Film Review #1: 50/50

50/50, directed by Jonathan Levine, effectively demonstrates some of the physical struggles and inner turmoil that plague those forced to deal with cancer.  

The film opens to Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) jogging through Seattle on a cloudy and rainy day.  Whenever a movie opens with the lead actor running around the city, you know life-changing events are about to follow, no matter how big or small.  Adam is a writer for Seattle public radio.  Shortly after complaining of back pain, we see him sitting before a less than hospitable doctor brusquely telling him he has spinal cancer.  As the scene and sounds blur except for Adam’s face, you can already see the pain in his eyes.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt clearly knows how to convey confusion, disbelief, and shock with just a single look.  Upon further investigation, he learns his chances of survival are only about 50/50.

Adam’s best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) shares in the disbelief, but in his own way.  In true Seth Rogen fashion, Kyle chooses to use mostly profanity, which is just a bit excessive and over done.  However, the language does lend itself to the film being more realistic.  Seth Rogen is essentially playing himself.  The film is based on 50/50 screenwriter Will Reiser’s real battle with cancer in his twenties.  Seth Rogen helped him through his battle the same way Kyle is helping Adam.  For this reason, Rogen’s performance comes off as genuine and sincere, and the character even develops considerably well by the end of the movie, as Adam discovers.

Adam’s less-than-desirable girlfriend Rachael is portrayed with eerie ease by Bryce Dallas Howard.  Though she initially wanted to support Adam, the job soon catches up to her.  Adam must also deal with his mother (Anjelica Huston) who can’t seem to stop worrying.  Huston delivers a heartfelt and emotional performance as a mother coping with severely sick child. 

As he receives treatment, Adam meets his therapist-in-training, Katherine (Anna Kendrick).  Kendrick’s delivery of a sometimes-confused young therapist who means well is also very authentic.  She adds levity to the situation.  As clichéd as a love story might seem in a movie of this nature, it still gives the story a sweet factor that helps develop the emotional turmoil within Adam.

Comedy is masterfully added with a tension-breaking scene fully improvised by Rogen and Gordon-Levitt as they shave Adam’s head.  The small moments of comedy coupled with the actors’ first-rate comedic timing add a special touch to the film that can be lost on other films with similar subject matter.  Life can’t always be so serious.

Adam becomes noticeably gaunt and sallow as the film progresses.  Levine has incorporated these subtle changes without the characters ever having to say anything about the physical changes that result from chemotherapy. Close-ups coupled with masterful acting allow the audience to see the anguish that accompanies cancer.

All in all, it’s a touching film with funny and sweet moments.  While it may not show all the realities of cancer, you still get the point, and that’s just fine.