Review: Chronicle



Dane DeHaan stars as high school ‘loser’ Andrew, who has taken to filming everything in his life on a video camera, including the way his bullying father (Michael Kelly) treats him, and even filming his terminally ill, bedridden mother. At a party one night, his much cooler cousin (Alex Russell) and the resident popular student politician (Michael B. Jordan, who despite the name looks identical to Mariah Carey’s wife, Nick Cannon) ask him to bring his camera over to investigate a mysterious giant hole in the ground close-by. Of course, being young and stupid, they go down the hole to investigate, and come into contact with a strange crystal-like object. Next thing they know, the trio find themselves equipped with special powers, able to lift and move things telepathically. At first the trio have prankish fun with this new discovery, and eventually hone their skills further. Andrew also enjoys bonding with his protective but very different cousin, and the easy-going, immensely likeable Jordan. However, Andrew’s unhappy existence combined with super powers, ultimately prove a dire combination for anyone who dares cross him. Ashley Hinshaw plays a pretty high schooler whom Russell is sweet on, and who also has a video diary for her own blog.

 

I was worried about this 2012 film from debut director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis (Yes, that Landis. He’s John Landis’ son). I haven’t much liked the brooding/realistic crop of modern superhero movies, and I felt that adding shaky-cam to the mix would be an absolutely cataclysmic mistake. I was wrong in my fears, for the most part. This is a smart film that is more about superpowers than superheros, and makes things as realistic as possible without being boring or unpleasant like “Iron Man” or the Christopher Nolan “Batman” movies. In fact, it seems more like an update of “Carrie” (or if you prefer, “The Fury”) for the YouTube and “Jackass” generation, at times. Or maybe an Americanised, non-anime “Akira”, as many have already suggested.

 

I was hugely surprised, and the camerawork ultimately isn’t much of a problem. A lot of it is smoothly shot, without looking too fake so as to take you out of the situation. Having not been based on any previously existing (and beloved) comic book franchise helps, too. Having said that, this isn’t quite what I would call a ‘found footage’ film. More than one camera source is used throughout. In fact, in one of the film’s few flaws, the first video camera is seemingly forgotten about altogether, and yet the footage shot on that camera is still shown to us. Oopsy. I’ll let it slide, though, even though it’s quite clearly a bit of a cock-up. I wish it weren’t done in a video camera style, but that’s the central conceit, and for what it is, it works. Kudos to director Trank and cinematographer Matthew Jensen for not making my head spin at least. There’s one particularly ingenious moment where we manage to get an overhead shot, which I thought was genuinely cool.

 

The early scenes, although having moments of tension, are mostly a combination of teen drama and borderline stoner comedy as our central trio come to terms with their newfound powers. Some of it is genuinely funny, especially the bit with the teddy bear and the talent show scene. The bit with the car is funny, but we were all a bit overexposed to it in the trailers, I think. This kind of silly, juvenile shit is exactly what a lot of youngsters would do in this extraordinary situation. And teens will film just about anything, these days and share it. Just look at the crap people film and put on YouTube, if you don’t believe me.

Aside from character actor Michael Kelly (whose character is a giant moron, perhaps too much of one), the actors are all unknown to me, but are pretty impressive, especially Dane DeHaan, and the pretty and charismatic Ashley Hinshaw (whose character is clearly the best cameraman in the entire film, by the way). DeHaan has the trickiest role, a sort-of teenage Magneto, a supervillain with a somewhat sympathetic back-story. It’s a fascinating character, with his trouble both at home and school really well set-up, but not in a way where you find his descent entirely predictable. His slow progression from protagonist to antagonist is interesting, with enough signs there throughout, but not shoved down your throat. At one point he’s referred to as not being a ‘bad person’, but I’m not so sure. They’re all given essentially the same superpowers, so anything that he does with them surely comes from whatever is inside of him, or are we to entirely blame his shitty upbringing? If so, then why is Magneto considered a villain? (Personally, I found Magneto easier to relate to in “X Men: First Class” than the rest of the characters) That’s not a criticism so much as an observation.

Here’s a film about people with superpowers that makes you think, but still manages to entertain you. It’s one of the best films of 2012 I’ve seen thus far and a huge, pleasant surprise.

 For more on my Top 10 of 2012 (and previous years) go to:

 http://ryancmcdonald.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/top-10-films-of-year-1950-2010.html

Rating: B

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