Showing posts with label Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Show all posts

Friday, 6 January 2012

Film #14 - 50/50


So much could of gone wrong with 50/50, to make a comedy about someone whose just been diagnosed with cancer? Luckily, this turned out to be a sensitively handled and more than anything human comedy about friendship and the fragile nature of life. The acting on the whole, was extremely good with this perhaps even being Joseph Gordon Levitt's finest performance of his career so far. He takes us through his character's journey with cancer sensitively, showing a man whose holding all his emotions in and managing it slowly while everyone else around him breaks down from the pressure of it.

Just how human it is and can no doubt mainly pinned down to how it's loosely based on writer Will Reiser and supporting actor Seth Rogen's experiences together through this exact same journey. This film would of felt uneducated and simply wrong if it weren't for Reiser basing the script off his own life. The result of which brings you a comedy with a lot more heart too it than you'd expect from your standard Seth Rogen starring comedy. Speaking of which, Seth Rogen was also very well done as his best friend trying to help both his friend and himself get through the tough times with jokes and nights out while Anna Kendrick manages to control her role very subtly as Levitt's councillor and only real emotional outlet.

50/50 is rare and incredibly well done film with the way in which it manages to mix both comedic moments and moments of humanity. While this will probably be neglected at all the awards ceremonies, this is the kind of film that I feel will slowly find a cult following as the years go on, and maybe that's exactly where it slots in best.

8/10

Thursday, 5 January 2012

Film #11 - (500) Days Of Summer (2009)


(500) Days Of Summer is sort of a rom-com. Apart from it's not got many comedy moments in it, and the romance element of it is in a far more reversed order to most of the genre. This is not a bad thing. The exact reason I found interest in this film was all the buzz I heard of the different angle it was taking on perhaps the most tired and generic genre of them all, and it's worked so well. But luckily it's not the only thing that works about this. The two leads, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel have genuine chemistry (or anti-chemistry when the relationship takes the worse points) and there's no doubt that without this key factor the film would of flopped hard.

But the main thing that makes this film succeed and stand out in a boring and repetitive genre is it's far more realistic take on love. There is no fairytale ending too this and will no doubt disappoint those who simply want another film portraying the idea of perfect and true love. But for those who were waiting for the stagnant rom-com drama to finally find it's breath of fresh air, this is a refreshing and honest film about love with a pretty decent soundtrack to boot.

8/10