50/50 film review

Theatrical Poster for 50/50

50/50 tells a sardonic story of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who battles a rare cancer at the young age of 27.

A film about fighting cancer can only go two ways: the cliché route and the depressing route. Where does 50/50 land? In-between.

 

"I'm fine...okay?"

I was impressed with the film’s melancholic approach with life, which we all, as audience members, can relate to in some kind of way. We have the annoying, bothersome mother, the best friend as the comic relief, the girl-friend who cheats on her boyfriend with cancer, and his therapist, the only person he can relate to on a odd level.

As I continued to watch these characters unravel in the film, I couldn’t help but reflect back on my own life. The film’s theme is simple and clear-cut: don’t take life for granted. If you do, perhaps you might become a victim of some obscure kind of cancer that less than 1% of the population gets.

Now where is the time to make and take action of your bucket list? 50/50 successfully manages to address issues of our current lives. We continuously say that we are “fine” after we experience events after events, but it won’t be long until we reach our breaking point.

Of course, with its blissful and classical soundtrack, it’s hard not to get absorbed with the film based on the music alone.

 

Life is just better without hair...and the chemo.

50/50, however, can fall under the cliché category for many reasons due to its happy and up lifting turn outs, but it doesn’t convolute the film’s powerful message. The performances are all around fantastic, as well.

It was hard for me to purchase the ticket at the concession stands because I have my skepticism of these types of films, but to my surprise, I’ve made a deeper connection with this film than with any other [excluding The Tree of Life] this past fall season. I recommend 50/50.

4/5