50/50

[canadian_turtle]

Just back from the almost full O2 tonight. After a very long delay that saw so many people come late, the film began and fully made me forget the error

Were you at the same O2 as me? Because this is probably the emptiest I've ever seen it... Loads of seat free at the front and they didn't even open the balcony. I also didn't notice a delay.

[prettyxcool]

my internet access has been down, just got it back!

I was also at the aborted Holloway screening.

I was just getting into the film when I smelt a burning rubber smell and the screen froze, and we had to leave the cinema as don_datta reported earlier. What made me laugh was the staff told us the quickest way out of the screening room (no fire exit?) was to go back through the long corridor of the cinema, which I thought if there was a fire there, we would not be very safe!

Anyway, once out, the staff were great keeping us informed and then told us to line up to get our complimentary tickets, so, yes, if you were passing by, you could definitely just join the queue! I was very naughty and got two and my plus one also got two! Well, we thought it was just compensation, after all, our evening's enjoyment had been spoilt

Although we had to leave about an hour into the film, it did feel longer, may be the pacing was a bit too slow, but I thought it was well acted for such a subject and it was a shame that I did not get to see it all.
However, I am not sure if I can sit through the first hour again to see the bit that I missed.

[steve9872]

So how many of you understood the Doogie Howser reference? It was the only real laugh out loud moment for me.

[Yinster]

This is one of the best films of the year for me. All the roles were acted very well and it made me laugh and sad. OH was in tears towards the end. Wonderfully written and handled very well. 10/10

[Jayman]

So how many of you understood the Doogie Howser reference? It was the only real laugh out loud moment for me.

I did...but I'm older than dirt.

[Beate]

So how many of you understood the Doogie Howser reference? It was the only real laugh out loud moment for me.

I did. I watched Doogie Howser religiously in my youth. That wasn't the only real laugh though for me!

[canadian_turtle]

So how many of you understood the Doogie Howser reference? It was the only real laugh out loud moment for me.

I think it's more of a "Who didn't?" question, I think most people will have. I laughed a lot during the movie though, not just at that reference.

[prettyxcool]

I forgot to mention that it was the smallest screening room I have ever been in tonight, so that it was a very full screening, and the screen was small too!

[yogi]

Saw this in Manchester tonight and thought it was excellent.

The idea of a comedy / drama about cancer could have been disastrous but this did a great job of showing the humour in some of the experiences without ever shying away from the characters illness or mocking the situation.

I really believed the main friendship and [spoiler]thought it was a lovely moment when Adam discovered the coping with cancer book that Seth had[/spoiler]
Angelica Huston oozed class whenever she was on screen, as did Phillip Baker Hall and although the relationship with the therapist felt a touch Hollywoody I was still rooting for them at the end.

Touching and funny, well worth seeing.

* One downside - There was a guy sat near who literally dismantled and ate his soda cup during the course of the movie! during the more dramatic, emotional moments near the end the occasionally cardboard tearing and chewing was very irritating. Hope it was no one on here, but really who eats a cup?!

[canadian_turtle]

Typing this on a tiny netbook which makes it a bit hard, so I'll keep it short:

After seeing a lot of shit movies the past few months I am very pleased that the last 5 or so films I've seen have all been really good ones. Or ones I thoroughly enjoyed at least, if they're truly "good" depends on who you're asking of course.

50/50 was surprisingly very funny throughout without being cringe-worthy (what I feared beforehand would be the case with a "cancer comedy" as I generally don't like bad taste jokes but they stayed mostly well clear from those) while still giving the appropriate amount of time to the drama of the situation and developing both the characters and the storyline.

I normally cannot stand Seth Rogen but I thought he was excellent in this and [spoiler]when JGL's character found the book in the bathroom I totally cried (and the continuing 20 minutes or so as well)[/spoiler]. I personally really liked Anna Kendrick in this too, but then I really enjoyed her in Up In The Air and Scott Pilgrim and may be biased as she was one of the main incentives for wanting to see the movie.

9/10 from me.


ps Apologies for those of you I've seen at the O2 for being grouchy today, I am not having a good week...