50/50

Plot synopsis:
Adam Lerner is a 27-year-old public radio journalist in Seattle with girlfriend and artist Rachael, of whom best friend and co-worker Kyle disapproves. While Kyle is brash and outspoken, Adam is more introverted and mild-mannered.
After experiencing harsh pains in his back, Adam is diagnosed with schwannoma neurofibrosarcoma, a malignant tumor in his spine, and must undergo chemotherapy. He sees on the Internet that survival is 50/50. After Adam reveals this, his overbearing mother, Diane, who nurses her Alzheimer's-stricken husband Richard, offers care for him but Adam rejects, as Rachael promised to this. However, she is "uncomfortable" during his treatments and is often late to pick him up since he doesn't drive. She also gets him a retired racing greyhound, Skeletor, as a pet. Throughout Adam's struggle, Kyle attempts to maintain his morale, helping Adam shave his head and openly using his illness to pick up women. While on a date, Kyle sees Rachael with another man at a gallery, forcing her to confess; Adam then breaks up for good. He starts to follow Kyle, using his illness to successfully pick up two women at a bar.
Meanwhile, Adam skeptically begins going to a young, inexperienced therapist, Katherine McKay, a PhD candidate doing the clinical aspect of her thesis at the hospital. Although their relationship and sessions begin unevenly, he slowly begins to open up to her. After she drives him home after one of his chemo sessions, the two develop a rapport, blurring their professional and personal relationship as friends. She helps Adam understand his mother's situation and that even loved ones feel just as much stress as the patient, which helps Adam repair the rift between him and his mother. During treatments, Adam befriends Alan and Mitch, two older cancer patients also undergoing chemotherapy, who offer advice and smoke marijuana with him.
After Mitch dies, Adam's fear of his potential death and future surface as he's subsequently informed that he needs to undergo surgery. The night before, Adam argues with a drunk Kyle, demanding to drive even though he can't. After a near miss, Adam breaks down and berates Kyle for seemingly not taking him seriously and using it for his own gain. Adam calls Katherine and tells her that he wishes he had a girlfriend like her, but also says he is tired and just wants it to be over. That night, Adam stays at Kyle's and finds a book entitled 'Facing Cancer Together' from their first trip to a bookstore where Kyle picked up the shop clerk—filled with notes, highlighted paragraphs and turned-down pages, proving that Kyle sincerely cares and has been simply continuing to treat Adam the same since pre-diagnosis.
The next day, Kyle drops Adam off, who embraces Kyle for being a good friend and apologizes for the previous night. After Adam says his farewells to family, he undergoes the surgery. During the wait, Katherine goes to the waiting room and inadvertently meets Adam's family and Kyle. After the surgery, Kyle, Diane, and Katherine are told that although the bone degradation was worse than they had thought, the tumor was removed successfully, and that Adam would recover.
Some time later, Adam is getting ready for a date with Katherine, while Kyle encourages him and cleans the incision on Adam's back from the surgery. The doorbell rings and Adam lets Katherine inside. After Kyle leaves, Katherine asks, "Now what?," and Adam simply smiles - at last being free of cancer.

Tags: comedy, romantic, humor, entertaining, sentimental

Review:
So, trust me when I tell you, that this movie gets it.It gets what it is like to receive a horrific diagnosis out of the blue, the numbness and shock of dealing with it, the well meaning friends and acquaintances who say the stupidest things ("every time I feel sorry for myself, I just think of you..."), and those friends who really become your rock as you go through the miasma of treatment and try to still make your life have meaning.
Again, this movie gets it.Joseph Gordon Levitt and Seth Rogen deserve high praise for the honesty that they bring to their performances.
Easy: Just give them equal measure with the title 50/50 -- light treatment of a dark subject.Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has to deal not only with his own emotions when he is diagnosed, but also those of a close friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), an inveterate partier and ribald quipper, and his chronically worrisome mother (Anjelica Huston).
Yet director Jonathan Levine and writer Will Reiser keep it all as upbeat as possible, not in small part due to Rogen's constantly funny chatter, which comes at just the right times as the plot gets heavy with cancer surviving techniques (the film turns out to show the way to battle: with humor).
Cancer, or any other terminal illness for that matter, almost always plays some kind x-factor in a film — that is when a film even dares to enter a realm often deemed depressing and "not for the movies." Most often, scripts will position cancer as a tearjerking emotional turning point in a film or as the initial spark of some banal "live life to the fullest" comedy."50/50" puts an end to that.
Reiser's story provides a mostly unforced and honest depiction of a young man's diagnosis and treatment for potentially fatal spinal cancer, one where cancer isn't the conflict in and of itself, but the way it so dramatically changes the behavior of the people whose lives it enters and positively and negatively alters relationships.Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues his spree of playing absolutely lovable main characters as Adam, a play-it-safe 27-year-old who after the initial shock handles his diagnosis in stride, keeping his ups and downs internal other than when the script cues him to let it out a bit.
The more external symptoms come from Adam's girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) and mother (Anjelica Huston).Other than focusing on these relationships, director Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") puts particular emphasis on character perspective, which will change instantaneously at points throughout the film.
Even though Rogen exerted his usual shtick a bit more than needed, he handles his character as written, someone who wants desperately to help his best friend but hides behind shallow self-centered form of support that many men turn to because they can't communicate emotions all that well.The women of "50/50" also deliver if not more so.
Those who can't help but fixate on this being a movie about cancer will likely have to remind themselves to feel serious when "50/50" just wants you to simply absorb it as you would any other film.Other than some predictable moments and plot devices to give the film a nicer Hollywood sheen, "50/50" provides a genuine and heartfelt movie experience, one that neither goes for the emotional sucker punch nor the sugarcoated version.
There is little doubt that the subject matter of this film will limit its audience, but for those brave souls who give it a shot, I believe you will find it funny, touching and insightful.The film introduces us to Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is a very nice, very normal, very low-key guy who works at a radio station as a writer ...
From this point forward, the film borders on brilliance at times.Adam's girlfriend is played by Bryce Dallas Howard; his mother by Angelica Huston; and his best friend by Seth Rogen.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Adam, a 27 year old easy going guy who unexpectedly gets diagnosed with cancer.
Seth Rogen plays his best friend, Kyle, who always tries to help Adam out, but doesn't always know how to go about it.
The writer of the film, Will Reiser, based the film on his own experiences with fighting and beating cancer at a young age, and his passion and understanding of this story shine beautifully through the film and its characters which surely all resemble Reiser's own friends and family in some way.
And so as we watch the relationships between Adam and the people in his life grow and fade we develop a deeper understanding of his character, making 50/50 an incredibly human story.It's always nice to be so surprised by a film's quality.
While 50/50 has a heartbreaking, and is sometimes emotion-testing and tear-jerking, it still has a strong comedic relief thanks to Seth Rogen, who is rather unfairly bashed in a majority of his films.The acting is superb by both leads, the parents of Adam played by Angelica Houston and Serge Houde are portrayed effectively and in a loving way, and the screenplay and Johnathan Levine's direction never fails or works against this film in any way.
It is the best "disease of the week" film ever made, which sounds like a backhanded compliment but I don't know how to describe the genre any better.I have always felt that Gordon-Levitt along with Gosling are far and away the two best young actors working today.
Well, the young director Jonathan Levine and Will Reiser (screenplay) found a formidable new vision of it all.The film tells the story of Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young man of twenty-seven years working for a radio company in Seattle.
While "50/50" is a moving, and sometimes it is emotion-test and tearful, he still has a strong comic relief thanks to Seth Rogen, and several occasions that Adam and Kyle meddle.The film is a drama, that works as a comedy very well written.
It's as if the film were telling us, "if it is your last minutes, let then be smiling!".The cast is terrific, even comic, Seth manages to have an interesting dramatic performance; Anna Kendrick formidable as ever; Angelica Houston and Serge Houde as Adam's parents with great performances; but who shines above everyone is Joseph Levitt with a fantastic performance, proving to be an very promising actor.Thanks to a wonderful third act, in terms of direction and screenplay that never fail or work against the film at any time, the public has an emotional breakdown all of the characters and the story itself and fantastic to witness..
First-time writer Will Reiser uses his own experience with cancer at a young age to play down the dramatic aspects of illness, and instead showcase the lighter side of things, showing that even when you have cancer you still want to get laid and stoned with your best friend.
Adam learns his diagnosis early on in the film and we're not given enough time to understand the character before this, so the whole thing ends up revolving around the cancer.
They all just feel like these movie types we've already seen instead of real people, the most offensive of which being Adam's therapist played by Anna Kendrick.
There are a lot of genuine emotions going on here and I appreciate Reiser and director Jonathan Levine not going the easy route with melodrama and emotional manipulation that you find in most stories dealing with this topic, but the film has quite a few contrivances that betray the characters in order to benefit story progression and the therapist relationship is something that left a bad taste in my mouth all the way through.
What basically saves the film in the end is Joseph Gordon Levitt's likability factor, and a very strong performance by his mother, Angelica Houston, who unfortunately, didn't get more screen time.
Seth Rogan's character seems only to serve as a device for comic relief, to make sure we don't get too down.The last part of the film ends strong and hits all the emotional buttons (it would've made a great short), but the majority of the film is basically another arrested development story, with Rogan's character acting like the affable, 12-year old boy, providing his fair share of penis and weed jokes, that we've grown to love...or at least tolerate.
The evolution of Adam (Levitt) is realistic and touching, and by the time the inevitable "confrontation" takes place, you'll feel like you've endured something miraculous.To further comment on the layered plot and what it implies about the needs of everyone "surviving" all walks of life would be to ruin some of the more unexpected revelations that come from 50/50, so I'll end by saying, quite simply, that it's a wonderful movie.In fact, there's a 99.9% chance that you'll leave the theater with a huge smile on your face.
This poignant story is about a 27-year old healthy, reserved, safe character Adam (Joseph Gordon Levitt) who is suddenly diagnosed with a rare and malignant type of cancer and is given a 50/50 chance of beating it.
The screenplay really deserves credit; it deals with the traumatic illness of cancer in an honest way, without ever feeling fake; and the acting really compliments that, Joseph Gordon Levitt gives a truly believable and excellent performance of a young man facing this trouble; and the best friend (Seth Rogan) portrays his characters sentimental big heart underneath his awkwardly funny and sexually-driven personality perfectly.
The scenes between the trainee psychiatrist (Anna Kendrick) and Adam are a pleasure because of her obvious instant attraction conflicted by her obligation to stay within the boundaries of patient conduct and give her best professional objective help.The story is primarily a comedy but its subtleties and underlying themes are truly excellent and what makes it thoroughly pleasant to watch and a touching experience.
This definitely a movie for our time, and being a twenty-something myself, I connected with any aspects of this film, especially the relationship between Gordon-Levitt and Rogen's characters.
Seth Rogen plays the cool friend, which was perfect and the way he handled things in this movie made me say, "He's a really cool guy".
I think this film features Seth Rogen's (Kyle) best acting and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Adam) was as solid as ever.
It is a difficult task to find some comedy to counter balance Cancer, but writer Will Reiser draws appropriately from his own experiences of illness and with friend Seth Rogen, co-star and producer, to ensure that the story moves along organically and smoothly.
I might not know much about reviewing movies but one thing i know for sure is that if you're really human inside, you will feel and get what this movie is about the message is clear and simple, that might sound a bit dull but some times simple things turn out to be the best of them all, if you're not sure give it a chance you won't know for sure until you judge it by yourself.If you cannot relate to the movie and its main character not in the specific way he's experiencing life but emotionally, you have to get out there experience life a little then re-watch it and tell me how you feel by the end of this wonderful film..
Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Kyle (Seth Rogen) are best friends co-workers.
He has to rely on his best friend played by Seth Rogen, his fellow patients getting their chemotherapy treatments and a young psychiatrist in training who he goes to deal with the issues of his situation.With this movie and other stuff like (500) Days of Summer and being one of the hottest in demand actors right now JGL is definitely turning out to be one of the best actors of his generation..
Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers another winning screen performance as Adam Lerner, a 27-year old who surprisingly gets cancer, and now everyone is trying to help him out, from his gorgeous and unexplainable girlfriend, portrayed by Bryce Dallas Howard, and his over-protective mother, portrayed brilliantly by Anjelica Huston.
Stars: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick are all outstanding in this film (yet another) on the Fallen Human condition of humanity, this film using cancer.
So JGL gets cancer and of course he starts to lose his hair and all the other stuff that goes along with cancer treatment but there by his side is his trusty best friend Seth Rogen in all his comedic cliché but excellent glory.It's pretty good that the subject of cancer can be used in TV and film and it not be a total drag and make you depressed, between this film and The Big C I think a lot of people are enjoying TV and movies about cancer.
Seth Rogen does the film so much good, he's just such a lovable guy it's hard not to like him, JGL is also pretty good as usual also, although his character does sometimes get a bit boring.
Anna Kendrick is so great in everything, she is a very talented young actress and I hope people like her continue to get the good roles, she manages to stand out in everything she's in.I've heard so many great things about this movie, and I agree with a lot of it but it is a little over hyped, I mean it's good but i have seen better this year , in all honesty I don't think this movie will clean up in awards season, there's just too many other movies that are better.This movie kinda brings together two audiences, the older generation who like serious films and the younger crowd who enjoy the Seth Rogen style comedies, and both audiences will be pleased.
For every crude joke, there are enough interesting character dynamics and real human emotions in this to make it a solid, thoroughly enjoyable and heart-wrenching film.That fine balance between comedy and drama can partly be attributed to Will Reiser, who wrote the story and script based on his own experiences with cancer.
However, the story also makes sure to deal with the serious issues around the disease too, such as how Adam handles his situation and the various ill-effects of cancer treatment, as well as how his diagnosis effects his relationships with his overbearing mother, and his girlfriend.While the script itself does a good job of bringing in humor to an fairly dramatic story, it's the actors who really bring out the emotions of those affected by Adam's disease.
Anna Kendrick also stars as Katherine, Adam's inexperienced therapist, and works well as the earnest, somewhat bumbling, young doctor.The best part of the movie though, is quite easily Joseph Gordon Levitt as Adam.
While the topic may sound like a strange one for a comedy, 50/50 works well, thanks to its well balanced script and a great cast, topped off by an award-worthy performance from Joseph Gordon Levitt.
50/50 shows real cancer and not the fake movie kind ala this month's Gus Van Sant film Restless.Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a 27 year old sound editor for Seattle Public Radio.
Unlike Seth Rogen, Kendrick is extremely capable and her scenes with Gordon-Levitt are as uncomfortable and stunted as they would be in a real hospital.Bryce Dallas Howard has now played back to back roles as an extremely unsympathetic and callous character; this summer's The Help has Howard as a conniving villain.
She overshadows Gordon-Levitt and annihilates Seth Rogen when they share the screen.I mentioned Restless earlier because both of these films were released close together, have a main character with cancer, and are even both based in the Pacific Northwest.
50/50 looks and feels that much better because I saw Restless recently and it was so ridiculous in how it showed a character with cancer that 50/50 shines bright above it.Even though I complain about Seth Rogen's acting, 50/50 is a very powerful film and does not match the comedy its preview promises.
The movie handles it well with a good balance of drama and humor, much of the latter of which comes from Seth Rogen in one of his best roles.
Joseph being that suffering personification as in (500) Days Of Summer (2009); Seth Rogen being that boring and over the top "funny" character that tries to make people laugh and forget that it's a drama; Bryce Dallas acting as the same selfish girl; Anna Kendrick the same insecure and enthusiast as in Up In The Air (2009); Angelica Houston the same old mother.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is doing some of the best work of his career in here and along with the help of a good supporting cast like Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Seth Rogen it pretty much gets it right on performance level.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is heartbreaking yet understated as twenty-something cancer sufferer Adam, though at many times his character comes off as completely unlikable which makes it hard to root for him.Though within the film, Seth Rogen's as the best friend Kyle steals majority of the film with his typical wise cracks and Seth Rogen type humor.
A 27-year old man, Adam (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
But even though Seth Rogen is in the film, this is Joseph Gordon-Levitt's movie all the way and he does a great job of carrying it.
50/50 is about a man, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who discovers he has cancer and only has a 50/50 chance of surviving.The fact that his best friend, played by Seth Rogen, takes a prevalent place at his side on all advertising, might make people think that this is a comedy.
Anyways that's just me.There are several humorous moments along the way as Kyle (Seth Rogen) tries to keep Adam's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) spirits up through his 50/50 survival rate cancer diagnosis, his treatment, subsequent pot smoking and loss of his bee-atch of a girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard).
Now I really do like Joseph gordon levitt as an actor and he owns this film with his wonderful performance that shows just how good he is.