50/50

Shawn and I went to see 50/50, which might be the best movie I'll have watched this year (which isn't saying much, 'cause I haven't watched that many new movies this year, but still). It is equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and heart-wrenchingly sad. (Seriously, I think I started tearing up about six different times, which would have been full-out sobbing if I wasn't: a) in public, and b) wearing make-up.) The story itself is fairly simple: a 27-year-old man gets diagnosed with cancer and has to deal with the consequences. But it's the relationships between him and the people around him, the love and hatred and friendship, and finding humour in such a bleak situation, that make this film so worth watching.

Every single actor is perfectly cast, from Anna Kendrick as the therapist to Seth Rogen as the best friend to Anjelica Huston as the mother. But no one is more perfect in his role than Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who keeps it realistic and human, and somehow finds balance on a very emotional tightrope. Seth Rogen's loudmouth obnoxiousness offsets Gordon-Levitt's subtlety to keep 50/50 from being too serious or sentimental. A lot of illness-centred movies tend to be very trite and sticky-sweet (A Walk to Remember, anyone?), but there's just enough cynicism and honesty to make 50/50 a smart and engaging film that balances drama and humour.

Rating: 5/5