Triple Bill Mini Musings: Powers, Writing, and Eastwood...

Chronicle:
What's it about?
Three teens tumble down a veritable rabbit hole and come out the other side with telekinetic superpowers. At first it's a bit of fun, but then things take a darker turn as their powers grow and the disaffected youth in their midst slowly caves in.
Who would I recognise in it?
Michael Kelly.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Written by Max Landis (yes, he is), the film kicks off with some dreadfully blunt 'found footage' tropes and some gear-crunchingly clunky dialogue - indeed, I damn-near turned the film off - but I had heard so many good things about it that I figured it must get better, and get better it does. Once the teens (mopey loner with parental problems, his arrogant cousin, and the popular jock with political aspirations) gain their superpowers, things get fun - what would superpowered teenagers do? They'd play pranks, blow up girls' skirts, and learn how to fly (the latter proving to be a spellbinding sequence that makes you wish you could fly too) ... but with the pressures of high school particularly crushing for one of the trio, things move into dark territory in a satisfying way that culminates in a thrilling finale. The biggest problem with the film though is the 'found footage' approach - I'm sick to death of this style. Yes, it's worked well in some instances, but it's so over-done now, and the biggest problems with it remain in place.

Click "READ MORE" for more Chronicle, as well as Adaptation, and The Gauntlet...