Chronicle
12A
Directed by Josh Trank
Starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell and Michael B. Jordan
So last night I went to watch the film Chronicle for the
second time in as many weeks and have come to the conclusion that it is
probably the best film I have seen so far this year (yes, I am aware it is only
February!)
The film documents the antics of three ordinary teenagers
who end up with a supernatural power: telekinesis. But don’t be fooled into
thinking this is merely some superhero origin story, where three unlikely kids
save mankind right under the noses of the American Government. Chronicle is a
far cry from the clichés that have plagued this type of genre for so long.
We see our protagonist, Andrew gain two unlikely friends (in
the form of his cousin Matt and the popular Steve) and they bond over their
equally unlikely talent. While being nothing like a comedy, there are some brilliant
moments when we see what teenagers would actually do with such powers. Of course
they would get their own back on school bullies, doss around in the supermarket
and play football in the sky. I’m man enough to admit that saving the world
would not even make the top 10… What’s equally amusing is Max Landis’ script
which captures the teen sociolect to a T. My friends and I found ourselves
sitting there saying - “they are so us!” In fact, it was actually a little
freaky how similar we were…
The third act goes slightly haywire, and for once, it’s
genuinely unexpected given the fact the trailer gives so little away. But what
I will say is that down town Seattle gets quite the beating. It will take a
while to get used to hand held style it’s shot in, however due to the inventive
use of cameras you don’t get that Cloverfield-motion-sickness-feeling.
Chronicle has done immensely well on the low budget, with
little known directors and a young director so I am landed to see that it has
done so well! A truly original story that’s thought provoking, hilarious and
harrowing in equal measures. So if Chronicle is still showing in a cinema near
you, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Well done Josh Trank!
Rating: 9 (thought 10 was a bit much for my first review…)
One to watch: Dane DeHaan. Expecting great things from this
actor (anyone else notice the uncanny resemblance to Leonardo DiCaprio!?) and
am extremely keen to see him in A Place Beyond The Pines, Kill Your Darlings
and The Wettest County In The World.
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