1. Pacific Rim
Guillermo del Toro’s absolutely insane monsters vs. giant robots film. It was tough to pick between Star Trek and Pacific Rim as my most anticipated film of 2013, but we know what to expect from Star Trek Into Darkness. Pacific Rim could be my favorite film of 2013 or one of the biggest disappointments of 2013. Let’s hope it’s the former. July 11th
2. Star Trek Into Darkness
J.J. Abrams sequel to his incredible Star Trek reboot. I’ve never been a fan of Star Trek, but his reboot made even me climb on board the Trek train. I am anticipating this film even more now because JJ has been announced as the director or Star Wars: Episode VII. I can’t wait to see what J.J. does for his Star Trek follow up. May 17th
3. Man of Steel
Zack Snyder’s reboot of the Superman franchise. I can’t wait to see what Snyder has done with the Superman universe. The trailers for this film show a different side of Snyder’s direction. Hopefully the trailers are an indication and translate into the actual film. June 14th
4. Evil Dead
My personal favorite genre is horror, so Evil Dead is an easy pick for me. I was fairly skeptical of anyone rebooting the 80’s classic Evil Dead, but Sam Raimi’s comments and a completely insane red-band trailer have me absolutely on board for this film. Not only does it look great just from face value but this remake may not actually be a remake at all. There are some clues in the trailer that could point to this film being a potential quasi sequel of some kind. Sam Raimi has recently joked about writing “Evil Dead 4” this summer. What if this “remake” actually takes place during The Army of Darkness? What if Ash makes an appearance at the end? We will find out April 5th
5. Elysium
Elysium is director Neill Blomkamp’s follow up to his incredible 2009 film, District 9. District 9 was one of those films that unexpectedly took the world by storm. It was also Blomkamp’s first ever feature film. That fact makes me all the more excited for this sci-fi epic. I’d explain more of what the film is actually about, but I am trying to stay away from info on this one. August 9th
6. You’re Next
You’re Next is the first movie on this list that is questionable if it will even come out in 2013. This film has been repeatedly been pushed back for years and is supposed to finally get a release from Lionsgate this year. This is another film that I am trying to stay away from information about the plot because it is supposedly best viewed with a fresh mind, and I can’t wait. August 23rd
7. The Green Inferno
The Green Inferno is the second movie on my list that may not get a 2013 release. Even though all signs point to this year at the moment, I could definitely see this film getting pushed into 2014. This film is only director Eli Roth’s fourth film that he has actually directed. Roth has been busy acting in Inglorious Basterds and producing a ton of other films. Now we finally get to see him back in the directors chair and I can’t wait. The Green Inferno is supposedly some kind of homage to the infamous Cannibal Holocaust and is, you guessed it, a cannibal film. Consider me beyond enthusiastic for this one. I just hope we get to see it this year. Sometime in 2013
8. Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 is our first post Avengers Marvel film. Just the fact that this is our first glimpse at the now fully connected Marvel universe makes Iron Man 3 an easy film to anticipate. We will get to see how Tony Stark deals with his life following the events that took place in The Avengers and what is his next big threat. The film will need to address why Iron Man can’t just call in his super hero pals to save the day, but I’m confident that it will and won’t disappoint. May 3rd
9. Insidious: Chapter 2
I was completely in love with James Wan’s 2011 horror film Insidious, so obviously I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the sequel. James Wan has stated in the past that he wishes he would have stayed on to direct the Saw franchise because he believes it was run into the ground. Now that Wan knows what can happen when he lets go of his film’s sequels, I am really anxious to see how he handles his first sequel. Hopefully it feels like the first film but also builds on the great scares and suspense that Insidious thrived on. September 20th
10. Oblivion
Look, I am a huge sucker for high concept sci-fi. This film’s slick aesthetic alone has it pretty high on my overall 2013 list. That combined with Tom Cruise as the lead and a more than interesting story about Earth’s demise has me considerably excited. Hopefully the film is substantial and not forgettable in the end. April 26th
1. Prometheus
This is one of the grandest science fiction displays of all time and my favorite film of the year. Prometheus asks some of man kind’s biggest questions like, Where did we come from? Why are we here? Is there a god? The film answers most of those questions in perfect science fiction fashion. It also leaves a lot to be discussed. This is my favorite kind of film, one that will be dissected for years to come.
This is a once in a lifetime kind of film. As stated in my review, I don’t want to say a whole lot because this film is easy to spoil. The Cabin In The Woods essentially portrays the entire horror genre in one huge masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it yet you need to shut your computer off and go watch it NOW.
Chris Nolan managed to give his Batman trilogy a perfect and fitting end. The only problem I had with the film is that it was not as good as The Dark Knight which I believe is a perfect film. I don’t think The Dark Knight Rises is a perfect film but I do believe it is a perfect end to Nolan’s entry in the Batman pantheon.
4. Looper
Rian Johnson’s first entry into science fiction is one of the most original films of the year. Looper doesn’t feel like a single other film that came out this year. It has its own beat and wavelength. Part science fiction epic, part character study. Looper is an insane sci-fi thrill ride that you must see for yourself.
5. Django Unchained
Tarantino continues to rewrite history in one of the most fun films that came out this year. Django Unchained tells the story of a slave that is set free by a bounty hunter that needs help. The first half of this film is hilarious and a ton of fun. The second half is much more dark and sinister. An all out Tarantino blast. That would be my pull-quote.
6. The Avengers
2012 in film will likely be regarded as the year of The Avengers and for a good reason. Joss Whedon was able to meld together six superheroes that span five separate films into one massive comic book lover’s dream. The Avengers has tons of action, explosions and it might also be the funniest film of the year. The summer movie to end all summer movies.
7. The Innkeepers
This was a hard film to include on this list because it is unclear when it actually was released to mass audiences. The DVD release was in February of 2012, which I believe to be the first time it was widely available. With all of that aside, The Innkeepers is one of my favorite horror films of all time. It took a second viewing to really get the appreciation I now have for Ti West’s throwback ghost story. The film’s strength is its script and Sara Paxton’s performance. Some say nothing happens during the entire film, I say it is just a lot of fun to hang out with the hotel’s employees. However, if you are looking for a massive scare fest, you will be disappointed.
8. Skyfall
Had it not been released in the same year as Prometheus, Skyfall would be the best looking film of the year. Not only does this film looking stunning, but it is a great modern take on the Bond franchise. This film is great because it doesn’t rely on ridiculous gadgets and stunts. Skyfall is a much more stripped down Bond than previous entries, focusing on the man inside 007.
9. The Impossible
I decided to only include one survival film on my list and it came down to Life of Pie or The Impossible. Ultimately, Life of Pie is just too muddled with religious undertones, weird narrative flashbacks and an ending that leaves a lot to be desired. However, The Impossible has none of those problems and is a much more emotional journey. This film is about a family that gets caught in a tsunami during their vacation. Not only is The Impossible more emotional and a much larger scale, but it is a true story. If you get the chance to watch this film, you absolutely must see it.
10. Moonrise Kingdom
The last film on my list is Wes Anderson’s children romantic comedy. Moonrise Kingdom features two completely unknown/first time actors. The film is about a young boy and girl who fall in love and run away together. Ridiculous set design, dialog that would rival the Coen Brothers and two great young performances make Moonrise Kingdom a one of a kind delight.
My brother and I have decided to start a film oriented podcast. The way it works is that we start off by just talking about something we have been watching lately, such as a film or television show, then move on into a joint review of a film. Now as far as the films we will be picking for the main review, we will likely pick movies available on Netflix instant streaming for our first podcasts. That way the films are easily available to both of us. However, we will probably do theatrical films eventually. For our first podcast, we decided to review the film Brick because it was directed by Rian Johnson. Please check our podcast out, subscribe and let us know what you think! I am @Keegsta on Twitter and Ben is @BenPrzeslak.
The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. It stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Anne Hathaway as Catwoman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a Gotham City cop named John Blake. Christopher Nolan is back in the directing chair for his third and final Batman film. The film follows both Bruce Wayne and Batman’s fight against the villainous Bane, played by Tom Hardy. Is The Dark Knight Rises a fitting end to Nolan’s trilogy? I will do my best to give you a spoiler free take on the most anticipated film of the year.
Easily the most remarkable aspect of The Dark Knight Rises is that the film is a visual masterpiece. From the breathtaking cinematography to the actual computer generated effects it’s a beautiful film. Nolan’s style is present in every single shot. My favorite example is a carefully crafted montage that leads up to some pretty hefty football stadium mayhem. Not even the actual mayhem itself, which is great on it’s own, but the montage that leads up to it is something of cinema beauty. Even if the story or script lapses in quality for a couple of seconds the visuals make those moments hard to find.
The overall tone of the film is a bleak and somber one. If The Avengers was this summer’s all out hilarious blast, The Dark Knight Rises is this summer’s Shindler’s List. That’s not necessarily a problem with the film itself it’s just worth noting. Surprisingly, Hathaway turns out to be the bright spot in an otherwise dark atmosphere. Catwoman’s playful dialog with both Bruce Wayne and Batman are really the only moments that allow for a laugh or feeling of ease. Again, that’s not so much a problem with The Dark Knight Rises as much as it is a reflection on Batman’s previous film.
The Dark Knight Rises only real problem is that it’s the sequel to one of the best films of all time, The Dark Knight. While watching Tom Hardy’s performance as Bane in the film it’s hard not to think of Heath Ledger’s legendary performance in The Dark Knight. Unfortunately for Hardy, Ledger already gave us the trilogy’s greatest villain as The Joker. It’s not that Hardy’s performance isn’t a good one, it’s pretty good, but it in no way compares to the previous film’s villain. So, in a way, Nolan’s only misstep in making The Dark Knight Rises is that it was impossible to out do The Dark Knight.
Nolan spends most of the screen time wrapping up the trilogy in an incredibly satisfying way. However, instead of having fun with Batman for almost three hours, we get the end of an arc. While it’s a fitting end for our favorite caped crusader, it’s just not as fun as The Dark Knight. So is The Dark Knight Rises a perfect end to one of the best stories of all time? Yes. It is just that, the perfect ending. The Dark Knight trilogy is our generation’s Star Wars. In the same way that Return of The Jedi isn’t as good as Empire Strikes Back, Rises is not as good as Dark Knight, but it’s still one of the best films of all time.
The Amazing Spider Man is Sony Picture’s reboot of the Spiderman universe. The film is directed by acclaimed indie director Marc Webb. Playing Peter Parker this time around is the relative new comer Andrew Garfield. Emma Stone embodies Peter Parker’s love interest, Gwen Stacy. This film is a completely new universe set apart from Sam Raimi’s Spiderman trilogy that concluded in 2007. The Amazing Spiderman focuses more on character relationships and high school life than actual web slinging and feels much more grounded in reality than the original trilogy.
Easily the most remarkable aspect of The Amazing Spiderman is Peter Parker’s relationship with Gwen Stacy, or should I say, Andrew Garfield’s relationship with Emma Stone. Their onscreen chemistry is great fun to watch and enjoy. It is evident that Webb can convey relationships between multiple characters with a ton of heart. Oddly, their time together in the film is more fun to watch than the action set pieces. However, that’s not an indication that the set pieces are not well done, but more so a compliment to the two cast members. The other well-done relationship is Peter and his Uncle Ben, played by Martin Sheen. Their arc is a very short but emotional and is crucial to Peter Parker’s journey to become Spiderman.
The only real problem with this film is the story is seemingly cut up and edited down quite a bit. Even the trailers have several scenes and lines that didn’t make the final cut. The film is 136 minutes long and still seems like it is missing quite a few pieces of plot points. Even though Parker and Stacy’s relationship is great as is, it seems as if there should be more interactions between the two before the third act hits. This is likely the result of editing the film down to a palpable level. There is so much going on that this could be separated into two films. I commend Webb for exploring so much in a single film, but certain sequences feel quite quick and sporadic. Overall though, The Amazing Spiderman is an incredibly fun origin story that has great performances and remarkable relationships. It’s just too bad it couldn’t have been a bit longer.
Prometheus is an astoundingly bold science fiction film that explores the origin of human life. The film is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Noomi Rapace alongside Michael Fassbender. Rapace plays a young scientist named Elizabeth Shaw, who is searching for the beginning of humanity. Fassbender plays David, a mysterious character that I’d rather not reveal in this review. This film was written by former Lost show runner Damon Lindelof. Prometheus reminds everyone why they go to the movies and what cinema is all about.
The most evident mastery of Prometheus is the visuals that the film puts on display. From the wide tracking shots of space to the gritty expedition led by Shaw, this film looks like real life. This is likely due to Scott’s use of the maximum amount of practical effects that he could possibly incorporate. Within the first 45 seconds, you can already feel the universe Scott is trying to create blasting out of the screen. Prometheus is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen in my entire life. It could be the most beautiful film I have ever seen. Needless to say, you will be blown away by the visual spectacle on display throughout the film.
Now for the most controversial part about Prometheus; the story. This film asks some of mankind’s biggest questions. Where did we come from? Where do we go after we die? Were we created by someone or something? Its these questions that have many audiences divided on whether Prometheus is a masterpiece or just pretty sci-fi with no meat. I happen to fall in line with the former. Prometheus may not answer every single question or mystery that it poses, but Scott and Lindelof let you decide the answers for yourself. Much like Lost paved the way for in-depth discussions on it’s own mythology, Prometheus will be dissected for years to come. Scott conveys enough mythology over the film’s 124 minute runtime to understand some of the big ideas. After that, it’s for you to decide what you believe. 2001: A Space Odyssey was despised when it was originally released for having unanswered questions. It was not until years later people realized it was one of the best films ever made. I believe that in time Prometheus will be regarded in the same light. If you like science fiction or just beautiful films, you have to see Prometheus.
- “It’s what I choose to believe.”
Chernobyl Diaries is a horror film that tells the story of a group of friends that want to tour something a little more exciting than Paris. The film was directed by Brad Parker and stars Jesse McCartney playing brother to Jonathan Sadowski. Chernobyl follows their journey to the nuclear disaster site known as Chernobyl. The Chernobyl Diaries has an interesting story and easy to get along with cast of characters, but mostly an average horror flick.
Easily the best feature of Chernobyl Diaries is the incredibly eerie atmosphere that Parker pulls off perfect. From the moment the film kicks off there is an audible noise that sounds like a nuclear reactor. The opening credits slowly flash in and out as Parker introduces the audience to his characters. A sense of doom and gloom resonates quickly and sets the tone for the entire film. Unfortunately, this great atmosphere loses it’s uneasiness as soon as the group finds themselves into trouble. After the first couple big scares, Parker seems to have forgotten what made The Chernobyl Diaries interesting in the first place, Chernobyl.
After the creepy mojo that worked in the beginning of the film wears off, the film feels more like any other horror film. Running scared from an unknown entity that will likely hurt the characters. Instead of ramping the scares up in the third act, Parker stops trying to scare and mostly has everyone running and screaming in the dark. This film has a lot going for it though; great atmosphere for half of the film, interesting locale, enjoyable characters, and even a few chuckle worthy jokes. Ultimately, Chernobyl Diaries is a interesting take on what is really lurking in the shadows of Chernobyl and worth checking out if you’re into horror films.
The Avengers is an ensemble super hero film that draws in all of the recent Marvel characters into one big picture. The film was directed by none other than Joss Whedon. Whedon produced the recent horror film The Cabin In The Woods and is responsible for many geek favorites. It would be rather difficult to list the notable actors that appear in this film, so I won’t do that, but it’s safe to say this cast is huge. In fact, every single facet of The Avengers is just that, HUGE. Whedon manages to squeeze not only all of the actors, characters, and their own arc’s, but also present it in a comprehendible story.
Whedon deserves a lot of credit for merely attempting to make this massive film a reality. He deserves even more credit for pulling it off with such stylish ease. All six Avengers have comparable screen time and lines that don’t get lost in the chaos. Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye have their own self-sustained stories at play over the 142-minute runtime. The film is crafted so that it never becomes a task for the audience to follow each character along the insane journey. It never becomes a task mostly because Whedon injects humor into every single scene. Some of the best moments in the film are simply jokes related to The Hulk. Whedon’s blend of action, style, and comedy make the film into a superhero rollercoaster.
While all of the characters are trying to save the Earth from certain destruction, the special effects in The Avengers illustrate the destruction beautifully. It’s obvious this film had what feels like an unlimited budget. From the aircraft carrier turned helicopter to the alien creatures that threaten humanity, The Avengers effects are nothing short of spectacular. Everything has a good weight to it and never looks remotely fake.
My only gripe with The Avengers is that the film could stand to be a couple minutes shorter. There is a stint of about fifteen minutes towards the middle where the narrative slows down. Luckily, it’s merely fifteen minutes that end rather quickly so the film can get back on the fast track. I’d say that is a miniscule issue in an otherwise perfect summer blockbuster. The Avengers will appeal to an audience as big as the film itself. There is something for everyone to love, superheroes, explosions, good-looking actors, and even aliens. If you were thinking about watching The Avengers, shut off your computer and go see it.
The Raven is an alternate history tale about a killer that uses Edgar Allan Poe’s violent poems as inspiration for murder. James McTeigue, a man mostly known for his previous work on V For Vendetta, directed the film. John Cusack plays Poe, while Luke Evans plays a detective named Fields. The film revolves around a mystery murderer that captures Poe’s love interest that leads him and Fields on race to save her life. While McTeigue directed V For Vendetta, The Raven is nowhere near as good as V. The mystery throughout however is enough to be a fun ride, but nothing more.
Easily the best aspect of The Raven is Cusack’s portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe. While I don’t personally know what Poe was like in person, Cusack is great fun playing him. Cusack kicks off the film with long adjective filled tirades that are fairly complex, but that is how I would imagine Poe acted when he was alive. Cusack handles these crazy lines of dialog with ease and surprisingly doesn’t become irritating. After Poe realizes his beloved has been kidnapped, he turns into a crazed man trying to solve his own riddles and stories. Cusack is believable in both of these areas and carries the film.
The question of who the murderer is and the chase to save Poe’s girlfriend are interesting enough mysteries for the film not to be boring. Poe and Fields spend the entire film relating the murders back to Poe’s original poems. Fans of Edgar Allan Poe will definitely appreciate seeing a lot of his work reenacted in this film. If you’re not a big fan of his, this film is still worth checking out mostly for Cusack’s remarkable depiction of Poe. The Raven is ultimately a fun and mystery filled ride that you will most likely forget about the moment you walk out of the theater.
The Cabin In The Woods is a new age horror film that has a not so big name director at the helm. This film is the directorial debut of Drew Goddard. Goddard has been involved in several TV and big screen projects including Lost and Cloverfield, Cabin is the first film he has ever directed. That fact is important because Goddard has created something here that is a horror and film geek’s dream in his first try. This film stars Kristen Connolly and Chris Hemsworth, two of five young adults who embark on a weekend getaway deep in the woods. The Cabin In The Woods is a tough film to review because it’s the kind of film that demands to be seen without any prior knowledge of the plot. I’ll do my best to leave out all big plot points in my review, please, just go see this film.
While The Cabin In The Woods looks like it reveals itself in the first couple minutes, it asks more questions that it answers. This film is set up almost like a television show that gives you more and more with each episode until the climax unmasks all. Cabin manages to fit an incredible amount of questions and information in a 95-minute runtime. Because of all the mystery involved, this film is a ton of fun. Scene after scene after scene Goddard manages to keep the audience involved while making them wonder, “What on earth is happening here?”
There are several scenes throughout The Cabin In The Woods that have remarkable cinematography. This film obviously has horror elements and could have easily just looked like most current films in the genre. Goddard has a great sense of depth and awareness about where the audiences view should be placed. The best example in the film is a tracking shot moving towards the eerie cabin. There is an atmosphere created in that shot the audience can simply feel. It sucks you in immediately. It asks, what is so bad about this Cabin? What exactly is going on here? What am I in for?
The final act of this film should remain a mystery until you see it for yourself. I will just say that it is an all out blast. I would explain more in depth about what I mean, but that would give it away. If you want to see a film that transcends the horror genre, you have to see this movie. The Cabin In The Woods is one of the most memorable films of all time and will be re-watched for years to come.
The film John Carter is a science fiction film produced by Disney that stars Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins under the direction of Andrew Stanton. Kitsch plays the lead character John Carter, a man born in Virginia that is transported to a divided Mars. Collins plays the princess of a civilization on the red planet. The film centers directly on John Carter’s adventure and transformation from being just a gold searcher in the mid-west to becoming a savior of Mars. While the story of John Carter promises a sci-fi action epic, the film is ultimately just another average big budget bore.
The biggest problem with John Carter is the wealth of information that Stanton either didn’t have time to explain or didn’t care to. There are several moments throughout the film in which a character will just show up on screen with no explanation of who they are or why they are important. Even worse, Stanton glazes over the mythology of all three colonies introduced on Mars. This means that most of the film you have no idea what is going on. However, if you can get past all of these shortcomings, there is a grand special effects spectacle to be seen.
Special effects are John Carter’s only big time redeeming quality. This is no surprise considering Stanton’s previous work being two Pixar animated features and the film’s 250 million dollar budget. Several “Wow” moments are displayed over a 132-minute runtime. Specifically a skirmish that takes place in the skies of Mars early on in the film involving crafts that are reminiscent of Star Wars pod-racers. While it’s never explained how the crafts work, they sure put on a good effects show.
What makes John Carter an average big budget bore is the character relationships that basically don’t exist. From beginning to end emotion is hard to find anywhere in the film. While Kitsch does an okay job playing a typical action hero, he never really comes off the screen. Any kind of relationship between Carter and the princess feels completely fabricated. The only character I wanted to laugh with or care about is a dog-like creature that doesn’t talk named “Woola”. Other than that, the emotional ties displayed in John Carter are as lifeless as the rest of the film. Ultimately, John Carter is an average action film that relies on special effects and sub-par acting more than the interesting mythology that is barely discussed.
Take Shelter is an “apocalyptic” film directed by Jeff Nichols and stars Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain. Shannon plays Curtis, a middle-American father that begins having dreams of a coming storm that would spawn multiple tornado’s and destroy all life on Earth. Chastain plays Samantha, Curtis’ wife and mother of their deaf child. The film revolves around Curtis dealing with his violent apocalyptic dreams while trying to still be a loving family man.
The acting displayed in Take Shelter is absolutely incredible. Specifically Shannon’s depiction of Curtis’ life being torn apart right in front of him. Shannon has an intense mood throughout the film that you can really feel coming off of the screen. Curtis’ story goes from very happy to very upset several times in the film. Shannon pulls this off flawlessly. Just Shannon’s face tells most of the story and is really most of his acting in Take Shelter. Since the entire film is told from Curtis’ point of view, a strong performance is required for the rest of the story to even be worth it.
Take Shelter was produced for a mere $5 million. However, it’s not easy to tell because the film’s visual effects are absolutely remarkable. Over the course of it’s 121 minute run time, Take Shelter provides quite a few “Wow” moments. Particularly when Curtis’ is dreaming about what he thinks could be a coming apocalypse. There are overcast skylines filled with tornados, or even just flocks of birds flying in unusual patterns. Whatever the case, it looks simply beautiful. Nichols must have really known where to spend the money and get every dollar out of their budget.
Overall, this film will likely come down to the final 15 minutes or so for most viewers. As previously stated, Curtis has “visions” or “dreams” of a coming apocalypse over the duration of the film. The ending will have many audiences divided. For me, the film works on so many levels even before the final sequences, I enjoyed it tremendously, regardless of the outcome. The relationship between Shannon and Chastain are fully realized and it’s easy to sympathize with their daughter’s disability. So even before the big reveal at the end, it’s an awe-inspiring look into this family’s life and one man’s obsession with the world coming to an end. If you want a film that will make you think about it’s ending for days, Take Shelter is a must see.
My buddy Erik Hoff and myself decided to do a video review of The Woman In Black about a week ago. He was in town and we just thought it would be a fun thing to do. Hopefully we will get the chance to do another one sometime because it was a lot of fun. So please, check it out!
1. Super 8
2. Hugo
3. Drive
4. Insidious
5. Attack The Block
6. Scream 4
7. X-Men: First Class
8. Rise of The Planet of The Apes
9. Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
10. Moneyball
The film 50/50 stars the perfect pairing of Joseph Gordon-Levitt alongside Seth Rogen and is directed by Jonathan Levine. Levitt plays Adam, a very young cancer patient that must deal with an awful situation. Rogen plays Adam’s best friend Kyle, the supportive buddy. The film centers solely on Adam and his life changing transformation after he is diagnosed with cancer. Levitt shines through an incredibly emotional ride that showcases what life’s real priorities are.
The absolute strongest feature of 50/50 comes in the form of Levitt and Rogen’s on-screen relationship. When they are matched up together the film seems to fly by because they are perfect buddies. Their bond never seems fake or forced. It works so well is because they fight back and forth quite a bit, just like real friends. This makes it easy to relate with Adam and Kyle because everyone bickers with their best friend while maintaining a friendship. The dialogue between the two is especially comedic and well thought out.
Contrasting characters make 50/50’s dialogue comical and down to earth. On one hand there is Adam who doesn’t stray from societies rules and lives a very clean lifestyle. On the other hand there’s Kyle, a scruffy guy that is the complete opposite, dirty and a risk taker. It’s their different lifestyles and ideals that make it easy to laugh at the situations that are portrayed. For instance, Adam wants get to work on time while Kyle doesn’t mind stopping and waiting in line for coffee. Their dynamic is a perfect yin and yang of comedy.
The cinematography of 50/50 is very different from most films. Levine relies mostly on a documentary style of filmmaking. Nearly all of the scenes are shot handheld. This makes the film feel more real and grounded. In some scenes Levine uses a soft focus to portray Adam’s feeling of numbness particularly after he is told he has cancer. These types of shots make 50/50 look and feel distinctive from other films.
Levine manages to make very serious and emotional subjects into a hilarious journey. Levitt and Rogen are perfect buddies for this type of film. The characters Adam and Kyle contrast well together because of their black and white differences. Levine’s filmmaking spirit is a complete match for the thought-provoking storyline. Great acting and memorable characters make 50/50 an absolute touching film.
