Chronicle

Plot synopsis:
Seattle high-school teenager Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) starts videotaping his life. At home, his mother Karen (Bo Petersen) is slowly dying from cancer and his alcoholic ex-firefighter father Richard (Michael Kelly) browbeats him. At school, Andrew is unpopular and frequently bullied.Andrew's cousin Matt (Alex Russell) invites him to a rave to help him meet people, but Andrew's filming angers an attendee and Andrew leaves the rave, despondent. Approached outside by Steve Washington (Michael B. Jordan), the school's popular star quarterback and future politician, Andrew is persuaded to join him and Matt and record something strange the pair of them have found in the woods nearby: a hole in the ground that emits a loud and strange noise. The three enter the hole and discover a large, blue, glowing, crystalline object. As Andrew films, the object turns red and the group is stricken by nosebleeds and pain. The camera cuts out. Weeks later Andrew records himself, Matt, and Steve as they display telekinetic abilities; able to move objects with their minds, but suffering nosebleeds when they overexert themselves. They return to the hole, but find that it has collapsed and that the sheriff's department are sealing off the area for safety.As their abilities continue to grow more powerful, Matt theorizes that their abilities function like a muscle, becoming stronger with use. The three boys develop a close friendship and begin employing their abilities to play pranks. However, after Andrew pushes a rude motorist off the road and into a river, Matt insists that they restrict the use of their powers, particularly against living creatures. The three later discover that they can use their powers to fly and revel in the experience. They agree to fly around the world together after graduation, with Andrew expressing an interest in visiting Tibet because of its peaceful nature.Steve encourages Andrew to enter the school talent show to gain popularity. Andrew amazes his fellow students by disguising his powers as an impressive display of magic tricks, juggling, and tightrope walking. That night, Andrew, Matt and Steve celebrate at a house party, where Andrew is the center of attention. After drinking with his classmate Monica (Anna Wood), Andrew and her go upstairs to have sex but Andrew vomits on Monica, disgusting her and humiliating himself.Andrew becomes increasingly withdrawn and hostile, culminating when his father attacks him and Andrew uses his ability to overpower him. His outburst inflicts nosebleeds and pain on Steve and Matt. Steve is drawn to Andrew, who is floating in the middle of a storm. Steve tries to console him, but Andrew grows increasingly angry until Steve is suddenly struck by lightning and killed. At Steve's funeral, Matt confronts Andrew about the suspicious circumstances of Steve's death. Andrew denies knowledge or responsibility to Matt, but he privately begs forgiveness at Steve's grave.Andrew grows distant from Matt and again finds himself alone and unpopular at school. After being bullied, he uses his power to tear several teeth from the bully's mouth. Andrew begins to identify himself as an apex predator, rationalizing that he should not feel guilt for using his power to hurt those weaker than himself. When his mother's condition deteriorates, Andrew uses his powers to steal money for her medicine. After mugging some local thugs, he robs a gas station where he inadvertently causes an explosion that puts him in the hospital and under police investigation. At his bedside, his upset father informs the unconscious Andrew that his mother has died, and he angrily blames Andrew for her death. As his father is about to strike him, Andrew awakens to stop his father's punch and blows out the outer wall of the hospital room.Matt, while attending a family birthday party with his girlfriend, Casey (Ashley Grace), suddenly experiences a nosebleed and senses Andrew is in trouble. He sees a television news report about the explosion at the hospital and knows it involved Andrew. Matt and Casey travel to the hospital and finds Andrew floating outside the building. Andrew drops his father, who is saved by Matt, and proceeds to wreak havoc with his powers. Matt confronts Andrew at the Space Needle and tries to reason with him, but Andrew grows increasingly hostile and irrational at any attempt to tell him what to do. Andrew attacks Matt and the pair fight across the city, crashing through buildings and hurling vehicles. Andrew, injured and enraged, begins using his power to destroy the buildings around him, threatening many other lives. Unable to get through to Andrew, Matt tears a spear from a nearby statue and impales Andrew, killing him. The police surround Matt, but he flies away.Some time later, Matt lands in Tibet with Andrews camera. Speaking to the camera while addressing Andrew, Matt vows to use his powers for good and to find out what happened to them in the hole. Matt positions the camera to view a Tibetan monastery in the distance and says "You made it" before flying away, leaving the camera behind to continue recording the tranquil scene.

Tags: murder, stupid, violence, clever, action, revenge, prank

Review:
After last weeks fantastic The Grey, the new year continues to produce good film with one of the most interesting takes on the comic book film in a long time.Now, you might be tempted to blow this off as another low budget, shaky cam movie ala Paranormal Activity, but you'd be wrong.
But where most stories about super powered people might find them fighting evil or exploring human nature, Chronicle takes it's time to show a more realistic approach.
Josh Trank's Chronicle represents an evolution of the found footage genre, taking the character as cameraman conceit to interesting new places, and marking the director as a young talent worth monitoring.Chronicle differs from predecessors like Cloverfield in the sense that this handycam footage isn't presented as 'found' per se, but rather is a stylistic and narrative choice which puts a refreshingly original spin on a well overdone story: the superhero origin.
But make no mistake, this is an origin story (one which doesn't necessarily beg for a sequel however), and Trank and his co-writer Max Landis (son of John Landis) use the visceral, in-your-face nature of the found footage to breathe life into a genre which has come dangerously close to wearing out its welcome in the past decade.As is the case with almost all science-fiction, a lot more can be read into Chronicle than what is happening on the surface.
The old adage about writing what you know seems to ring true in the case of Chronicle, and seeing Andrew learn to move his camera in more dynamic ways thanks to his new found powers is perhaps the tiniest hint of autobiography from Trank.
The film is filled with subtle aspects such as this which will probably be missed by most, but thankfully simply taking Chronicle at face value is a rewarding experience, proving that the superhero origin story is not dead, it just needs a good shake up from time to time.tinribs27.wordpress.com.
If suppose paranormal activity and any super hero movie were to mate, their offspring would have been called "Chronicle".I think by now the "handheld camera" trick in films is becoming a little stale.
Chronicle, however, is nothing less than a masterpiece at not only the "found footage" style, but is also a brand new way of making a superhero movie, mainly because the people it centers on are far from heroes anyway.
All the larger than life characters of other sci fi or super hero movie is nowhere to be seen here.Read the rest of the review at : http://devlifeintechnicolor.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/chronicle-a- realistic-take-on-sci-fi-action/.
Well no, its not, but its a lot of fun.The plot you can decipher from the trailer; three teenagers, Andrew, Steve and Matt find a hole in the ground and uncover something that gives them the power to move things with their minds.
Jordan and Alex Russell complete the triptych as the local high school's popular kid and Andrew's too-cool-for-school cousin.Capturing teenage angst on film has always seemed like a real struggle for Hollywood.
I am so glad I chose to watch this at the cinema...I usually don't go to cinemas but it was a night out and we chose Chronicle.I was expecting a "Sky High" type of film and thank god it wasn't (although that film was brilliant too!) - I actually wouldn't recommend kids watch this.I didn't know it was a "hand-held camera aspect" type of film and that probably would have put me off but honestly, it really doesn't matter at all and I thought it helped with building a believable story from the kids' perspectives.It has the usual groan-inducing moments of explaining why the camera is constantly on but that's to be expected.Story-wise, I can't really fault it.
It's realistic and the effects are superb; probably some of the best super power sequences I have seen in a while.Couple of downsides: I would have liked the "abusive father" stuff to have been less restrained and/or the mother and son scenes to be more poignant because I personally didn't "quite" believe one of the kids' motivation for the things he did; it was also weird that the cousin didn't really spend time with his aunt...I don't want to give too much away though.I also wasn't happy with the final scene.
The very final scene though left me feeling like it wasn't necessary - but it didn't detract from anything that had gone before, it just meant I looked at my friend afterwards and said "why?" instead of "wow!".But we were both animatedly talking about how brilliant the film was for hours after and how glad we were that we watched it.One final thing; something happens in the film that I'm not going to spoil...but it was totally unnecessary and harsh - you will know when it happens.Best and most satisfying film I've seen in ages, 10/10.
I feel like for many this was a big problem, but for me I felt it left good curiosity.The overall movie was filmed well.
Jordan as Steve Montgomery, likable popular guy; Dane DeHaan as diffident school spittoon Andrew Detmer; and Alex Russell (no relation) as Andrew's philosophical, understanding, good-guy cousin Matt Garetty — use 95% of the screen time to do a highly credible job of showing what it would be like for ordinary high-school boys to acquire telekinetic powers, which slowly strengthen as they exercise them.We hardly see Andrew at all in the beginning, as its his camera that's being used to film everything, and he's behind it, not in front of it.
I went to an advanced screening of this on Wednesday and it was one of the most abysmal things I've ever seen and anyone who showers it with praise never deserves to watch another film ever again.I actually felt like I was dying when watching it.I think my brain was on the verge of melting and pouring out of my ear.They actually managed to succeed in making a potentially interesting concept of acquired telekinesis completely boring by placing it within the most banal characters imaginable.Everyone was detestable and the dialogue was truly mind-numbingly bland.A lot of people will love it, but such people are ridiculous..
Otherwise you will continue to be subjected to the same, old treatment that you so rightly deserve - Like being punched in the head at least 3 times a day by not only your fellow classmates (while others, doing nothing, look on), but by your very own father, as well.Now, I ask you - Wasn't it just the most amazing coincidence imaginable that Andrew suddenly started to diligently record everything on camera just days before he and his mates just happened to discover the hole in the ground and, thus, miraculously becoming the 3 bad-ass "superboys"?
But, what doesn't make sense to me was, later, when their super-strength had increased, why didn't they return again to open up the hole and maybe that way they could've gotten some sensible answers to this whole, weird phenomenon?In Chronicle it totally killed me that pretty, little Casey was also a hand-held movie camera fanatic, as well.
It took a whole hour out of its 84 minute running time finally to get to all of the mayhem and carnage stuff and by that time I was so fed up with this utter crap movie that I couldn't have cared less what sort of awesome destruction was about to take place.And finally, I ask you - After you've killed someone, don't you think that it's just a little too late to be saying complete nonsense to the dead person like "I'm sorry", and especially the most nauseating line of all "I love you"????
I mean, if, by the end of the movie, there is no interesting story, no characters I sympathize with and no scares, what is there left for me to like?I did like the premise, but the trailer was misleading as I thought the storyline of the origin of their powers and their effect on others will be at least investigated if not explained.
and for that a friend of mine just couldn't stand watching it and just went out the theater going for " Sherlock Holmes 2 " which was running in the theater beside us although it was his SECOND TIME watching it !!I Admit that the visual effects was good comparing it to other bad graphic movies but unfortunately it wasn't applied with a better story ..
The 3 leads played off each other well creating a complex chemistry in their relationships that ranges from juvenile foolery to mature responsibilities for each other's conflicting actions and use of their super powers.There is room for a sequel and as long as they can come up with a good story and try not to rip too much off other sources, I will happily be in the queue to see it..
And based on the reactions (or lack thereof) of everyone else in the theater I was not alone.Based on some of the reviews I've read since, I'm almost under the impression that there are currently two movies out with the same title, it would be the only explanation that makes sense.Lets see; there is no plot; there is zero character development so I was never engaged and didn't care what happened to any of them; there was zero suspense; there is no explanation or even attempt of an explanation; hand-held camera footage is really bad for a complete movie.Wait, there is one good thing about the movie; it only goes for 95 minutes.It was bad, and not even in a good way..
I like the people with super powers idea but, for me to like a movie I need to relate to or identify with the characters in the film.
If you think you'd like nearly 2 hours of extra-shaky hand-cam footage, spectacularly annoying idiots yelling at each other, and repetitive special effects with lots of stuff breaking, then this is the film for you.
What made things worse is that I am not a fan of Handcam films like this which makes it even worse.Technically very polished from a special effects view although there were not many in the film, the story itself is a real let down and ultimately one can guess whats going to happen next, right up to the end, all very predictable.Soundtrack wise nothing to write home about, the actors screaming occasionally only made things worse.All in all a really terrible film with little depth and if there are any hidden meanings?
At times they sound good and very natural but at others it just sounds far too scripted and they obviously didn't had much big acting experience yet.Still the whole approach of this movie and how its story and characters progress and develop in a realistic and very straight-forward way, make this movie a real perfectly watchable and certainly also original one.7/10 http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/.
The story is a sort of "Carrie" with more characters, with three teenagers acquiring telekinetic abilities and one of them abused and timid that is pushed to the limit; awful camera in the style of "The Blair Witch Project" and awesome special effects.
Chronicle does this perfectly, offering up a movie that gives a realistic take on the superhero genre, showing what a group of teenagers would really do if they were granted out-of-this-world powers.Presented in found footage format, the movie centers around Andrew Demeter, his cousin Matt, and their friend Steve, the popular candidate for class president.
This is especially tough for Andrew, who needs a way to filter his rage, considering his mother is deathly ill and his father is a violent alcoholic, often physically abusing him for no particular reason.The movie really takes the superhero genre, and makes it a little realistic.
In the last 2-3 years I have seldom been satisfied.Well, I guess I should get to my review, so heads up:***********************Spoiler Alert!!!***********************OK, so Chronicle is using yet again the "home camera shooting" fashion, like that other extremely disappointing series of movies that started with "Cloverfield" (2008).
They try to make some rules to control their powers but eventually give into the darker halves of their own conscientiousness.*******************NO MORE SPOILER PAST THIS POINT******************This movie does contain the elements of a story line, but still falls short of clever plot points, good screen play, and lacks true cinematography.I'm awfully sick of the Cloverfield cinematography.
The most recent example of that is Chronicle.Independently from the "pseudo-documentary" format, Chronicle could also be included into the "realistic super-hero" sub-genus we saw flourish in the films Defendor, Kick-Ass and Super; but instead of satirizing the super-hero concept, Chronicle makes a tribute to it with a very interesting "origin story" in which the super-powers aren't an end in themselves, but the catalyst of the characters' emotional growth.
As certain things start to go bad, it's not hard to feel a sense of desperation and intensity as the events unfold.Along with the characters and the story, the camera work and special effects really add another dimension to the movie.
The story makes little sense, even in the context of a super-hero/sci-fi setting, and the first half of the movie is about a bunch of teenagers and their usual issues at school except of course they got some sort of super powers...And the ending is nothing sort of craptacural, over the top and just ridiculous.
Jordan also did an excellent job playing the roles Matt Garetty and Steve Montgomery.I have never really liked the first person camera perspective, but this movie really did a good job with it.
But I was very surprised, Chronicle did the whole video camera quite well.Social outcast Andrew(Dane Dehaan) his cousin Matt(Alex O'Russell) and his friend Steve(Michael B.
Jordan is charming and Dane Doha is convincing as the Bobby C (Barry Miller) or Tetsuo Shima (Nozomu Sasaki) archetype.The intelligence level of the protagonists is not high as shown by the attempts of the Dane Doha character to gets some much needed cash yet the interesting theme of this movie is how these dim boys deal with their new found powers.Chronicle is fun, exciting and well made..
I really enjoyed chronicle from start to finish.This movie pushed the envelope on the found footage genre and the superhero genre as well.The way the filmmakers used the whole found footage idea was pretty smart.The storyline actually works and kept me engaged.Chronicle feels like an origin story of one of the main characters.The special effects look good considering how much this movie cost to develop.Also this movie is realistic and has some good characters.The acting felt realistic and I actually cared for the characters.The three central characters Steve,Matt and Andrew represent some cliché characters from high school but have more to them.My favorite character had to be Steve because for me he actually develops more depth.A lot of people complained about the running time but I had no problem with the eighty three minute running time.The running time didn't bother me at all I felt like I got my money's worth half way through the movie.The whole big spectacular climatic fight scene was amazing.This movie feels like a fan boy film but it works.Chronicle mixes unbreakable meets cloverfield meets akira meets superman II meets breakfast club.What more can someone ask for.Max Landis and josh trank has revived the found footage genre to the stratosphere and made the whole idea of superheroes better..
With Chronicle we get something that I have craved for in a movie shot with hand held cameras: an actual story with interesting and complicated characters.
For a while, they test out their discovery, experimenting and pranking as boys tend to do; soon enough, the movie takes on a darker twist when the boys realize that if gone unchecked, their powers could be fatally dangerous.The film is shot somewhat in the same handy-cam-found-footage style of movies like The Blair Witch Project, The Troll Hunter, Paranormal Activity, and Cloverfield.
Fortunately, there isn't a lot of the shake-so-much-I-feel-sick sort of work there is a little, but as the videographer (main character Andrew) improves his skill, the shots also steadily improve.Some have noted that this is a "superhero origins" film, but I cannot say that, knowing it would share a bed with so many Marvel-based films Chronicle is in a different league.
Perhaps it was because I found myself identifying with the main character(s) so much but isn't' that the mark of a great film?Do not go into this movie expecting a feel-good, happy ending film.
The high school kids in Chronicle spend the film discovering their new telekinetic powers and how to shape them to affect themselves and others around them.
If you want to see a good movie and have a great time then by all means, go see this film..
Seeing how this had such good rating I decided to watch it, this was after watching The Avengers so you can imagine how disappointed I was with Chronicle.I hated the way the movie was filmed...
But with Chronicle, the story of three boys with powers and the consequences of their actions may be the best super-hero movie without a super-hero.".
The whole film is shot with a "found footage" method, meaning its shot in a documentary type style with a hand-held camera, think of movies like, Cloverfield, Catfish, Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project.
So it's safe to say, if you are not fan of that type of filmmaking, this movie might not be for you but having said that, I personally think that Chronicle does it in a pretty creative way that makes it different from the other films I've listed above especially since its a film about superheroes and superpowers.
The teens in the movie and for the most part, everyone, acted like real people, doing ordinary things and dealing with challenges, including the pending death of the main character's Mother.
Since this film has come out we have seen Stranger Things and some superhero movies blend in Chronicle's take on telekinesis and super powers.