous and they play their parts to perfection. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is particularly good in the lead. Pre-diagnosis he is calm and gentle. He sustains this mood throughout, but manages to subtly display a sense of hopelessness and despair beneath his skin.
With Reiser and Rogen having previously worked on Da Ali G Show together, there is much laughter to be found in 50/50. Much of which comes from the interplay between Adam and Kyle. Adam's fellow patients offer some respite from proceedings also - proving once again how necessary laughter is, in the fight of any serious illness.
50/50 is subtle yet deeply affecting in it's account of one man's battle with cancer. Almost every human emotion is displayed on screen - and not without reason. This comedy/drama is rich with detail and character development and will appear wholly familiar to anyone who's undergone a similar experience - or for that matter, anyone with friends and family - 4/5.
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