Chronicle (2012)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release: February 3, 2012
DVD/Blu Ray Release: May 15, 2012
Directed by: Josh Trank
PG-13
Review by James Klein
Two of the most popular genres right now in film are the superhero genre and the hidden camera/found footage genre. It seems as if audiences can't get enough of these shaky camera films or men running around in tights saving the world. And what better way to make a profit than to have a film that blends the two genres. Told from multiple cameras, the story of three teens gaining superhero-like powers could have been a decent film had the writer Max Landis (John's son) decided to just write a straight forward film. But the use of video cameras and such doesn't work at all and becomes very distracting as the film goes along.
Andrew Detmer is your high school nerd. He has no friends aside from his cousin Matt. Why he is a nerd is never explained as he looks like a typical teenager. Out of the blue, he decides to record everything. He takes the camera to school, to parties, around his home, everywhere. When asked why he is doing that, he simply declares that "he wants to." It's obvious Landis had no idea why he should be walking around with a camera either. While at a rave, Andrew is asked by student body president Steve to come with him and Matt into the woods and record something they found. In what is the most interesting part of the film, the three find a hole in the ground and climb down to what may be a spaceship. While down there they contact some sort of supernatural powers that can make them do anything such as move objects and fly.
While the three all become close friends and screw around by flying around and moving cars in parking lots, Andrew's home life seems to be getting worse as his very ill mother is dying while Andrew must answer to his abusive father. To help Andrew out, Steve gets Andrew to perform at the talent show at school where he uses his powers for a magic show which somehow changes everyone's perception of him, instantly becoming cool. While I can go with the fact that these teens can fly around and move things, I had to really suspend my disbelief that this nerd who everyone hated is now the coolest kid around because he was able to juggle. While at the party, Andrew goes upstairs with a girl but ends up throwing up on himself because he doesn't drink. Like a flip of a coin, he's back to being picked on once again by everyone because he threw up. Yeah...
As Andrew struggles with his life at school and at home, he starts to become angrier at others and soon his dark side begins to take over. Not having enough money for his mom's pills, he robs a convenient store and attacks a bunch of punks on the street for money. When he accidentally kills Steve, Andrew is all but out of his mind and only his cousin Matt has the power and ability to possibly stop him before he goes too far.
While I like the idea of a high school nerd getting revenge on classmates and others, the movie is bogged down by a poorly written script and its use of "found footage". Because Andrew has psychic abilities, he is able to make the camera fly around so we all can see what is going on at all times. Even when he doesn't have a camera, some character either has one or a cell phone and the director cuts back to that person's recording device out of nowhere as if we are now watching edited footage. Not only does this not make much sense but it is completely distracting and pulls the viewer out of the movie. One can't focus what is taking place because of the constant cutting from cameras and for that reason alone, Chronicle fails.
Although I watched a screener DVD, the picture looked great and the sound was very good so I can only imagine how great the blu ray must look and sound. The blu ray also contains two versions of the film, the theatrical cut (which is what I saw) and a longer cut by only a few minutes. I doubt the extra few minutes will save this film.
Theatrical Release: February 3, 2012
DVD/Blu Ray Release: May 15, 2012
Directed by: Josh Trank
PG-13
Review by James Klein
Two of the most popular genres right now in film are the superhero genre and the hidden camera/found footage genre. It seems as if audiences can't get enough of these shaky camera films or men running around in tights saving the world. And what better way to make a profit than to have a film that blends the two genres. Told from multiple cameras, the story of three teens gaining superhero-like powers could have been a decent film had the writer Max Landis (John's son) decided to just write a straight forward film. But the use of video cameras and such doesn't work at all and becomes very distracting as the film goes along.
Andrew Detmer is your high school nerd. He has no friends aside from his cousin Matt. Why he is a nerd is never explained as he looks like a typical teenager. Out of the blue, he decides to record everything. He takes the camera to school, to parties, around his home, everywhere. When asked why he is doing that, he simply declares that "he wants to." It's obvious Landis had no idea why he should be walking around with a camera either. While at a rave, Andrew is asked by student body president Steve to come with him and Matt into the woods and record something they found. In what is the most interesting part of the film, the three find a hole in the ground and climb down to what may be a spaceship. While down there they contact some sort of supernatural powers that can make them do anything such as move objects and fly.
While the three all become close friends and screw around by flying around and moving cars in parking lots, Andrew's home life seems to be getting worse as his very ill mother is dying while Andrew must answer to his abusive father. To help Andrew out, Steve gets Andrew to perform at the talent show at school where he uses his powers for a magic show which somehow changes everyone's perception of him, instantly becoming cool. While I can go with the fact that these teens can fly around and move things, I had to really suspend my disbelief that this nerd who everyone hated is now the coolest kid around because he was able to juggle. While at the party, Andrew goes upstairs with a girl but ends up throwing up on himself because he doesn't drink. Like a flip of a coin, he's back to being picked on once again by everyone because he threw up. Yeah...
As Andrew struggles with his life at school and at home, he starts to become angrier at others and soon his dark side begins to take over. Not having enough money for his mom's pills, he robs a convenient store and attacks a bunch of punks on the street for money. When he accidentally kills Steve, Andrew is all but out of his mind and only his cousin Matt has the power and ability to possibly stop him before he goes too far.
While I like the idea of a high school nerd getting revenge on classmates and others, the movie is bogged down by a poorly written script and its use of "found footage". Because Andrew has psychic abilities, he is able to make the camera fly around so we all can see what is going on at all times. Even when he doesn't have a camera, some character either has one or a cell phone and the director cuts back to that person's recording device out of nowhere as if we are now watching edited footage. Not only does this not make much sense but it is completely distracting and pulls the viewer out of the movie. One can't focus what is taking place because of the constant cutting from cameras and for that reason alone, Chronicle fails.
Although I watched a screener DVD, the picture looked great and the sound was very good so I can only imagine how great the blu ray must look and sound. The blu ray also contains two versions of the film, the theatrical cut (which is what I saw) and a longer cut by only a few minutes. I doubt the extra few minutes will save this film.
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