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Visitors Review

eric_canalla 2012-05-24 04:22:40

Overlooked gem; Joseph Gordon-Levitt is golden

I had been intending to watch 50/50 since some time ago. I ordered theBlu-Ray from ebay, however before it arrived to my place the filmfinally opened in Mexico City theaters. I ended watching it on the bigscreen with my girlfriend a couple of weeks ago, the day after the 2012Academy Awards, to be exact. I usually don't care much about the Oscars-and its many injustices- but this time I was thinking a lot in theOscar-worthy material from 50/50, especially since it was the day afterhaving a film like Alexander Payne's THE DESCENDANTS in many of theimportant categories. I think 50/50 and THE DESCENDANTS have many similarities with eachother. For instance, they are two of the three 2011 films, that I haveseen, with a character that suffers from Alzheimer's disease (the otherbeing RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES). But aside of thematicsimilarities (there's the infidelity thing too, Hawaii is mentionedhere and is the setting in the other, and of course the obvious onedealing with a character fighting for its life), they share what's mostimportant: the great quality; especially the great quality of the mainactor. If George Clooney's performance is, for many, overrated, thenJoseph Gordon-Levitt's one is brutally overlooked for me. He is golden,portraying a young man (Adam) who has been diagnosed with a rare caseof spinal cancer. Hell, I think I will remember more his performancethan Clooney's. But anyway, 50/50 deals with the cancer disease in ways I don't thinkwe have seen before. We have the required, and nevertheless touching,parts, too. Like for instance, we have the part when Gordon-Levitt'scharacter sort of realizes what's really going on, so he breaks down,which is absolutely understandable; the situation is familiar andpretty much required in films of this matter, and at the same timethose are the kind of scenes that allow Gordon- Levitt to fully showhis potential. And boy oh boy, he is REALLY GREAT. It's a difficult film obviously, just as it makes you think in theterrible disease cancer is. Then for me this is also a rare case of adifficult picture that I can watch more than just one time. I mean,when a difficult/depressing film is great it is still difficult ordepressing and you can't just easily watch it again like you wouldnormally do with any other type of great film. Some people, like mygirlfriend herself, will not want to revisit 50/50 even when they trulyliked it. But I have seen it twice already and I plan to watch it againsoon, now with my cousin since we both are huge fans of Seth Rogen andpals. Having the writers of SUPERBAD (Rogen and Evan Goldberg) as producersof a film about cancer is certainly a complete surprise. Rogen, by theway, is also playing Gordon-Levitt's co- worker and best friend (Kyle),and is like a comeback for him: he is basically reprising hisfunny-guy-pot-smoker role, from movies like KNOCKED UP. His "reprise"is very much welcome, for my money.And it's not only the thing of making jokes around cancer. There arejokes and they are real fun, with Rogen on fire; and nobody, by theway, can really bitch about that since the writer himself -Will Reiser-had (or still has, I don't really know) cancer. But together with thejokes and stuff it's also the thing of creating an environment of purecamaraderie. Believe me, as well as Rogen both Philip Baker Hall andMatt Frewer are superb and key factors playing two cancer patients whowill share, amongst some other things, Bob Marley's old favorite withAdam and, of course, Kyle! The feminine cast is also quite good; let'snot forget that we have a sweet performance from Anna Kendrick (in themost predictable subplot of the story), the extremely beautiful BryceDallas Howard and, surprisingly, Angelica Houston; damn, they even "gotsome" Pearl Jam (and some Bee Gees too)! You really have to check thisone out. *Watched it on February 27 and March 03, 2012 (Blu-Ray).

FatMan-QaTFM 2012-05-23 20:18:07

Who knew cancer could be so entertaining?

Fat Man is now a big fat Texan. I saw this at my local THIRTY-PLEX.Thirty screens! Big ones too. It's Texas after all.Anything can be a comedy these days, even (supposedly) movies aboutsewing people stem to stern. The subject matter didn't really give mepause, it was more the nature of the film – quirky indie comedy/dramawith wide release, mostly unknown writer and director, Anna Kendrickand Seth Rogen. I do love Joseph Gordon-Levitt and he was the drivingforce for looking past all these other items. Funny thing was, it didplay out like a great indie film and both the knowns and unknownsperformed marvelously. I'll get in to that in another paragraph.The movie starts with cautious, nice-guy Adam (Gordon-Levitt) goingthrough the daily gyrations (or not) with girlfriend Rachael (BryceDallas Howard) and best friend Kyle (Rogen). His persistent back painturns out to be cancer and makes every hypochondriac in the audiencesquirm in their seat. After that, there's not a lot of action but lotsof self-doubt, poor behavior, and crying and crying and crying. I won'truin the ending, but it's a little bit of a cliff-hanger to the end.Other than some of the oddities, there's nothing particularlyoutstanding about the story other than the nicely crafted dialog.I didn't hate Anna Kendrick (Katherine) nearly as much as I thought.She wasn't so…. herself… in this movie, thanks goodness. Same for SethRogen. After the mess of Green Hornet, I realized he's like a lot ofactors – they need direction. Give him the right words, and he'samazing. Let him write them and it's really not the same. Speaking of,Will Reiser's script was great. He crafted each character to beconsistent, show some growth, and act like a real person. By the end ofthe movie, you really care about what's going to happen to Adam, youthink his girlfriend is a waste of meat, and this whole situation justsucks. Reiser also managed to finish the film strongly. Most movies canbe great for the first 2/3, but fall flat in the last act. The emotionscontinue to build as Adam goes through the stages of dealing withcancer. Maybe it was the fact that this story already had a real lifeending, but Reiser definitely had a goal in mind when the film started.Jonathan Levine has come a long way from All the Boys Love Mandy Laneand really impressed me with 50/50. While some of the acting is lessthan convincing, the story, characters, and technical aspects made itvery enjoyable.

Linda Barnard 2012-05-17 22:56:26

An everyman tale with plenty of heart and honesty, the serious subject matter is regularly enlivened with jolts of genuine hilarity, some of it in delightfully questionable taste.

nickmesafilms 2012-05-17 10:57:20

50/50 (2011) - That Head Trimming Scene was Hilarious!

After a highly acclaimed critical buzz, "50/50" was introduced as acomedy about cancer, and it's heartbreaking effects. But, let me justsay, that this movie is really laugh-out-loud funny. But, most of all,this is actually a heartwarming and dramatic tale, with a giant heart.This is one of the best movies of the previous year of 2011. With awell-written and heartwarming script by Will Reiser, which is basedpartially on his own personal experiences, "50/50" really shows howcomedy and drama can mash up together, and it can make a really specialfilm. Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers another winning screen performanceas Adam Lerner, a 27-year old who surprisingly gets cancer, and noweveryone is trying to help him out, from his gorgeous and unexplainablegirlfriend, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard, and his over-protectivemother, portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston. Anna Kendrick is justclear perfect as Katie, an unexperienced therapist who helps Adamduring his rough time. The next thing we know, a real connection startsto grow during their daily sessions. Seth Rogen is just flat-out-funny,but just because we see this guy as a high pothead, that does not meanhe can't also do drama. This guy has a big heart, and he's always therefor Adam. Philip Baker Hall has his best and funny scenes playingAdam's fellow patient. The casting ensemble is just superb in thismovie. Nearly everything in this movie is a mark of pure brilliance.The casting is brilliant, the script is well-written, the message istouching, the laughs are hilarious, and the drama is real. Directedbrilliantly by Jonathan Levine, "50/50" really shows the true meaningof life itself, and it shows the fear that this could be the last dayof your life. From the opening scenes to the end credits, "50/50" isone of the most heartwarming, dramatic, and comedic movies of this orany other year. The script, the cast, and the movie itself is perfectin every way. "50/50", in my review, "a hilarious and heartwarming talethat impresses".

nathanschubach 2012-05-13 16:27:01

Modern, survival tearjerker is a must-see

I'm not sure what I can say about this incredibly touching film thatothers haven't already said about it. 50/50 is an inspirational, reallook at the life of a young man dealing with a physical ailment with50/50 odds of survival. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a great choice as thelead (Adam), and Seth Rogan's performance takes me back to when I firstsaw him in 40-Year-Old Virgin. The script felt very much along thelines of "Juno," except the major plot device was the illness' outcomerather than the decision for a young woman's baby. I loved revisitingthe 90's music choices, and I hope this becomes I trend in modernfilms. Anyways, it's a tearjerker film that has a lot of heart andhumor, and I recommend it completely.

Dan Kois 2012-05-13 05:31:41

50/50 mostly succeeds as a movie about a young man fighting cancer that doesn't give in to sap or sentiment.

Daniel Hollis 2012-05-11 20:09:07

An Emotional Roller-coaster

Films that deal with sensitive issues in a comedic fashion run the riskof being to trivial and not giving enough light on the dark matter thatis at hand. 50/50 however takes this risk and succeeds in it's efforts.Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, a young, healthy individual who isshocked to find he has a rare type of cancer with only a 50/50 chanceof survival. Finding a comedic side of this is hard but directorJonathan Levine makes it so the characters bring a comical side to howthey deal with the situation, rather than poking fun at the tragicevent itself.Going into this film I had reservations having the memory of watchingAdam Sander in 'Funny People' which failed to make me laugh, cry orfeel any emotion at all. It came to my surprise however how 50/50managed to change the emotion I was feeling within in minutes but doingso in a seamless way. This was mainly due to the central performance byLevitt who blew me away with how calm he kept his character throughoutdespite the desolate situation he is in. It's also worth noting thatSeth Rogan, who plays Adam's best friend, Kyle, managed not to bringthe obnoxious, drugged up performance he usually does but a realisticand touching approach to a friend who tries bring his friend throughthis time.50/50 is one of the best films I've seen this year. It deals with adark issue while managing to keep a smile on your face throughout. Itnever minimalises the seriousness of cancer and never over exaggeratesit. It keeps it on a perfect balance and is a film that's message isit's all going to be okay.

Anton Bitel 2012-05-11 13:30:18

Gordon-Levitt turns depression and despair into comedy of the edgiest kind, while making his character all the more sympathetic for his occasional outbursts of anger and aggression.

Rick Groen 2012-05-05 18:45:48

Even hardened cynics will embrace the cliché -- yep, you will laugh, you will cry.

Devin Faraci 2012-05-05 16:00:34

Emotional without being cloying, honest and funny and low key.

imizrahi2002 2012-05-03 21:40:06

i can't believe i'm doing another review to add to the 12 pp already here...

but i read a few of the ones in the beginning and no one said some ofthe things i thought or felt, sooooo... it's the most fun I(emphasized)ever had with a cancer movie... and most of the time i felt guiltyabout feeling that way...which is interesting. i've been on both sidesof serious medical, life changing events... as a health professionaland in my personal life... and i think that what's MOST attractiveabout this film to people is that it's a rubbernecker's dream... we getto be a fly on the wall during the course of this person's cancercrisis. and that's a euphemism for a voyeur. we know, whetherconsciously or not, that WE don't have cancer. and we're beingentertained AND scared. and it's STILL? not US! and i don't knowHOW...but the whole movie i KNEW he wasn't going to die...it justdidn't lend itself to that possibility on some subliminal level. tellme i'm not right... no one in Hollywood is going to lose money on whatgets presented in the first 7/8ths because of what happens in the verylast part. don't get me wrong. i had a good time with it. but that's mypoint. it was a bit TOO safe. the characters caricaturish/broadstroke.. but i never felt it went into the unrealistic area...i've seenall sorts of things happen in situations like this. so i wouldn't saythere's any predicting specifics. tendencies, yes. specifics, no... sothey just roller coastered us through... what a fun ride...ooooooooooh! THAT was scary... wow! THAT was fun... THIS is awkward.but now it's fun again... emotional ping pong well played...and while some people criticized rogen's character as being TOO onedimensional(and an uncaring, walking penis. maybe not QUITE in thosewords, though), a)you must've grown up somewhere other than a city...b)HIS way of coping was by doing JUST the opposite of dying...it washaving sex. it's how LOTS of people attempt to balance out the pain andanxiety in their lives...it wasn't that he didn't CARE... we get to seeall this when Joseph's character crash's at rogen's character's placeand he finds the book about all doing the cancer together... i couldfeel the room get warm and fuzzy at that moment... you know the movie'terms of endearment'?

James Kendrick 2012-05-03 17:34:06

a good movie with a moderate sense of daring that ultimately spends too much time telling the wrong story

Scott Tobias 2012-05-03 08:56:07

A funny, thoughtful film, less about surviving cancer than about the agonizing process of growing up.

Twodude Review 2012-05-03 05:57:55

Odds are you'll enjoy 50/50

I went to see the movie 50/50 without having any prior knowledge as towhether it was supposed to be a comedy or a more serious film; It endedup being a little of both. The movie, inspired by a true story, isabout Adam, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, better known for his rolesin Inception and on the T.V. show 3rd Rock from the Sun. Kyle finds outhe has a rare form of cancer and shows how his relationships withpeople change because of this heartbreaking news. Director Jonathan Levine, mostly known for his HBO series How to MakeIt in America, does a wonderful job using a script drafted by WillReiser. 50/50, Reiser's first feature film, is loosely based on thescreen writer's personal real-life battle with cancer.Gordon-Levitt gives a really great performance. He displays a widevariety of emotions and is excellent in portraying all them. As acancer survivor myself, I was able to connect with the character andtruly felt that the emotions were very true to life. Seth Rogen playsKyle, the best friend and Adam's main support system and care giver.Kyle stands by Adam, as he struggles with his new found disease, everystep of the way along the way. Kyle tries to find humor in a veryserious illness and he makes you laugh out loud with some of hiscomments. I really enjoyed the friendship of the two guys while theywent through this together. In most films of this nature, we aretypically given two women as best friends, which we are to associatewith; in 50/50 it was nice to see two men sharing that relationship.Anna Kendrick and Bryce Dallas Howard also star in 50/50. I have tosay, I consider myself a big fan of Anna Kendrick; and not just becauseshe is in the Twilight series of films (so is Bryce by the way!). Ienjoyed seeing her in a different role than what I've come to expect.Anna played Katharine, a therapist who helped Adam to cope with hiscancer. Bryce did well too, she played the not very supportivegirlfriend, Rachael It was kind of hard to like her because of the partshe played but, she was a very good at being someone you aren'tsupposed to like very much.I enjoyed this movie a lot more than I had expected to, considering thesubject matter. The characters were able to inject a lighthearted humorinto something most of us don't want to think about; regardless of howmany people it affects in the world today. I enjoyed all of theperformances, and thought it was great to see a number of actors andactresses that I really like together in this film.Grade: Bvisit our site at www.twodudereview.com

Perry Seibert 2012-04-27 16:35:56

Will Reiser's emotionally rich script -- which is based on his own battle with cancer -- never hits a wrong note, and he finds the comedy in Adam's life as easily as the drama.

Moira MacDonald 2012-04-27 12:30:32

"50/50" deftly blends tragedy with comedy - in a way that feels, often effortlessly, like real life.

Marshall Fine 2012-04-27 07:54:32

It proves that it's possible to be emotional and thoughtful - and funny - at the same time.

Brian Tallerico 2012-04-26 19:03:05

The tightrope act of a script by Will Reiser is elevated in remarkable ways by one of the best ensembles of the year, led ably by the great Joseph Gordon-Levitt, doing career-best, Oscar nomination-worthy work.

Connie Ogle 2012-04-24 22:47:04

50/50 is crude and funny, and it demands that you laugh. And you will.

red_identity 2012-04-24 08:33:16

Well-done

50/50 was not what I expected it to be. It's not a great film, but itdefinitely wasn't cloying with sentimentality very much. In fact, thereis music, but many times the film's most dramatic moments play outwithout music, and they also ring true. I do have to say, the film dida great job of balancing the humor and the more serious drama. I wasn'tsure how it would do it, but it did it very well. It is not a comedybefore a drama, but it isn't a drama first either. Both aspects arehandled equal to each other, and sorry for the pun, 50/50.The screenplay is pretty well written, and there are a lot of greatscenes in this. The cast only helps it. Bryce Dallas Howard is here yetagain playing another unlikable bitch, but I mean she does it verywell. But thing is, you want to like her, but ultimately she lets youdown. Basically how Levitt felt. Anna Kendrick was sweet, and shecaptured her character well, despite being similar to her in Up in theAir. Seth Rogen started off annoying me, but I mean, he rises abovewith a good script (as was evident in Observe and Report). He alsobecomes very likable. The main reason to see this is for Levitt. Thisis definitely his best performance so far. In the film most seriousscenes, he is fantastic, and he is the one swaying your your emotions.Overall, a very good film, and an example of how to make somethingmemorable from this subject matter and still appeal to the mainstream.