Chronicle
3/4
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Ashley Hinshaw
Rated PG-13 for Intense Action and Violence, Thematic Material, Some Language, Sexual Content and Teen Drinking
As all of you may know, I am a huge fan of the pseudo-documentary. With a reliance on no-name actors and dialogue that sounds improvised, it allows us to connect with characters in ways that traditional filmmaking cannot. As good of an actor as Robert DeNiro is, he is so famous that it's impossible to only see the character he is playing (playing very well). In this kind of a movie, that problem doesn't occur.
"Chronicle" introduces us to three high school students: shy and socially awkward Andrew (DeHaan), his hot and popular cousin Matt (Russell) and the class president, Steve (Jordan). The three students are really mere acquaintances until one night at a party, they venture into a hole and find a mysterious object. When they touch it, they realize that they now have telekinesis, and the more they use the power, the stronger it gets. But what starts out being a fun trick soon turns into something dangerous.
Let me start out with the good. First off, the characters are likable, and their relationships are credible. Director Josh Trank has a unique understanding of how teenagers act. For example, when the movie begins, these three don't really talk to each other (despite being friends when they were younger, Matt doesn't really want to be seen with Andrew). Once they have the powers, they become incredibly close. The performances are strong, and so is the screenplay. The dialogue and their actions appear to be made up on the spot, like in the scene when they first discover their newfound ability.
Unfortunately, there are a few flaws. First off, there are times, particularly at the beginning, when the film struggles to make carrying around a camera (particularly one as large as the one used in the film) seem credible. Most movies of this kind allow us to ignore this, but "Chronicle" doesn't quite get there. I did like how Trank uses security cameras and another camera-carrying character (Casey, played by Hinshaw) to allow us to see the characters from other points of view. Second, the film doesn't have the sense of immediacy that other "pseudo-documentaries" do. Maybe it's because the novelty has worn off, or because the special effects aren't particularly convincing, or because the camera doesn't always appear to be handheld, but I wasn't sucked into the story as much as I was with "Cloverfield" or "The Blair Witch Project." Third, Michael Kelly is miscast. Although there are times when he is credible as Andrew's alcoholic father, those are isolated incidents, and his dialogue is minimal in these scenes.
But the film's biggest problem is the final act. It's transition from a study of adolescence to a superhero movie isn't credible, and the motivation for one of the characters going loco is weak. Although it was likely the interference of the studio that brought this about, it could have worked with a rewrite to smooth this out.
One of the most difficult things about being a critic is the temptation to review a movie based on how flawless it is, not on whether or not you enjoyed it. I believe that the bottom line for a reviewing a movie is how much I like it. I have openly stated that there are movies that I have given a 4/4 to that are obviously flawed, but I did so because I enjoyed them that much. "Chronicle" is a flawed movie, but I did like it, and I do recommend it. It could have been much more, but as it is, I think it's worth seeing.
Starring: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly, Ashley Hinshaw
Rated PG-13 for Intense Action and Violence, Thematic Material, Some Language, Sexual Content and Teen Drinking
As all of you may know, I am a huge fan of the pseudo-documentary. With a reliance on no-name actors and dialogue that sounds improvised, it allows us to connect with characters in ways that traditional filmmaking cannot. As good of an actor as Robert DeNiro is, he is so famous that it's impossible to only see the character he is playing (playing very well). In this kind of a movie, that problem doesn't occur.
"Chronicle" introduces us to three high school students: shy and socially awkward Andrew (DeHaan), his hot and popular cousin Matt (Russell) and the class president, Steve (Jordan). The three students are really mere acquaintances until one night at a party, they venture into a hole and find a mysterious object. When they touch it, they realize that they now have telekinesis, and the more they use the power, the stronger it gets. But what starts out being a fun trick soon turns into something dangerous.
Let me start out with the good. First off, the characters are likable, and their relationships are credible. Director Josh Trank has a unique understanding of how teenagers act. For example, when the movie begins, these three don't really talk to each other (despite being friends when they were younger, Matt doesn't really want to be seen with Andrew). Once they have the powers, they become incredibly close. The performances are strong, and so is the screenplay. The dialogue and their actions appear to be made up on the spot, like in the scene when they first discover their newfound ability.
Unfortunately, there are a few flaws. First off, there are times, particularly at the beginning, when the film struggles to make carrying around a camera (particularly one as large as the one used in the film) seem credible. Most movies of this kind allow us to ignore this, but "Chronicle" doesn't quite get there. I did like how Trank uses security cameras and another camera-carrying character (Casey, played by Hinshaw) to allow us to see the characters from other points of view. Second, the film doesn't have the sense of immediacy that other "pseudo-documentaries" do. Maybe it's because the novelty has worn off, or because the special effects aren't particularly convincing, or because the camera doesn't always appear to be handheld, but I wasn't sucked into the story as much as I was with "Cloverfield" or "The Blair Witch Project." Third, Michael Kelly is miscast. Although there are times when he is credible as Andrew's alcoholic father, those are isolated incidents, and his dialogue is minimal in these scenes.
But the film's biggest problem is the final act. It's transition from a study of adolescence to a superhero movie isn't credible, and the motivation for one of the characters going loco is weak. Although it was likely the interference of the studio that brought this about, it could have worked with a rewrite to smooth this out.
One of the most difficult things about being a critic is the temptation to review a movie based on how flawless it is, not on whether or not you enjoyed it. I believe that the bottom line for a reviewing a movie is how much I like it. I have openly stated that there are movies that I have given a 4/4 to that are obviously flawed, but I did so because I enjoyed them that much. "Chronicle" is a flawed movie, but I did like it, and I do recommend it. It could have been much more, but as it is, I think it's worth seeing.
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