What I Saw: 50/50
Touching, funny and realistic, 50/50 examines the medical industrial complex from multiple perspectives. We have the insensitive doctors, the overly-sensitive psychologist, chemotherapy, surgery, and medical marijuana. But the real strength of the film comes from the interactions among the characters who are all trying to take care of each other. Each character embodies a strategy of care that fits a need at a certain stage in the process, but causes stress during the other stages. Even the characters that are made to look bad are actually struggling to be supportive in their own way.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines throughout as the lead character diagnosed with cancer. His is an emotional performance, where his character cycles through the stages of grief--some flamboyantly and some subtly. His friends and family, on the other hand, seem to each be stuck in a specific role for the bulk of the film. Perhaps this is how growth always happens: We change as those around us (appear to) stay the same.
Oscar Chances:
I truly hope that this film gets some talk around Oscar time. The script is touching and Gordon-Levitt in particular deserves to be a strong part of the conversation. Unfortunately, the film faces some external image problems when it comes to Academy voters. The film will be listed as a comedy at the Golden Globes, where the track record is much better for lead actresses than lead actors to move on to the Oscars. Over the past decade, 14 actresses have gone from the Globes’ Musical/Comedy line up to the Oscar Lead Actress lineup, while only 6 actors have done that (3 of which were for musicals, and 2 of those were music biopics). Similarly, this film is going to face some tough competition in the independent film world, and the competition for young male actors is very tight this year with Gosling and Fassbender getting most of the heat for multiple projects. And then you have to convince Academy members to see a film that co-stars Seth Rogen.
Lead Actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (currently ranked 9)
Original Screenplay: Will Reiser (currently ranked 14)
Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick (currently ranked 24)
Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston (currently ranked 31)
Best Picture (currently ranked 32)
Honorable Mention: Makeup & Hair (Is it hard to make hair that can be shaved off like that, or do you really believe they did that whole scene in one take?)
My Lamb Score: 4 out of 5 Lambs
What is a lamb score? Click HERE to learn more.
Read more of my reviews HERE.
Touching, funny and realistic, 50/50 examines the medical industrial complex from multiple perspectives. We have the insensitive doctors, the overly-sensitive psychologist, chemotherapy, surgery, and medical marijuana. But the real strength of the film comes from the interactions among the characters who are all trying to take care of each other. Each character embodies a strategy of care that fits a need at a certain stage in the process, but causes stress during the other stages. Even the characters that are made to look bad are actually struggling to be supportive in their own way.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt shines throughout as the lead character diagnosed with cancer. His is an emotional performance, where his character cycles through the stages of grief--some flamboyantly and some subtly. His friends and family, on the other hand, seem to each be stuck in a specific role for the bulk of the film. Perhaps this is how growth always happens: We change as those around us (appear to) stay the same.
Oscar Chances:
I truly hope that this film gets some talk around Oscar time. The script is touching and Gordon-Levitt in particular deserves to be a strong part of the conversation. Unfortunately, the film faces some external image problems when it comes to Academy voters. The film will be listed as a comedy at the Golden Globes, where the track record is much better for lead actresses than lead actors to move on to the Oscars. Over the past decade, 14 actresses have gone from the Globes’ Musical/Comedy line up to the Oscar Lead Actress lineup, while only 6 actors have done that (3 of which were for musicals, and 2 of those were music biopics). Similarly, this film is going to face some tough competition in the independent film world, and the competition for young male actors is very tight this year with Gosling and Fassbender getting most of the heat for multiple projects. And then you have to convince Academy members to see a film that co-stars Seth Rogen.
Lead Actor: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (currently ranked 9)
Original Screenplay: Will Reiser (currently ranked 14)
Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick (currently ranked 24)
Supporting Actress: Anjelica Huston (currently ranked 31)
Best Picture (currently ranked 32)
Honorable Mention: Makeup & Hair (Is it hard to make hair that can be shaved off like that, or do you really believe they did that whole scene in one take?)
My Lamb Score: 4 out of 5 Lambs
What is a lamb score? Click HERE to learn more.
Read more of my reviews HERE.
I'd love to see Levitt in the race, but it seems unlikely. He has my vote though.
ReplyDeleteThanks Colin. I agree that it's a real long shot, and not likely to happen. Still, I've got him near the top of the list of people who aren't likely to make the cut!
ReplyDeletehow was Anna Kendrick?
ReplyDeleteKendrick was fine, and had more emotional range than in Up In The Air, although at times it felt like the same character. I think that she was really good casting for the character that she played. She's playing a psychologist (or psychiatrist), so she tries to keep a professional distance, but you see her reactions in moments when she doesn't think that anyone is looking.
ReplyDeleteDamn, i was hoping that Seth Rogan will have a chance for Best Supporting Actor...
ReplyDeleteLukcly i don't have to to long for this mvoie as well - it arrives here in 2 weeks, in my birthday!
(Sory for the little Off-Topic, but i wondered - what is your all time favorite movie? just asking :)
Yeah I think JGL's performance is Oscar worthy. Rogen? Not so much. He's not as annoying here though, but I probably won't watch this if it weren't for Levitt.
ReplyDeleteMixing humor and painful subject matter is, naturally, very difficult. The beauty of this movie is that it does so with ease, especially with such good actors in these roles as well. Good review my man. I hope this at least some Oscar nods, but it doesn't seem like it will actually happen.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous, I don't really see Rogen going anywhere. His performance wasn't anything unusual, and I don't think he has the status in the industry to get recognition on that alone.
ReplyDeleteNot really sure what my favorite movie is. I've only recently become "serious" about films, so there's a lot of things that I haven't seen. (That was one of the reasons my blog looks forward instead of back. I figured I could get a handle on five to seven years of upcoming movies, but not 85 years of history!). But a few that really impressed me are Memento, Tambien La Lluvia, and Fruit Fly (a smaller film that most folks haven't seen). What are your favorites?
@Ruth, I agree that JGL's performance is definitely Oscar worthy. I just wish that their historical trends didn;t work against him quite as much as they seem to. Like you, I don't see Rogen going anywhere in terms of awards. I agree that he's not as annoying here though!
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking out my blog!
Thanks Dan O.! Like you, I'm thinking that it's likely to just miss out on all the gold.
ReplyDeleteWell, i think my top 5 looks somthing like this:
ReplyDelete5. Se7en
4. Midnight Express
3. Apocalypse Now
2. Trainspotting
1. Saving Private Ryan
Ah, good list of favorites. Based on these, I'd say you're into war, drugs and crime--at least in the movies!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see Levitt get a nod, I've always been impressed by him. I would think it's more than likely to miss out on the major nominations but wouldn't be surprised if Anjelica Huston was nominated. It rewards the film and acknowledges Hollywood royalty in a more conventional way.
ReplyDeleteGood point Louise. I fear that if they have to dig that deeply into the supporting cast that they might just skip it all together, but I do have Huston on my long list, so it's definitely a possibility.
ReplyDeleteDoubt this gets anything as far as Oscar nods. Not to say this wasn't a very solid flick with a nice mix of poignancy and comic relief.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right Castor. It's a shame but the dramedy mixes just don't get the love they deserve.
ReplyDelete