Chronicle

Genre: Mystery, Action, Suspense
Released: 2012

Rating:  

Note: “Chronicle” is my first 5/5 of 2012. That doesn’t necessarily mean I think it’s going to win any Academy Awards but it’s the first movie I’ve seen that wow’d me in 2012. I was literally blown back in my chair by it’s originality.”

“Chronicle” is an absolutely incredible, brutally intense, emotionally engaging, original film that will blow your freaking mind. It’s currently 2am and I have to wake up in three hours for work and all I want to do is talk about this film. Josh Trank, who makes his directorial debut, brilliantly executed this amazing story with amazing camera tricks and engaging characters. Based on the trailers and other “found footage” films, I didn’t expect “Chronicle” to be so dark and intense. I found myself really caring for these characters as they go on this insane journey because screenwriter Max Landis took the time to actually set the characters up before all the “cool” stuff happens. This creates an interesting balance because as you are watching the film, you aren’t waiting for all the effects sequences. They are icing on the cake because the characters are so intriguing. The last twenty minutes of this film will take your breath away and if you’re like me, you’ll have to sit in the theatre during the credits to mentally piece yourself back together.

The film takes the word “found footage” to a completely different level. When the film opens, our lead character, Andrew (played by Dane Dehaan), has decided to buy a camera and film his experiences in high school and at home. Andrew’s home life isn’t so great considering his father is abusive and his mother is slowly dying. At school, he is constantly picked on so he wants to document his harsh reality. That is one aspect of the footage we see when watching this film. As the film goes on though, we are taken through the story with multiple cameras. If another character has a camera in another scene, we watch that scene through that camera. If an action is taking place in a hospital, we use their cameras. If the action is in front of a police car, we are using that camera. So it’s not necessarily “found footage”. It’s more of a narrative shot with different types of cameras.

Andrew’s cousin Matt (played by Alex Russell) picks up him up for school every day and one night drives both of them to a party where they connect with the popular kid of the school, Steve (played by Michael B. Jordan). They all go outside to investigate a weird hole in the ground that appears to be some type of alien crash landing or meteor. All three guys enter the hole and have an encounter with this object which transmits some type of radiation. Now, days later, the three friends are learning of their superhuman powers. They can now fly, move objects with their minds, etc. These telekinetic powers seem very fun at first but as the film goes on, the dark side enters their lives and they are taken on a brutally intense journey.

Yes, the film has incredible effects but the key are the characters. The script is very rich and allows us to emotionally invest in these three friends’ lives. All of the scenes that occur during the “down time” of the film are very watchable and interesting. The whole idea of Andrew’s character being picked on a school and at home really comes in to play with his telekinetic which leads to the darker elements of the film. I just really enjoyed the character development being in the mix with these incredible actions sequences.

Let me set up this next criticism lightly. “Avatar” cost over $200 million to make. It had incredible effects but lacked emotional connection to its characters. It was simply “Ferngully”, “Dances With Wolves” and “Pocahontas” in 3D. Sure it looked great but the script was formulaic and bland. Here comes along “Chronicle”, which reportedly cost $12 million to make yet has great effects and emotionally engaging characters. Please keep in mind that I’m not comparing the films. I’m comparing the budgets and the scripts. They are two completely different films but if you look at them on a basic level, you can compare the budget and the script. No matter how big your budget is, you have to have characters and a story that the audience will lose themselves in. Trank has proven that you don’t need hundreds of millions of dollars to have cool effects and tell a great story.

The effects are incredible and the movie contains some of the best flying sequences I have ever seen. I was reading that Trank actually built a circular rig where the actors could simulate the flying sequences. The cinematographer would use different lighting when the characters were supposed to be going through the clouds. Then, they would digitally add in the clouds in post-production. Wait until you see baseball sequence, the talent show sequence, the beer pong sequence and the last twenty-minutes. I can’t wait to see it again!

I did have one major problem with the film but it wasn’t enough for me to bump down my score. The problem deals with a character shift after a tragic event. That is all I will say. It happens roughly an hour into the film. “Chronicle” wow’d me and I think everyone should see it in a theatre. Again, my rating isn’t telling you that it’s the best movie ever made. I’m telling you that you need to get off your butt and go see! Support original film making!