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Saturday, October 15, 2011

I like to get touched when I cry.

If you haven't heard, Universal had planned to release a "major" movie through on-demand outlets like cable and satellite. So, for a fee (allegedly $60) you could watch a theatrical release in the comfort of your own home the same day it hit theaters.
Regardless of the price, I would never, ever do this. I like the theater too much. What I do hate, however, are the rotten people who feel compelled to ruin the experience. Talk to your friends. Fine. But, check it out. There's this thing. It's called whispering. It's like talking, but not everybody hears you. You can still be a dumb bitch, but it's a secret. Only the horrible people who somehow accompanied you to the theater know. Try it. See what happens.

Seth Rogen's admission at the conclusion of this scene is hysterical.
My anger is fueled by my love of tonight's film, 50/50. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is quietly captivating as Adam Lerner, a 27 year-old who finds out he has a rare form of spinal cancer. Gordon-Levitt is quickly becoming 900% bankable in any role he's in. He was stellar in Inception, but completely owned in 500 Days of Summer (also see The Lookout, too - very solid). Though a bit one-note, Seth Rogen was also excellent. The whole cast is. Worth mentioning is the lovely Anna Kendrick. It's nice seeing her in back-to-back movies, as she is extremely likable and, um, fairly hot.
Oogling complete, I want to say that this movie really resonated with me. I'm at this odd point in my life where initially I related to being the son sick with cancer. I found myself imaging how that would be and how I would break the news to my family. Near the end, I connected with Anjelica Huston's character, his mom, and how she handles dealing with her son's illness. Now, my son is only two, but I simply could not imagine dealing with that as a parent. I refuse to consider it.

You're welcome, Stockholm.
As sad and depressing as the subject is, this movie is equally as funny. It completely works as a comedy - as long as you're cool with Rogen. I'm pretty sure he's riffing 90% of the time, but the guy is a frickin Jedi with the crass one-liners. The delivery of almost everything he says is one of the highlights of this fantastic film. Others include:
  • The Doogie Howser conversation. Priceless.
  • The soundtrack is excellent. My horrible student-film also used Radiohead's 'High and Dry.' Oh, but mine came out first.
  • The scene that will remind you of Office Space? Great.
  • Anna Kendrick?                 ---------------->
  • The exchange on the front porch with Bryce Dallas Howard was so good. I wanted to clap (but I would never).
  • Skeletor. Everybody needs a pup.
  • "That's they call them blow jobs." (great speech)
  • Do all women utterly destroy the floor of the passenger's side?
It's late. I actually have to be at school in about six hours. On a Saturday. Goodness. Speaking of school, I ran into a former student immediately after the movie let out. She gave me an embarrassingly joyous hug and it actually made me happy to be a teacher. Some kids are incredibly awesome people.

2 comments:

  1. Mixing 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. I hope this at least some Oscar nods, but it doesn't seem like it will actually happen.

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  2. This is definitely on my to watch list

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