Movie Review: Chronicle

Chronicle is the best realistic sci-fi movie I have seen since District 9. Read on to find out why.



 
The plot follows three high schoolers: Andrew, his cousin Matt, and their friend Steve. One day Andrew buys a camera, and with it begins recording just about every moment of his life. The viewer discovers that Andrew has a very hard life - his mother is dying of cancer, his alcoholic father beats him, and he is unpopular and bullied at school. One night Matt invites Andrew to a party, and while there, the three boys discover a mysterious artifact that ultimately gives them telekinetic powers. As time goes on, their powers grow as they practice more and more, beginning with harmless (and hilarious) pranks, but taking a turn for the darker when Andrew pushes a car and its driver into a river. I don't want to spoil any plot points after, but suffice it to say that shit gets real.

The backbone of the movie is its cast. The characters are very real, and show very real human traits and emotions that are too often neglected in favor of CGI flash in modern Hollywood. The main protagonists, although no Clooneys or Freemans, do a stellar job of portraying three normal guys whose lives are suddenly changed by their newfound powers. They do not dress in tights and capes and fight crime - they prank a few people and use them to gain popularity. But the fun and games do not last long, and they are forced to deal with the consequences of their flaws and emotions becoming amplified through their abilities.

What absolutely BLEW ME AWAY about this film was the cinematography. It's not the artsy-fartsy type that gets you a 13.5 inch tall, 8 lb gold-plated britannium statue (I learned a lot of trivia about the Oscar statue recently), but it is absolutely stunning and truly makes the movie. Remember how I mentioned that Andrew begins filming every moment of his life? The audience only ever experiences the events of the film through the lens of the cameras present in the scene. A lot of the movie, therefore, is from Andrew's point of view, but other cameras throughout the film contribute footage (and sound) to the movie. That's right - you only hear what the cameras pick up too. For example, there are a few shots through a security camera, but these are of course mute. This filming style, while not pretty, draws the viewer directly into the thick of what's happening, and makes the entire experience stronger and more memorable than the invisible director's camera.

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The Rating System:

1 Inu - This Inu was deprived of oxygen in the womb. He has no redeeming characteristics at all, and makes Human Centipede look like Silence of the Lambs. It's unfortunate he was ever brought into this world, and for your sake you should simply ignore him so that he'll eventually die alone, and the people who breed him will stop trying to make a meager paycheck at the box office and go slit their wrists with a bread knife.

2 Inus - While certainly not nearly as bad as his deformed and retarded 1 Inu brother, this Inu is still one of the runts of the litter. Ultimately it is not redeemable, but it may have some qualities that make a few moments enjoyable, or at least tolerable.

3 Inus - This Inu makes par. It certainly doesn't exceed any standards, but it does not fail them either. To the average moviegoer, this Inu will be passable, perhaps even enjoyable most of the time, but in the end it still lacks the character and charisma to make it past the preliminary screenings at the dog show.

4 Inus - This Inu comes from the cream of the crop. It stands out as a truly great Inu, and has far more fans than critics. It may have a few minor flaws, but there is very little tarnish on its shiny coat.

5 Inus - This Inu has Courage Wolf lick his balls clean while eating panda meat off of the Kardashian sisters. This Inu ascends above and beyond all his canine compatriots, and stands out as an undeniable gold standard in the cinema community.

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Karma's Verdict: 4 INUs

I'm pretty sure it's out of theatres by now, but definitely check it out when it's on DVD or available for streaming. You won't be sorry.