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.
Rating: B
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