50/50 (2011)

Inspired by a true story, a comedy centered on a 27-year-old guy who learns of his cancer diagnosis, and his subsequent struggle to beat the disease.

Director:

Jonathan Levine

Writer:

Will Reiser

Stars:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Adam
Seth Rogen	...	Kyle
Anna Kendrick	...	Katherine
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Rachael
Anjelica Huston	...	Diane
Serge Houde	...	Richard
Andrew Airlie	...	Dr. Ross
Matt Frewer	...	Mitch
Philip Baker Hall	...	Alan
Donna Yamamoto	...	Dr. Walderson
Sugar Lyn Beard	...	Susan
Yee Jee Tso	...	Dr. Lee
Sarah Smyth	...	Jenny
Peter Kelamis	...	Phil
Jessica Parker Kennedy	...	Jackie

Storyline

Adam is a 27 year old writer of radio programs and is diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer. With the help of his best friend, his mother, and a young therapist at the cancer center, Adam learns what and who the most important things in his life are.

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | best friend | doctor | therapist | spinal cancer | 

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Taglines:

It takes a pair to beat the odds

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, sexual content and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

I'm with Cancer

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$8,644,095 (USA) (30 September 2011)

Gross:

$34,963,967 (USA) (16 December 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Mandate Pictures, Point Grey Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS (as Datasat Digital Sound)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Gordon-Levitt actually shaved his head during filming. Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen were improvising in character while the cameras kept rolling since the scene was not in the script.

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Goofs

Road signs, including One Way and Do Not Enter, have no text as they are Canadian road signs. The film is set in Seattle, Washington, USA.

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Quotes

Adam: Why didn't we go to a barber?
Kyle: That would have been a good idea if we paid someone to do it.
Adam: Using your fucking balls trimmer instead of going to the barber.
Kyle: I never washed them, ever. It's not my balls, it's my asshole. I'm joking.
Adam: You're not joking.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: 50/50 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack"
Written by Angus Andrew, Julian Gross and Aaron Hemphill
Performed by Liars
Courtesy of Mute Records Ltd.
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Certain to capture a slew of Oscar Nominations

I thought this was a better film than "The King's Speech" or "Social Network" my two favorite films of last year. Nothing this year has come close so far to the sheer brilliance of 50/50. It is the best "disease of the week" film ever made, which sounds like a backhanded compliment but I don't know how to describe the genre any better.

I have always felt that Gordon-Levitt along with Gosling are far and away the two best young actors working today. I thought that Gordon-Levitt deserved an Oscar nomination for "The Lookout" but knew that was never going to happen. This is his time. His performance as a young man battling cancer is pitch perfect. You will laugh and cry along with him throughout his difficult journey. His best scenes are with his therapist played by Anna Kendrick. She was good in the overrated "Up in the Air"; she is great in this film, playing another neophyte in a high powered career. She will be nominated as well, no doubt.

Seth Rogan has the role of his career thanks in part to Will Reiser, the screenwriter, who was able to take the whole sexist, slacker, pothead thing that Rogan does and add a dimension of humanity. I think both of them also deserve Oscar nominations. Because of the nature of his role I would be surprised if Rogan gets one, but not too surprised. He is just hilarious and at times very touching.

Finally we come to Jonathan Levine, a director that I had never heard of prior to this film. He is fantastic with actors here and has a great style. I say he is a shoo in come Oscar time.

Now this review has really centered around Oscar and that is for a reason. It will not be released for awhile and I was lucky to see a preview screening in Denver last night. I could think of no other way to get the point across more clearly that this is a brilliant film that you must run to when it is released.

One more thing. I made the mistake of taking my 13 year old daughter thinking the R rating was more about the pot and the language, and that the message of the film would overcome those issues. I kind of regret it. I really don't mind her having seen the film in an overall context because the message is terrific, but man was it raunchy and uncomfortable to sit through with her.