50/50 (2011)

DIRECTOR: Jonathon Levine
STUDIO: Summit Entertainment
STARRING: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick 
RATING: R
GENRE: Drama, Comedy

GRADE: B+



Sadly, I was not able to view this film in the theatres. It is very rarely that I prefer watching a film with a general audience, but I think it could have made the movie that much more impacting.

"50/50" is about a young radio journalist's (Gordon-Levitt) life as he discovers he has a rare form of cancer. The story follows he, his girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), his best friend and co-worker (Rogan) and his therapist (Kendrick) and how each person handles the news and development differently.

I will begin by saying I've never had a film touch me emotionally in some scenes, while still making me laugh throughout since "The Apartment." Many movie-goers today do not realize how Billy Wilder innovated the idea of a dramatic comedy with this film. "50/50" was very well-directed and it gave such a deep inside look to what it could be like having cancer.


Another high point is the writing, because so many characters are written beautifully, and are easy to relate to. Cancer has touched everyone, even in a small way, so we all can identify with one or two characters.

My complaint is the development with his girlfriend throughout the entire movie. I understand that we were supposed to dislike her - and trust me, I did - but it never shared her side. It made her out to be a villain. Even though she was clearly in the wrong, it would be interesting if they had taken a scene or two that developed what she had to go through as well.

Overall, a very touching movie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt spectacularly sucks the audience in and allows them to understand exactly what and why his character is feeling. Solid "B+."