Saturday, February 04, 2012
Chronicle (M)
With superhero blockbusters like The Avengers storming through 2012, it’s easy to forget there are
films with similar themes kept away from the extreme expectations held for
Marvel and co. Successful lower-budget ventures in the general thriller/sci-fi/adventure
game in recent years have not been common, but this film deserves to be one of
those examples.
Using the idea of superpowers and stripping it back to focus
on the lucky (or unlucky) receivers is relatable. This story isn’t about those who
are born with powers, or use them against some evil guys threatening the
world’s existence. Rather, it raises the idea about the fight against
themselves.
That’s not to say masked men like Batman and Spiderman don’t
have personal issues. The difference is that the problems form the forefront of
this story. Andrew (Dane DeHaan), Matt (Alex Russell) and Steve (Michael B.
Jordan) all experience subtle yet major personality changes that affect how
they use their powers as well as interact with others.
The first half of this tight film is extremely engaging.
Andrew’s complicated home life in Seattle is immediately thrown in as soon as
the camera goes on; his ‘chronicle’ begins with the filming of a potential
domestic dispute. He’s a weird, shy kid who decides his life is worth some sort
of documentation.
He picks out the stereotypes and gets bullied as the focus
stays on his newfound hobby. After filming the discovery of an unexplained
object that bestows the trio’s powers, their experimentation is as it would be
for teenage boys. Scaring kids to death in a department store particularly
makes for very entertaining viewing.
But when the mood shifts instantaneously it all leads
downhill. Matt and Steve are isolated as Andrew’s increasing strength brings a
change that no-one can control. He becomes more sulky and full of angst than
before his powertrip and more than a bit annoying, but epitomising the ultimate
example of a teen with serious anger management issues.
Filmed in Cape Town with a USD$15 million budget and no big
names, director Josh Trank has done extremely well in his feature debut.
Co-written with Max Landis, he touches on ideas of friendship and finding
yourself through adolescence but pushing those to an absolute extreme.
His cast are believable and characters interesting; the trio
of DeHaan, Jackson and Aussie Russell all looking extremely comfortable. With
plenty of running around, the doco-style cinematography only rarely nauseates
and more often truly chills.
Leaving key elements unexplained adds to that. The film
doesn’t rest on its laurels and manages the mix of thrills and action well, and
while the overall plot is not complex its handling makes that irrelevant.
There are some dark themes here, especially when
particularly done-to-death horror themes are twisted in such a way not realised
until after walking out. Chronicle asks
us what we are capable of. Watching this anti-adventure? Definitely.
Rating: 4.5/5*As published in the Daily Liberal (Dubbo), Western Advocate (Bathurst), Parkes Champion Post and Midstate Observer (Orange) from Saturday 4/2/2012
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