50/50
It takes a pair to beat the odds.
Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has a pretty great life—with a talented, sexy artist girlfriend and a great job, the 27-year-old seems to have it all. But when Adam begins to suffer with agonizing back pain, he discovers that he has a rare and possibly fatal form of cancer.
With a massive, malignant tumor growing along his spinal column, his life changes in a heartbeat. Coffee shops give way to chemotherapy clinics, art openings to counseling sessions and plans for the future to strategies for survival.
His best friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), uses Adam's condition to lure girls into sympathy sex, his overbearing mother (Anjelica Huston) loses sight of him in her own fears, his otherwise-occupied girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) tries to distract herself an increasingly frantic social life, and Katherine (Anna Kendrick), the young therapist assigned to his case, struggles to keep up with the needs of her third client ever.
Member Reviews
Fantastic dark comedy about a taboo subject - Cine
This is an amazing film. It is funny, scary and realistic all at the same time. Well written and well acted and concerning the most unpleasant of subjects...cancer...it is a dark comedy which comes through. Don't be squeamish...dive in and you will be rewarded with another great performance from my favourite actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. For something similar in a dark comedy...try the French - "le Bruit des glacons" with Dujardin...the man of the hour. His cancer is personified and comes to visit him at his home...where they go on to compete for his life both mentally and physically.Touching and funny. Gordon-Levitt delivers. - estefan
Very touching, but also funny, 50/50 tackles the subject of cancer is a respectable way and the result is a film that succeeds in creating a believable set of character. Will Reiser's screenplay never gets too syrupy in its depiction of Adam and as the story goes on and the situation gets even more serious, the viewer manages to get more emotionally involved. Key to that is also Joseph Gordon-Levitt's likeable performance. Providing nice support is Seth Rogen, who while playing himself (as Reiser wrote the script based on his own experiences), shows the necessary compassion for his friend. One particular character revelation provides probably the most emotional moment in the film. Anna Kendrick gave my favourite performance in the cast, though, showcasing both the uncertainty and wanting support of her character. Best of all, the humour works very well and that's a large part of the key in endearing ourselves to Adam and Kyle. This is a personal and well-done story told with the right care.50/50 - djfunkybob
This film will test your range of emotions as Gordon-Levitt stars as, Adam, a young man diagnosed with cancer. Adam is an introvert with low confidence, one friend, and a frigid girlfriend, yet he needs to keep the faith, surround himself with family and friends, and confront his loveless relationship. The movie includes well-placed moments of humour, courtesy of Rogen and Kendrick, to ease the emotional strain of watching the physical and mental effects of cancer take hold of Adam. I especially enjoyed Kendrick’s practicum psychiatrist and her overzealous, well-intended efforts to help Adam.
Member Reviews
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Fantastic dark comedy about a taboo subject - Cine
This is an amazing film. It is funny, scary and realistic all at the same time. Well written and well acted and concerning the most unpleasant of subjects...cancer...it is a dark comedy which comes through. Don't be squeamish...dive in and you will be rewarded ...Touching and funny. Gordon-Levitt delivers. - estefan
Very touching, but also funny, 50/50 tackles the subject of cancer is a respectable way and the result is a film that succeeds in creating a believable set of character. Will Reiser's screenplay never gets too syrupy in its depiction of Adam and as the story ...50/50 - djfunkybob
This film will test your range of emotions as Gordon-Levitt stars as, Adam, a young man diagnosed with cancer. Adam is an introvert with low confidence, one friend, and a frigid girlfriend, yet he needs to keep the faith, surround himself with family and friends, ...