Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Adam, the main character. He works for a radio station, has an estranged girlfriend named Rachel (Bryce Dallas Howard) who lives at his home, and hangs out with his best friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), despite the fact that he acts like an unlikable slob.
After a visit to the doctor, concerning his constant back pain, Adam learns that he has a rare form of cancer on his spinal cord. This sudden tragic news affects everyone, particularly his mother, Diane (Anjelica Houston). She constantly calls him, both on cell and at home, offering to move in and take care of him. You can tell how much she stresses this, since she cares for her husband, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Adam rejects her offers and her calls.
People are constantly telling Adam that he is going to be okay. Adam researches his rare disease and learns that his chances of surviving are 50/50. “If you were a casino game, you'd have the best odds," says Kyle. Nevertheless, Adam does not believe that his chances are strong.
Immediately, Adam goes for chemotherapy, meeting two senior citizens undergoing the same treatment. He also takes counseling sessions with a woman named Kate (Anna Kendrick). He immediately suggests to her that she looks too young to be a doctor, with her explaining that she is in training and that he is her third patient. Adam, at first, rejects her treatments, but gradually starts to open up to her, realizing the connection between the two of them.
Things take a turn for Adam when Kyle reveals to him that Rachel was cheating on him behind his back. Things take a darker turn when one of the chemo-patients he befriended passed away despite treatment. Then things take an even darker turn further into the movie, mostly the third act. This is usually where a film starts to diminish, but the third act only gets stronger.
There were many opportunities for this film to take shortcuts, use cheap tricks, and have a melodramatic tone. The filmmakers obviously knew this, and wisely decided not to take them.
Director Jonathan Levine, who previously made The Wackness (2008), chose a good tone for the film and helped to balance out the funny scenes and the dramatic scenes, adding authenticity to make them more effective.
The story for 50/50 is based on the film’s writer, Will Reiser’s real-life battle with spinal cancer. Ironically, Seth Rogen stuck by Reiser’s side throughout the battle, just as his character does in the movie. Reiser does a fantastic job in presenting his experience into film, which manages to be both entertaining and endearing.
The use of the 50/50 theme throughout the film is also commendable. Not much of what happens or is assumed in the film is absolute.
This theme is especially seen in the characters, who are anything but cardboard cutouts. For example, Kate is a counselor and needs to have a work-relationship with her patients, but she constantly breaks this rule with Adam, revealing that she does not know as much about being a counselor as she may have thought. It’s almost funny how this character is similar to Kendrick’s character in Up in the Air (2009).
Another good example is Rachel’s character. Most films that feature cheaters try to depict them in an evil portrait. In this instance, the couple has clearly had relationship problems before the cancer appeared, and now that it’s there, it becomes increasingly difficult for Rachel to support Adam. Though her actions were deceptive, the audience is allowed to understand the reasons behind her behavior.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives the most incredible performance of his career to date. He creates a likeable character that experiences harsh change and deep distress he constantly keeps inside. There are at least two scenes in which we see this happen.
In one of the scenes he is in a session with Kate, starting to open up to her treatment and express what is bothering him. The other scene, which takes place with him inside a car, can only be seen to understand how powerful it is.
Seth Rogen scores most of the laughs in the story, showing great chemistry with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Rogen, while being vulgar and repulsive, can add charm without forcing it out. His character is a selfish and drunken loser, but he is not repulsive. This is another hard task that he achieves.
Angelica Houston as the overbearing mother also garners some chuckles, but really gets to release some overbearing feelings after the laughter goes away. Kendrick and Howard also provide a lot of depth and emotion to their characters.
It wouldn’t be surprising if any of them were nominated for an Oscar, but it would be surprising if none were nominated.
The music for 50/50 deserves special recognition. Michael Giacchiano, who is well known for his collaborations with Pixar films, adds even more balance to the film’s tone. It is light and relaxing when it is a comedic moment, and it adjusts well for the dramatic scenes, using the electric guitar to play the melody.
Also included in the soundtrack are over a dozen songs from artists such as the Bee Gees, Liars, and Pearl Jam, all of which fit perfectly with the scenes they accompany.
50/50 is a well-made, intense and honest depiction of a person dealing with cancer. Not many Hollywood tactics or melodramatic clichés take over this simple act of mature storytelling. Great writing, directing, music, acting, and production values all come together to make an exceptional film that is worth seeing.
This may be an Oscar contender for the year.