I went into going to see this movie with high expectations. It’s based on a true story, Seth Rogen sounds more mature, and of course we have the gorgeously talented Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the star. But what I walked away with was a big respect and appreciation for not only those with cancer but for the people in their lives helping them cope along the way, not to mention that I couldn’t help laughing half the time too!
The Performances
Let’s start with the obvious: Joseph Gordon-Levitt is pure genius. Subtle, poignant, and heartfelt, he’s such an inspirational and natural actor. His decisions in the film (from the head-shaving to the screaming in his car) carried his character to a whole new level. It was real and honest without being fake and campy.
Then we get to Seth Rogen who plays almost the same kind of character he plays in every other film, but this time it was mature and heartfelt compared to his other performances. Maybe since there was a real truth (after all playing the character of himself from the story the movie was inspired by with his best friend in real life) it was more meaningful and there was more effort on his part. His character Kyle had a great balance of off-beat humor and a sincere relationship with Adam.
Next we have the brilliant Anjelica Houston and her heartbreaking motherly performance as Adam’s mom, Anna Kendrick as a sweet, neurotic mess with Katherine, and playing the character we all hate again was the genius Bryce Dallas Howard as Rachael, Adam’s failure of a supportive girlfriend.
The cast worked well together finding the humor when it was called for and the seriousness when it was deserved.
The Story/Emotion
You don’t need to have someone close in your life to have cancer in order to be affected by the heartfelt story and emotion in this film. I can understand a lot of the pain and the seriousness of the situation, but at the same time I can also appreciate the needed moments of happiness and laughter that is often overshadowed by the fear of the sickness. Nothing was forced or over the top, nothing too far-fetched or fake, it all flowed well and was very realistic. From the surgeons we all know who are not personable at all (yes I’m talking to Dr. Dick who can’t even look Adam in the eye when he’s telling him about his cancer), and not to mention the raw moment when Adam locks himself in the car and just screams it all out, the film was filled with moments that were so natural and real. We could feel what they were all going through because everyone did a great job portraying people instead of simply actors playing characters.
The Mix
Not going to lie, I was a little skeptical at first hearing about a comedy about cancer. Did anyone sit through Funny People with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen? THAT was forced and nothing realistic. It wasn’t heartfelt in the least bit. But what makes 50/50 so brilliant is that there was balance.
One second you have tears in your eyes because of the cancer announcement, but then fade into a couple scenes later and you’re laughing at Kyle’s antics with using Adam’s cancer to get girls.
It didn’t jump in and out too fast, there was a subtle transition from those moments and it was easy to tell the difference because you felt the emotion they were portraying every time it changed up.
Final Thoughts
It’s an honest look at what happens when someone so young is faced with this dilemma in their life. The real support shows itself and separates from those who are too scared and too selfish to deal and cope with it.
We see a brutally honest look into cancer and the effect it has on not just the patient, but the family and friends that surround them (not to mention the support coming from chemotherapy, another heartfelt but tough couple of scenes to watch).
It was poignant, realistic, and brilliant on every level.
Oscar Predictions?
It would be a crime not to nominate Joseph Gordon-Levitt for Best Actor. But could Seth Rogen actually get a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his mature turn as the best friend? Maybe even a Bets Supporting Actress nod for Anjelica Houston? And let’s not forget about the script written by Will Reiser (who based the film loosely on his life and the real life support from friend Seth Rogen). It’s stories and scripts with the honest connection like this that are recognized and possibly win the award in the end (see Dustin Lance Black’s script for the 2008 biopic Milk). Crossing my fingers!
No comments:
Post a Comment