50/50 (review)

This is an excellent dramedy, with a stellar cast and a tender heart.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is adorable, he's simply too cute and likeable. This is, by far, the best performance YET in his career, I emphasise 'yet' because he will deliver other performances with as much tendernesss and nuance. This performance, like this film, is the perfect blend of sarcasm, humour and heartfelt drama. The film can easily make you laugh one moment, only to tug at your heartstrings the next. Superb.

Anna Kendrick, who plays the young, socially awkward, but sweet psychologist, has something very Amy Adams about her, and she's just as talented. I think she can easily relate to this character; they're both new to their fields and are searching for their footing. Rest assured, they've both found it by the denouement of this film. Of course, Kendrick already impressed the critics with her performance in UP IN THE AIR, now she has impressed me.

Anjelica Huston delivers a hilarious, yet touching performance as an overly-concerned and stern mother. She is, after all, one of *the Greats* and she rocks the short hair. Just saying.

Bryce Dallas Howard, who was fascinating in THE HELP, is quite interesting here. She's the girlfriend that cheats, so naturally, you want to hate her. Though, you see her side, it MUST be extremely difficult to take care of a cancer patient - the film reminds us of this - and she seems as though she is genuinely TRYING. She tries, she's sorry and she wants to help. She cheated. Who can you blame?

The facts are cancer is a TERRIFYING and indescribably HORRIBLE disease; smoking is fifth leading cause of death; and this is an amazing journey and everyone should see it. When life hits rock-bottom, you have no choice but to look towards the feeble light. So whilst you're engulfed by the intense darkness, hope and humour are the only things sustaining your dimming will to live. Life, even in its most tragic moments, is a dramedy, and this film captures this entirely.

9/10

P.S. I will be reviewing David Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soon, and GROSS, Kendrick was that Jessica girl in Twilight. I guess she has to include some bad films on her resume or people would be too intimidated to work with her.

BLOOD letter

Greetings readers, it's been a long time I KNOW, but I'm here now and it's time to discuss a gorgeous film.

http://vnexpress.net/Files/Subject/3b/bd/18/bf/Thien_menh_anh_hung_(12).jpg

Victor Vu's BLOOD LETTER (Vietnamese title: Thien Menh Anh Hung) is a fictionalised history/ martial arts EPIC, and my god was I impressed. The trailer, with its stylish action sequences and divine cinematography, looks beautiful and I was afraid that would be it... just an awesome trailer. Of course there was hope because Victor Vu already impressed me with his hilarious and well-shot farce BATTLE OF THE BRIDES - the man knows how and when to use special effects, and he knows what's EMOTIONALLY EFFECTIVE (humour included).

Anyway, BLOOD LETTER is thoroughly compelling and has more depth than the trailer advertises. Yes, it is beautiful to look at - I mean, absolutely dazzling - but it offers a lot more beyond the spot-on stage combat and the authentic Vietnamese scenery. The characters are very well-drawn and emotionally interesting; even the villainous, driven empress is given a vulnerable side. Actually, she gives one of the most memorable and nuanced performances, and that's saying a lot considering how superb the cast is.

With martial arts epics, you can learn to expect a grand scene where the protagonist has 'superman' endurance and a 'powerful resolution', but this scene was done rather well with interesting use of special effects to express the protagonist's katharsis. The intricate build-up to this grand scene definitely gets praises, Vu is very poetic and metaphorical with his directions and that worked in the favour of this film.

The dialogue is quite witty and not overly formal (thank heavens). The story has good, though not entirely unexpected, twists, but that's not the script's strongest point. The winning point would have to be the story's depth and the thought-provoking questions that the script offers; what happens when a tyrant is murdered? Is it worth it? Is REVENGE worth it?

P.S. It really is gorgeous, even the costumes. God, I love a costume-drama done right!

P.P.S. I rewatched it (so I watched it twice in three days) and it was still awesome! In fact, it's now an 8.5 or 8.75 from a previous 8! I HAVE to gush over the monologue that mocks the typical monologues in martial arts films where the antagonist just  STANDS there and obdiently listens when he/she can easily kill the [impractical] speaker.