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 12 wins & 26 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 - Alzheimer Dad
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 | therapist | chemotherapy | survival rate | 

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Taglines:

It takes a pair to beat the odds

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is based on screenwriter Will Reiser, who was diagnosed with cancer, and later recovered. Seth Rogen (Kyle) helped Reiser cope with his disease, and convinced him to write a screenplay during their early twenties together.

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Goofs

While set in Seattle the movie was filmed in Vancouver. In one of the opening scenes when Adam and Kyle are walking down the street there is a sign in the background for Lotto 6/49 which is a Canadian lottery.

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Quotes

Adam: A tumor?
Dr. Ross: Yes.
Adam: Me?
Dr. Ross: Yes.
Adam: That doesn't make any sense though. I mean... I don't smoke, I don't drink... I recycle...

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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

It's a balancing act.

How does a filmmaker combine humor and drama in a story about a 27 year old man diagnosed with cancer? Easy: Just give them equal measure with the title 50/50 -- light treatment of a dark subject.

Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has to deal not only with his own emotions when he is diagnosed, but also those of a close friend, Kyle (Seth Rogen), an inveterate partier and ribald quipper, and his chronically worrisome mother (Anjelica Huston). Losing his girlfriend, Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard) along the way adds to the potential downbeat.

Yet director Jonathan Levine and writer Will Reiser keep it all as upbeat as possible, not in small part due to Rogen's constantly funny chatter, which comes at just the right times as the plot gets heavy with cancer surviving techniques (the film turns out to show the way to battle: with humor).

Of course, Rogen has had training playing a similar role in Funny People with Adam Sandler. No one plays a weed-smoking buddy better than he. Gordon-Levitt is also an actor who can just about better than anyone else play the soulful, endearing, slow-moving romantic as he did in (500) Days. As a cancer victim, he engages the audience in observation of a vulnerable hero, who fights with a serenity and equanimity that could be a model for those wishing to survive and those who wish to help.

50/50 is a comedy with compassion, a distant cousin to the prevalent bromances that rarely treat the support men give each other in times of real danger. Usually it's vacuous women who supply that danger and significant support. Hooray for the men this time.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Cancer Comedy

Filming Locations:

Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,644,095, 2 October 2011

Gross USA:

$35,014,192

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$41,097,853

Company Credits

Production Co:

Summit Entertainment, Mandate Pictures, Point Grey Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1