A pretty unheard movie with no A-listers on its credits list, ‘Chronicle’ is a blend of Hollywood`s tried and tested formulas and genres. But director Josh Trank has given the story his own original and compelling spin.
The story and events in the film will immediately bring to mind some impressive moments from classic movies and comic books, but these are merged so perfectly.
It is an intimate story of two cousins Andrew Detmer (Dane DeHaan) and Matt (Alex Russell) and their best friend Steve (Michael B. Jordan).
The plot begins with Andrew starting up his new camcorder to document his troubled upbringing. It thereby also establishes excuse for the camera`s presence in every scene. That also explains those wobbly and weird angles and as a result the film oscillates from the normal narration to the first person perspective with the use of a personal camera with grace.
The story becomes interesting when Matt and Steve find a mysterious tunnel while attending a high school party in the woods. They bring Andrew along with his camera to document their exploration. The trio make their way down into the cave and come across a mystifying discovery. They also start experiencing telekinetic powers.
While the exact origin of power source itself remains unexplained, it doesn`t hinder the plot and the lingering question is eventually acknowledged.
Moving on, this mystic power bonds three of them and they continue to film their various experiments and exercises, often to great comedic effect. They soon realise the severity of power within their grasp and Matt lays down rules to be followed.
But then teenagers being teenagers, the heroic honeymoon period doesn`t last long. Andrew`s past hounds him. He breaks the rules. Cracks quickly appear in their friendship and consequences of his actions increasingly turn dark, dangerous and devastating.
Unfortunately, the tragic progression of Andrew`s character is not as engaging or as gradual as it should be.
The result is a superhero movie that works on several levels. These kids aren`t searching for truth or justice, they`re just trying to get laid, and the film`s early scenes are a thrilling celebration of self-discovery, especially when the guys first realise they can fly like Spiderman.
And as the film reaches its final act, the care with which the characters` friendship is developed makes you curious to find out what happens to them. The protagonists are so believable. Their actions, whether good, mischievous or downright nasty, all make logical sense, because their personalities are so well established.
The performances are uniformly excellent. The cast`s natural performance complements the sharp script. This ensures you believe what the trio goes through and root for them, which makes "Chronicle" a film about friendship, as much as it is about superpowers.
Laced with impressive visuals and a high impact climax, "Chronicle" is far from being a gimmick, or an attempt to hop onto a stylistic bandwagon. The idea of presenting the film through its characters` lenses is an intrinsic part of the film`s storytelling. There are moments that really wouldn`t have worked had they been shot in a traditional Hollywood fashion.
Max Landis` script is smart, sophisticated and full of energy. It features countless clever twists and turns. The teenage banter too has been perfectly observed.
Unlike many mainstream action films, ‘Chronicle’ works because it`s an intelligently written drama first, and an explosive spectacle second.
Ratings: Three cheers for this one!
IANS
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.