After watching Chronicle, one of the many things I said to a friend about it was "Despite being really stupid, teenage boys are such geniuses." I mean as disgusted and sensible I tried to be at the beginning of the film, I could not deny the fact that the three adolescent protagonists, who suddenly find themselves with superhuman powers, were having way too much fun and I could probably not think of half the stuff they did. The most creative thing I came up with (before becoming a superhero obviously) was to spy on my favourite actors in filming locations. Well, that is me, and this is my review of Chronicle.
Shy and lonely Andrew, who has a sick mother and an alcoholic abusive father, decides to buy a video camera to record his daily life. He goes with his cousin Matt, who is amiable albeit a bit pretentious, to a high school party where popular student Steve tells him that he and Matt have found something and they need it on tape. Whatever this thing is, it provides them with telekinetic powers that grow stronger upon constant use. What first starts out as three teenage boys having fun with their new-found abilities soon turns into something much more sinister than what they bargained for.
I must admit that I had brushed off this film and any thing related to it. I hadn't even seen the trailer before watching the film, but all that has paid off extremely well in my opinion. It was a superhero film (sort of) unlike anything that I have seen before. The entire film is shot in a "found footage" sort of way though it is never made clear who would look for such footage- one of the few dodgier aspects of the film, but I overlooked all of that on account of all the fun I was having watching this.
The majority of the film deals with how these three guys learn to use their powers, not in a Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility" way, but rather in the only way they know- scaring little kids with flying soft toys and blowing up skirts of girls. As it is all shot on video, per se, their reactions are often stupid and funny and so very convincing that I couldn't stop grinning. It somewhat follows the same sensibility of a reality tv show for me because it's ridiculous, yet hilarious. As the powers increase, so do their tricks and they are quite cool. Even though I feel the end becomes too special effects-gimmicky and it could have been a bit longer to make it seem less out of control, I like the descent into darkness and the obvious repercussions of fiddling with things that are unknown to us.
If you would look to your right, I gave the film a 10 out of 10 rating. The reason is simple- it is a bloody ballsy film to make, and that too by mostly first-timers. The director Josh Tank and the writer Max Landis are both 26 years old, which is amazing. The script may have had elements of a lot of different films like Blair Witch Project or Spiderman or even something like Superbad, all together it is quite original and even the contrived parts became compelling due to the genuine performances by the leads. Tank does interesting work here by taking the "found-footage" concept and not giving us something we have grown to expect. I mean for a first-time director it must be extremely tempting to use all the various techniques shown in films and to stay true to this form of film-making, which must be very difficult on a creative level, I thought was quite commendable.
The cast is made up of relatively-unknown actors with Dane DeHaan as Andrew, Alex Russel as Matt and Michael B. Jordan as Steve. A massive reason why this film works so well is because of their honest portrayal of the three boys. The whole film could have been about the "found-footage" craft, the reason why I usually ignore such films, but instead it focuses on three very different and very realistic characters. While DeHaan has the more weighty role as Andrew is the sad and disturbed member of the trio who is more affected by his power, I think it could not have worked without the slightly pathetic though inherently good Matt and the popular and sincerely nice Steve. The latter part of the film did depend on Andrew the most, but I enjoyed the first part more when all three of them are filled with unadulterated glee and mischief because of their kick-ass abilities. Which is why that even the unbelievable sci-fi aspects of the film end up looking like this may have been real life, for how else would boys react?
It is interesting to note that my first film of 2011 was also a unlikely superhero film- Green Hornet. Yes that was majorly disappointing, but with the exception of The Dark Knight Rises, I think Chronicle has definitely set the bar for superhero films for me this year. Yes no one really is a superhero in this film, and that is why it is unique because what else do you do with superpowers? The teenage boys know.
Shy and lonely Andrew, who has a sick mother and an alcoholic abusive father, decides to buy a video camera to record his daily life. He goes with his cousin Matt, who is amiable albeit a bit pretentious, to a high school party where popular student Steve tells him that he and Matt have found something and they need it on tape. Whatever this thing is, it provides them with telekinetic powers that grow stronger upon constant use. What first starts out as three teenage boys having fun with their new-found abilities soon turns into something much more sinister than what they bargained for.
I must admit that I had brushed off this film and any thing related to it. I hadn't even seen the trailer before watching the film, but all that has paid off extremely well in my opinion. It was a superhero film (sort of) unlike anything that I have seen before. The entire film is shot in a "found footage" sort of way though it is never made clear who would look for such footage- one of the few dodgier aspects of the film, but I overlooked all of that on account of all the fun I was having watching this.
The majority of the film deals with how these three guys learn to use their powers, not in a Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility" way, but rather in the only way they know- scaring little kids with flying soft toys and blowing up skirts of girls. As it is all shot on video, per se, their reactions are often stupid and funny and so very convincing that I couldn't stop grinning. It somewhat follows the same sensibility of a reality tv show for me because it's ridiculous, yet hilarious. As the powers increase, so do their tricks and they are quite cool. Even though I feel the end becomes too special effects-gimmicky and it could have been a bit longer to make it seem less out of control, I like the descent into darkness and the obvious repercussions of fiddling with things that are unknown to us.
If you would look to your right, I gave the film a 10 out of 10 rating. The reason is simple- it is a bloody ballsy film to make, and that too by mostly first-timers. The director Josh Tank and the writer Max Landis are both 26 years old, which is amazing. The script may have had elements of a lot of different films like Blair Witch Project or Spiderman or even something like Superbad, all together it is quite original and even the contrived parts became compelling due to the genuine performances by the leads. Tank does interesting work here by taking the "found-footage" concept and not giving us something we have grown to expect. I mean for a first-time director it must be extremely tempting to use all the various techniques shown in films and to stay true to this form of film-making, which must be very difficult on a creative level, I thought was quite commendable.
The cast is made up of relatively-unknown actors with Dane DeHaan as Andrew, Alex Russel as Matt and Michael B. Jordan as Steve. A massive reason why this film works so well is because of their honest portrayal of the three boys. The whole film could have been about the "found-footage" craft, the reason why I usually ignore such films, but instead it focuses on three very different and very realistic characters. While DeHaan has the more weighty role as Andrew is the sad and disturbed member of the trio who is more affected by his power, I think it could not have worked without the slightly pathetic though inherently good Matt and the popular and sincerely nice Steve. The latter part of the film did depend on Andrew the most, but I enjoyed the first part more when all three of them are filled with unadulterated glee and mischief because of their kick-ass abilities. Which is why that even the unbelievable sci-fi aspects of the film end up looking like this may have been real life, for how else would boys react?
It is interesting to note that my first film of 2011 was also a unlikely superhero film- Green Hornet. Yes that was majorly disappointing, but with the exception of The Dark Knight Rises, I think Chronicle has definitely set the bar for superhero films for me this year. Yes no one really is a superhero in this film, and that is why it is unique because what else do you do with superpowers? The teenage boys know.
Great review! I don't know if I'd give it a 10/10, but I did thing it was a good, fun movie. The person I went to see it with made an interesting comment about the fact that most modern day movies have to end with a cynical view of human nature, some ending where "evil prevails" or "everyone dies", so it was refreshing to see a well rounded, optimistic script, even if it was a bit of a morality play. And I agree with you about the fact that it worked so well because they were all relatively unknown--definitely helped draw me into the movie.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Interesting point. It was a bit of a morality play, but I guess the trailer and posters all hinted that. I hadn't read and seen anything about the film, so it was a very pleasant change and I guess that's why I gave it a 10.
Deletegeez get a life ,nobody needs your reviews , we got wikipedia and imdb for that...find something usefull to do instead of wasting time here like me
ReplyDeleteI don't have a life, that's the problem. Thanks for this anyways :)
DeleteI frankly think expression of one's thoughts through whatever medium is important. You may not appreciate her reviews but others obviously do and do read them. IMDB and wikipedia are unbiased, impartial reviews which can often be wrong and lack personality and analysis which only a film lover and film blogger can bring to a review. People read these blogs for, as I said, a more personal review of a movie and comments like yours are just hurtful and unnecessary. If you need to criticize then do it constructively.
ReplyDeleteThanks bff :*
Delete