Long Shot (2019 film)

Directed by Jonathan Levine and screenplay by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah from a story by Sterling, Long Shot is the story of a journalist who accompanies his former babysitter who is now the U.S. Secretary of State as she is mulling a possible run for the U.S. presidency. The film is an offbeat romantic-comedy where a journalist rekindles his friendship with his former babysitter as they also deal with their own feelings for one another just as she is about to step into the spotlight. Starring Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron, Alexander Skarsgard, O’Shea Jackson Jr., June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, and Andy Serkis. Long Shot is a witty and heartfelt film from Jonathan Levine.

The film revolves around a controversial yet unemployed journalist who attends a fundraiser where he meets his former babysitter, now U.S. Secretary of State, as they reconnect as he accompanies her on a world tour to push an environmental initiative that she hopes would mean something as she is also thinking about running for the U.S. presidency. It’s a film that has an idealistic journalist who just lost his job after the company he works for had been bought by a media conglomerate as he helps this U.S. government official trying to get many countries to go on board this environmental initiative that she hopes would help the world. The film’s screenplay by Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah explore these two people who knew each other as teens as they’re both at crucial points in their lives where they want to accomplish something but also have to deal with compromises.

For the journalist Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen), he doesn’t believe in compromise as he lives to expose hypocrisies and such where he is first seen infiltrating a white supremacist group. Then he loses his job when he refuses to compromise and work for the immoral media mogul Parker Wembley (Andy Serkis) who buys the publication Flarsky works for. Flarsky’s former babysitter in Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is someone trying to make things happen and other duties expected in her job as she learns that U.S. President Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) is not seeking re-election as the former TV actor wants to go into films. Upon meeting Flarsky at a fundraiser whom she remembered as a teenager, she decides to hire him as her speechwriter despite the advice of her chief of staff Maggie (June Diane Raphael) who thinks that Flarsky is a slob. Yet, Flarsky would inspire Field to push her initiative as well as loosen up a bit while Flarsky learns that life is full of compromises and be less judgmental just as the two are to reach a crucial point in their lives.

Jonathan Levine’s direction is largely straightforward as it play into this whirlwind journey of two people who knew each other as teens as well as to try and do some good in the world. Shot largely in Montreal and Cartagena, Colombia with some shots in New York City, Levine doesn’t go for a lot of style in order to tell this simple story while also playing into some of the things that Flarsky would do as a journalist starting with his infiltration at a white supremacist group. While there are some wide and medium shots to establish some of the locations, Levine does create some unique compositions as it play into some of the humor such as Flarsky being humiliated in wearing a traditional Swedish suit suggested by Maggie as he is outside of a palace smoking a cigarette and not feeling happy. There are also moments that are stylized such as a terrorist attack that also plays for laughs including a scene of Field, high on the influence of drugs, negotiating with a world leader over the release of a hostage.

Levine also does some satire as it relates to the Wembley character as he also runs a fake news channel similar to Fox News as he is someone that would play a key role in trying to influence Field in its third act. It play into this dark world of politics as it does go into conventional territory but also some character-revelatory moments for both Field and Flarsky. The latter of which has often been clouded by his own morals and idealism as he has to realize what Field had to do to not just succeed but also to make serious changes for the world. Levine does manage to play with the conventions but also find ways to create a resolution that allow both Field and Flarsky to find a common ground to be together on all-levels without compromising their own beliefs and feelings for one another. Overall, Levine crafts a funny yet endearing film about an unemployed journalist who reconnects with his former babysitter as she deals with possibility of becoming the next U.S. president.

Cinematographer Yves Belanger does excellent work with the cinematography as its usage of low-key lighting for some of the scenes at night give the film a unique tone in its look while being straightforward for the daytime interior/exterior scenes. Editors Melissa Bretherton and Evan Henke do terrific work with the editing as it has a few stylish moments in a montage sequence and a slow-motion part of the film as much of it is straightforward. Production designer Kalina Ivanov, with set decorator Manon Lemay plus art directors Sharon Davis, Donna Noonan, and Zoe Sakellaropoulo, does fantastic work with the look of some of the places that Flarsky and Field stay at around the world as well as Flarsky’s messy apartment and Field’s clean home. Costume designer Mary E. Vogt does nice work with the clothes that the characters wear including some of casual look of Field when she goes out clubbing with Flarsky.

Special effects makeup artists Bruno Gatien and Jonathan Lavallee do amazing work with the look of the Wembley character in the way he looks like certain political figures in the conservative world. Special effects supervisor Mario Dumont and visual effects supervisor Dan Schrecker do brilliant work with the terrorist attack sequence as well as some bits of set dressing for some of the locations. Sound designer Ando Johnson and sound editor Branden Spencer do superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of the locations as well as quiet moments in the film that add to some of low-key comical moments that occur in the film. The film’s music by Marco Beltrami and Miles Hankins is wonderful for its usage of strings and electronics to play into some of the humor and drama while music supervisor Gabe Hilfer creates a fun soundtrack that features music from Boyz II Men, the Cure, Roxette, Thunderfist, Sonny Rollins, DMX, Cameo, Blondie, Big Thief, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Ocean, Robyn, the Crystals, Aretha Franklin, Big Boi with Troze, and the Tango Project.

The film’s marvelous ensemble cast feature some notable small roles and cameo appearances from Boyz II Men as themselves, Lisa Kudrow as a polling expert, Lil’ Yachty as himself, Randall Park as Flarsky’s boss early in the film, the trio of Kurt Braunohler, Paul Scheer, and Claudia O’Doherty as Wembley News reporters, Ivan Smith as the Indian prime minister who has issues with the U.S., Aviva Mongillo as the young Charlotte, Braxton Herda as the young Fred, Tristan D. Lalla as Field’s bodyguard Agent M who is among the first to witness Flarsky and Field’s romance, Ravi Patel as one of Field’s key staffer in Tom who is close to Field as he also serves as a mediator between her and Flarsky, and Alexander Skarsgard in a hilarious performance as Canadian prime minister James Steward whom Field is romantically-linked to despite the fact they don’t have any chemistry as Skarsgard plays him for laughs while sporting an incredibly bad Canadian accent.

Bob Odenkirk is terrific as the U.S. President Chambers as a former TV star who played the President on TV as he decides to go into movies yet becomes troubled by Field’s initiative as it threatens his own career prospects. Andy Serkis is fantastic as Parker Wembley as this media mogul who likes to push his own ultra-conservative views to the point that he buys Flarsky’s publication and gets him fired while trying to do whatever he can to stop Field and her initiative. O’Shea Jackson Jr. is excellent as Flarsky’s friend Lance as someone who is trying to help but also give him advice while bringing some revelations about himself that would surprise Flarsky and his own faults. June Diane Raphael is brilliant as Maggie Millikins as Field’s right-hand woman who doesn’t like Flarsky much but does realize his value as she sees how it would inspire Field prompting her to be more concerned for Field’s happiness than ambition.

Finally, there’s the duo of Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron in phenomenal performances in their respective roles as Fred Flarsky and Charlotte Field. Rogen brings a laid-back approach to his character but also someone who is an idealist that doesn’t like to compromise and wants to do good things but is often unhappy until he reconnects with Field as he begins to think about a future that isn’t cynical. Theron brings a realism to her character as someone that is hoping to do something that matters but often has to compromise to get what she wants until reconnecting with Flarsky gets her to loosen up and not be compromised. Rogen and Theron do have this chemistry that is endearing but also allow both of them to be funny as well as having Rogen be straight and Theron being the funny one during a scene she’s high on drugs as she’s negotiating with a foreign minister.

Long Shot is an incredible film from Jonathan Levine that features two great performances from Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron. Along with its supporting cast, offbeat take on the romantic-comedy genre, and its exploration of politics and compromising one’s ideals. It is a film that manages to bring in lots of laughs but also a lot of heart and wit that have audiences be engaged by characters wanting to make the world a better place. In the end, Long Shot is a remarkable film from Jonathan Levine.

Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) – (The Wackness) – 50/50 - Warm Bodies - The Night Before (2015 film) - (Snatched)

© thevoid99 2020

The Night Before (2015 film)

Directed by Jonathan Levine and screenplay by Levine, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter, and Ariel Shaffir from a story by Levine, The Night Before is the story of three childhood friends who gather for a traditional Christmas Eve get-together as it might be the last one as two of the men are about to take on bigger steps into their lives. The film is a comedy about three guys who are about to embark on an annual event as they believe it’s the last one where a lot of hijinks and hilarity ensue. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, Michael Shannon, and narration by Tracy Morgan. The Night Before is a witty and adventurous film from Jonathan Levine.

The film follow three lifelong friends who embark on an annual gathering as it is possible as it might be their last year together as one of them is a famous football player while one of them is becoming a father leaving the third man unsure of what he will do next. Then, a chance to be invited to an exclusive party makes this possible last get-together even bigger as the three men try to find the party but also deal with various issues in their lives. The film’s screenplay follows the live of these three men who begin this tradition in 2001 when the parents of Ethan Miller (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) were killed as his best friends in Isaac Greenberg (Seth Rogen) and Chris Roberts (Anthony Mackie) were around to be there for him as they would get drunk and high for a lot of years. 14 years later, things have changed with Isaac about to become a father and Chris is now a famous football player. Ethan unfortunately has failed in his attempt to be a successful musician while he works at a hotel with nowhere to go as Isaac and Chris are unsure what will happen to him next year as they have so much to do in their own lives.

This party known as the Nutcracker Ball is an exclusive party where only those with an invitation are invited as they have to call a number at a certain time for the secret location. Ethan, Isaac, and Chris would each embark their own paths to the party as well as have their own meetings with a mysterious drug dealer known as Mr. Green (Michael Shannon) who would give them a toke of his supply as it would lead to all sorts of hijinks. For Isaac, he would endure a bad drug trip due to the drugs his wife Betsy (Jillian Hall) had bought while Chris would have an encounter with a fan (Ilana Glazer) that goes horribly wrong. For Ethan, his encounter with his former girlfriend Diana (Lizzy Caplan) forces him to think about the decisions he’s made as well as the uncertainty of his own future since Isaac and Chris are about to embark on starting their own individual lives.

Jonathan Levine’s direction is very stylish as it is set during the Christmas holidays in New York City where the film is set and shot on location as it play into this sense of adventure that goes on throughout the film. While Levine would include some wide shots of the locations including a few landmarks such as the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center. Levine focuses more on intimate shots such as close-ups and medium shots to play into the drama and some of the humor as it also has elements of surrealism as it relates to Isaac’s own drug trip. There are also these moments where Levine takes a break from the comedy and drama as it play into the story as well as the adventures the individual characters would go to. The film’s climax at the Nutcracker Ball is definitely wild but also play into the kind of people Ethan, Isaac, and Chris want to hang out with only to realize how much they all needed each other. Overall, Levine creates a fun and lively film about three guys gathering for one last get-together to an exclusive party before they embark into the world of adulthood.

Cinematographer Brandon Trost does excellent work with the film’s cinematography as much of it takes place at night from the look of the bar where the guys do karaoke to the extravagant lighting for the Nutcracker Ball sequence. Editor Zene Baker does nice work with the editing as it is stylish with a few montages and other rhythmic cuts to play into the humor and some of the stranger moments in the film. Production designer Annie Spitz and set decorator Chryss Hionis do amazing work with the look of some of the places the characters go to including the Nutcracker Ball with its lights and other things expected for an extravagant party. Costume designer Melissa Toth does terrific work with the costumes from the Christmas sweaters the guys wear to some of the lavish costumes at the Nutcracker Ball.

Visual effects supervisor Jeff Campbell does fantastic work with some of the things that Isaac sees during his drug-induced trip as well as a few things to play into the comedy. Sound editor Michael Babcock does superb work with the sound as it play into the atmosphere of some of the places the characters go to including the Nutcracker Ball. The film’s music by Marco Beltrami and Miles Hankin is wonderful for its mixture of holiday-inspired music with some hip-hop, rock, and electronic music to provide a different mood for various scenes in the film while music supervisor Gabe Hilfer provides a fun mix of holiday-based music with some non-holiday music from Run-DMC, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, and Britney Spears.

The casting by Henry Russell Bergstein, Kathy Driscoll, Allison Estrin, and Francine Maisler is great as it feature some notable small roles from Miley Cyrus as herself, Aaron Hill as Chris’ teammate Tommy Owens, Helene Yorke as Betsy’s friend Cindy, Randall Park as Ethan’s boss, Jason Mantzoukas and Jason Jones as a couple of Santa Claus who get drunk and give Ethan some shit, Nathan Fielder as Chris’ driver, and Lorraine Toussaint as Chris’ mother who is wondering about what Chris is doing as she knows something isn’t right. Jillian Bell is fantastic as Isaac’s wife Betsy who is aware of her husband’s need to party but also worries about what he’s really feeling about becoming a father. Mindy Kaling is superb as Diana’s friend Sarah whom Isaac converses with as she is hoping to meet a guy named James where Isaac accidentally gets her phone. Ilana Glazer is excellent as Rebecca as a mysterious woman who is a fan of Chris as she is this mysterious individual who spouts a lot of film and holiday references as someone that wants to teach Chris a lesson. Lizzy Caplan is brilliant as Diana as Ethan’s ex-girlfriend who hasn’t seen him in months as she deals with Ethan’s shortcomings and the reasons they broke up.

Michael Shannon is incredible as Mr. Green as a mysterious drug dealer who gives the film’s protagonists a toke of his special weed as it is this very low-key yet charismatic performance from Shannon who is just a joy to watch. Anthony Mackie is amazing as Chris Roberts as a famous football player who is becoming extremely famous and about to have the season of his career where he is carrying a secret as well as dealing with the expectations that he has as a famous player. Seth Rogen is remarkable as Isaac Greenberg as a man who is about to become a father as he tries to deny his feelings by going on a drug-induced trip where he sees some strange things as it play into his own anxieties. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a marvelous performance as Ethan Miller as a failed musician with no idea of what he’s going to do next as he hopes this chance to be at the Nutcracker Ball would give him some answers as he is also forced to face his own faults as a man who is afraid to take a big step into adulthood.

The Night Before is a remarkable film from Jonathan Levine. Featuring a great cast, some hilarious moments, and some compelling themes on adulthood, it’s a film that manages to provide a nice balance of stoner humor in a Christmas setting as it play into the idea of family and friendship. In the end, The Night Before is a marvelous film from Jonathan Levine.

Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) – (The Wackness) – 50/50 - Warm Bodies - (Snatched) – Long Shot (2019)

© thevoid99 2017

Warm Bodies

Based on the novel by Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies is the story of a zombie who falls in love with the daughter of a zombie-resistance leader as he starts to regain semblance of humanity. Written for the screen and directed by Jonathan Levine, the film is a genre-bending film that takes place during a zombie apocalypse where it’s a mixture of the zombie-thriller meets the romantic-comedy. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Dave Franco, Analeigh Tipton, and John Malkovich. Warm Bodies is an extraordinary yet witty film from Jonathan Levine.

The film is set during a zombie apocalypse in which humans are fighting against zombies and skeleton-like creatures called boneys who are hungry for human flesh. Yet, it is a story about one particular zombie whose encounter with the daughter of zombie-resistance leader not only has him falling for her but also regain aspects of his humanity. It’s a strange premise for a film the bends various genres yet manages to work as it’s largely told from the perspective of this zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult) who often narrates the film as he deals with his life as a zombie as he also collects things including vinyl records and such. Notably as R reveals a lot of his own feelings and confusion about being a zombie as he is hungry for human flesh and brains where an encounter with a young resistance group has him eating the brains of someone where he sees memories and such that also features the young woman he captures in Julie (Teresa Palmer) whom he falls for.

Jonathan Levine’s screenplay does have a conventional structure that plays into R and Julie’s eventual romance though it takes its time to build that up where Julie is immediately frightened and confused by R and his kind actions. Especially for the fact that he killed and ate the brains of her boyfriend Perry (Dave Franco) where R sees Perry’s memories to know a lot about Julie as she’s the daughter of resistance leader Colonel Grigio (John Malkovich). With Julie staying at an airplane where R lives, she realizes that R is acting human as he starts to say words as it would rub off on the other zombies including his friend M (Rob Corddry). Yet, the zombies’ reintroduction with their humanity causes a conflict with the more-deadly boneys who not only feed on human flesh but anything that has a beating heart. Levine’s script uses R’s voice-over narration to express his feelings as well as his fascination to humanity where he also reveal the sense of loss that Julie had faced in her life as he becomes confused on whether to remain a zombie or to become human again.

Levine’s direction is pretty straightforward for the most part while he also adds some style into the film. Notably as he maintains some different looks to play into the different world of the zombies and human where the zombie world is a bit discolored whereas the human world and the dream sequences have more color. Levine’s use of close-ups, medium shots, and wide shots does manage to help create some unique images as well as play into the developing relationship between R and Julie. Levine does stick to convention as far as the action is concerned while not straying too far into fast-paced cutting for the action while infusing it with bits of humor in the story. Notably the early scenes of R and M grunting to each other as they’re having a zombie conversation as well as a scene where R goes into the human world and Julie’s home that includes a funny homage to a great romantic comedy. Overall, Levine creates a very stylish yet enjoyable genre-bending film about a zombie who falls for a human girl and regains his humanity.

Cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe does amazing work with the film‘s very stylish cinematography by infusing a mostly discolored look for the scenes set in the airport and most of the locations in Montreal to the more colorful dream sequences that R experiences as well as the scenes involving the humans. Editor Nancy Richardson does excellent work with the editing as it‘s very stylized to play with some of action scenes involving the zombies, boneys, and humans as well as a few montages to play into R and Julie‘s developing romance. Production designer Martin Whist, along with set decorator Suzanne Cloutier and supervising art director Gilles Aird, does superb work with the set pieces from the decayed look of the airport as well as the look of the buildings where there‘s little technology and some places are abandoned. Costume designer George L. Little does nice work with the costumes from the red hoodie that R wears to the flannel shirt that Julie wears as it‘s mostly casual.

Special effects makeup designer Dave Elsey does brilliant work with the makeup design in the way the zombies look. Visual effects supervisor Dan Schrecker does fantastic work with some of the visual effects for the shots inside the bodies of the zombies as they regain their humanity as well as the look of the boneys. Sound editor Martyn Zub does terrific work with the sound from the way gunfire sounds to the growl of the boneys and the locations the characters encounter. The film’s music by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders is wonderful for its mixture of folk, rock, and orchestral music to play up the action as well as the romance while music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas create a superb collection of music that includes pieces by John Waite, Jimmy Cliff, the National, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Feist, Bon Iver, the Scorpions, Roy Orbison, and M83.

The casting by Joanna Colbert and Richard Mento is incredible as it features some noteworthy small performances from Cory Hardrict as a subordinate of Colonel Grigio and Dave Franco as Julie’s unfortunate boyfriend Perry who starts to act more like Julie’s father. Analeigh Tipton is wonderful as Julie’s friend Nora who survives the zombie raid while trying to figure out R’s growing transformation into becoming human as she brings some humor to the film. Rob Corddry is excellent as R’s friend M as a zombie who also regains his humanity as he helps lead a group of zombies to deal with the boneys as Corddry also brings in some humor to the film. John Malkovich is superb as Colonel Grigio who is hell-bent on killing zombies after losing his wife to the apocalypse while trying to protect his daughter as it’s Malkovich being a badass but also being funny.

Finally, there’s the performances of Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer as both of them do amazing work in their respective roles as R and Julie. Palmer brings a quality that allows her character to be engaging as well as funny as this young woman who is fascinated by this zombie she meets while dealing with the fact that he is becoming human again. Hoult is great as this young zombie who laments over his being while suddenly becoming human again as he brings the hope that the human-zombie war might come to an end. Hoult and Palmer have some wonderful chemistry together in the way they interact as well as being their for each other as they’re the highlight of the film.

Warm Bodies is a sensational film from Jonathan Levine that features winning performances from Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer. The film isn’t just a creative genre-bender that is funny, romantic, exciting, and full of some cool action scenes. It’s also a film that takes the zombie film and infuse it with some heart where even zombies have feelings to. In the end, Warm Bodies is a marvelous film from Jonathan Levine.

Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) - (The Wackness) - 50/50 - The Night Before (2015 film) - (Snatched) - Long Shot (2019 film)

© thevoid99 2013

50/50

Directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Will Reiser, 50/50 is about a young man who learns he has a cancer as he tries to come to terms with it. With a best friend and a young psychiatrist trying to help him, he also tries to deal with various other individuals who are going through other sorts of illnesses. The film is based on Reiser’s own experience with cancer as he also puts a new spin into the cancer drama by injecting humor into the story. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Philip Baker Hall, Matt Frewer, and Anjelica Huston. 50/50 is an extraordinary yet heartfelt film from Jonathan Levine.

After learning he has a rare cancer in his back, Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) realizes that his whole life is about to change as he tells his friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) and his girlfriend Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard) about it. After telling his mother (Anjelica Huston) about the cancer and what he has to, she is overwhelmed as she is also trying to take care of his father (Serge Houde) who is currently suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Taking various chemotherapy treatments and meeting fellow cancer patients in Mitch (Matt Frewer) and Alan (Philip Baker Hall), Adam also takes in some therapy sessions with a young therapist named Katherine (Anna Kendrick). With Kyle helping him out by trying to get books and such, Adam notices that Rachel has been distant leading to some troubling issues with the two.

Adam also tries to distance his mother, whom he felt has been dealing with a lot, as he befriends Katherine who is just trying to figure things out though she is new to her job. While Kyle also tries to be involved by getting Adam be social, the two do hang out with Adam’s new cancer friends as they all try to cope with their situations. While Adam realizes that he has a 50/50 chance of surviving the cancer and that it might be more complicated, he tries to cope with everything as he seeks help from the people who are closest to him.

Films that often revolve around cancer often can lead to huge sentimental moments as they delve into the kind of films where the audience is in tears. In this film, there’s bit of that as it’s balanced by humor as a lot of is based on screenwriter Will Reiser’s own experience with cancer. Though Adam is only 27-years old, it is proof that cancer is a mysterious disease where things just happen for some reason. Throughout Adam’s journey, there’s moments where he can be relax and just be cool with it. Then, there’s moments of frustration and anger because he can’t control his own situation.

Reiser’s script works in the way Adam is presented as a human being with flaws as he is just trying to deal with the idea that he might die. The people around him such as his best friend Kyle, his girlfriend Rachel, and his mother are all trying to cope with it in some way. Though the character of Rachel is sort of under-written, Kyle and Adam’s mother do get more to do as the former is just a fun-loving guy that is doing all he can to help out his friend though uses his friend’s cancer to simply get laid. Adam’s mother is a woman that is going through a lot with her husband suffering from Alzheimer and learning that her son has cancer is evident that even though she can extremely worried. It’s only because she really cares for her son. Then there’s Katherine who is an outsider as she’s just a young therapist with not many patients as she is just trying to understand what he’s feeling and what she wants to do without doing it the wrong way.

Reiser’s script works to study the situations while providing humor to Adam’s situation without being very silly. The humor is more light-hearted and driven by dialogue so that Adam can at least have some joy around him in his awful situation. It’s a script that is truly engaging without going into the traps that most films relating to cancer or other disease where it often leads to very sentimental, heavy-handed moments.

Jonathan Levine’s direction is quite straightforward for the way he presents the film. Yet, he does put a bit of a stylistic flair for a few scenes such as Adam getting out of his first chemotherapy session stoned out of his mind. Another key stylistic moment that actually works is the way Adam responds to the news where it’s all in the sound design and camera work to emphasize what he could be reacting as it’s shot from the back of his head. The humor and dramatic elements in Levine’s direction is definitely more restrained but he knows when it is time to pull the heavier moments without going overboard. The overall direction is truly spectacular as Levine creates a film that is very real but also done in a humorous, light-hearted tone.

Cinematographer Terry Stacey does a nice job with the film‘s colorful though somewhat de-saturated look for many of the film‘s daytime scenes while emphasizing a more stylish look for some of the film‘s interior and exterior nighttime scenes. Editor Zene Baker does an excellent job with the film‘s editing as it is quite straightforward while there’s a great stylized scene where Adam walks slowly in a stoned frame of mind.

Production designer Annie Spitz, along with set decorator Shane Vieau and art director Ross Dempster, does a very good job with the set pieces created such as Adam‘s home which is filled with lots of things including Rachel‘s paintings. Costume designer Carla Hetland also does a good job with the costumes as the characters dress very casually while Rachel is more stylish to emphasize her arty world. Sound editor Robert Jackson does a great job with the sound work that includes the scene where Adam hears about his cancer which creates an unsettling mood that seems very real to how one reacts to news like this.

The film’s score by Michael Giacchino is more low-key than his previous scores as it delves into an indie-folk style with a few orchestral flourishes that underplays the drama and humor present in the film. The soundtrack, that is assembled by Jim Black and Gabe Hilfer, is brilliant as it features an array of indie music plus some very memorable contributions from acts like the Bee Gees, Radiohead, and Pearl Jam.

The casting by Sandra-Ken Freeman and Francine Maisler is superb as it features some memorable small appearances from Donna Yamamoto and Andrew Airlie as the doctors who help Adam out along with Serge Houde as Adam’s father who is suffering from Alzheimer. Matt Frewer and Philip Baker Hall are excellent in some funny performances as a couple of cancer patients who each provide some insight to Adam in his situation. Bryce Dallas Howard is pretty decent in an underwritten role as Adam’s girlfriend Rachel as someone who cares about him but is more interested in her world rather than take care of Adam. Anjelica Huston is brilliant as Adam’s mother who is trying to deal with all of the illness around her as she brings a bit of humor to her character as she is someone who means well though can be a bit overwhelming in a funny way.

Anna Kendrick is wonderful as Katherine, Adam’s therapist whose inexperience manages to win Adam over as she also tries to deal with her own issues and trying to be the best shrink she can be. Seth Rogen is excellent as Kyle, Adam’s best friend who tries to help him out while trying to cope with Adam’s illness by having him and Adam go out and party. Finally, there’s Joseph Gordon-Levitt in a fantastic performance as Adam. Gordon-Levitt brings a real sense of humanity to a character that is going through this horrific ordeal while trying to make sense of everything. Gordon-Levitt isn’t afraid to make Adam into someone that is flawed but also engaging in the way he handles things as it’s another outstanding performance from the young actor.

50/50 is a smart yet touching comedy-drama from Jonathan Levine that features a captivating performance from Joseph Gordon-Levitt. With a great supporting cast that includes Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, and Anjelica Huston, it’s a film that doesn’t sentimentalize the idea of cancer while bringing some more life and humor into what people go through. It’s also something where the audience can actually be fine with the idea of laughing at these situations while without going into very silly jokes with a lot of comedies. In the end, 50/50 is a marvelous yet winning film from Jonathan Levine.

Jonathan Levine Films: (All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) - (The Wackness) - Warm Bodies - The Night Before (2015 film) - (Snatched) - Long Shot (2019 film)

© thevoid99 2011