50/50
50/50 is the kind of movie that's never going to really make a ton of money. I could see it gaining a following on DVD (or home download or whatever the next generation of home viewing will be referred to) and I could see it being labeled as an overlooked gem in the future. The problem is two fold. First off, it's a very good movie but it's not really great. In fact, it's almost like it doesn't attempt to be great. I've read that the writer (who was basing it on his own history with cancer) and Seth Rogen didn't want it to get too sappy but if you keep from toeing that line, you also give up on getting at the heart of the issue. The second problem, and the one that will doom its box office chances, is that it's a kind of uplifting movie for the jaded generation. Even with hipster heart throb Joseph Gordon-Levitt in there, it's tough to get the younger audience, especially the younger male audience, to go to a tear-jerker about cancer. It's like a less emotional Brian's Song except instead of football, the two leads work at NPR together. You just aren't getting a ton of people to leave their houses to go see that.
But they should. It's a quality movie and, besides one quibble* (see the spoiler by clicking continue reading), it hit all the right notes. The performances were strong, with Anjelica Huston stealing the show in her few scenes. I'd definitely recommend checking it out in the theaters but since I don't think many people will heed that advice, at least do yourself a favor and save it in your Netflix queues (or Quikster queues, I guess I should say now.)
If there is a breakout from this movie, it might be Liars, whose song The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack is used perfectly.
SPOILERS BELOW
The main thing that irked me a bit was that, in the end, Gordon-Levitt's character is dating his therapist. While I did like their connection, I think it reflects horrifically on a doctoral candidate if she dates her third patient ever and part of me feels like it would have been better if they had just been friends.
And on a random side note, Bryce Dallas Howard is great (and looks great) but she really needs to get herself into a non-bitchy role or she's going to find herself typecast. I think she has the kind of every woman good looks to be a breakout star but she has to show a bit more of a sense of humor or some relate-a-bility if she's ever going to be a lead actress.
