Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Monday, February 16, 2015

50/50 (2011)

Genre: Drama / Comedy
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Green, Anna Kendrick
Running time: 100 minutes



When moviemakers try to mix drama and comedy in the same film, it sometimes creates confusion and makes you wonder, by the end of it all, what they were actually trying to accomplish. With 50/50, Jonathan Levine did not fall in that trap. In this case, the balancing act is performed quite well and what we get is a good little movie filled with laughter and emotional moments.

50/50 tells the story of Adam Lerner (Gordon-Levitt), a 27-year-old radio journalist who is living a quiet life spending most of his time with either his best pal Kyle (Green) or his artist girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard). Kyle never likes anyone Adam dates, including Rachael, but maybe he has a point this time. When Adam finds out he has some rare form of tumor on his spine, his life is turned upside down and he has to reevaluate his relationships with his best friend, with his girl and with his mom. Saying it is a trying experience is quite the understatement.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, an actor that has always kind of blended in the scenery of various movies in my eyes, really shines here. He really digs deep within himself and makes you believe his character. He makes you feel all the doubts and the pain, and the viewer can’t help embark on that journey with him.

Seth Green plays himself yet again – a brash pot-head who boasts loudly but has a deep-rooted sweetness inside him – and he does it quite well. I would love to see him venture out into something more profound down the line, but he knows his role here and he’s efficient with it. He’s the one who brings the biggest comedic moments here.

I would like to mention Anjelica Huston, who plays the mother of Gordon-Levitt’s character. She is quite good as a mother who has to cope with a son having cancer and who wants to take charge. She doesn’t go full-blown Shirley Maclaine in Terms of Endearment on us, but, in her own way, she makes that character really sympathetic.

All things considered, a very entertaining movie with a great cast of actors and actresses telling a compelling story.

Rating: ««««


Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)