14
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012
HIGHLANDER
CHRONICLE RATING: ★★★☆☆
BY: ALEXANDER SUFFOLK, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Photos Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
Have you ever gone to a restaurant and enjoyed your food only to see your waiter licking all of the forks he lays down on the table, thus ruining your meal after you’ve already enjoyed it? Thankfully, “Chronicle” was nothing like that. “Chronicle” is one of the year’s first anticipated sci-fi releases, directed by Josh Trank and written by Max Landis, based on a story written by both of them. It stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, and Alex Russell as a group of high school seniors who acquire telekinetic abilities, recording the events that transpire as a result of their new found powers. The film is pleasantly surprising, and sure to be entertaining for audiences. Soon after discovering his ability, the main character, Andrew, begins to carry the camera around with him telekineti-
cally, which serves a greater purpose in the plot by actually making him stronger through the constant use of his power. “Chronicle” is one of those movies that incorporates the faux-realistic hand camera style of shooting, the migraineinducing technique pioneered by “The Blair Witch Project” and beaten over heads with the likes of “Cloverfield,” “Quarantine” and the “Paranormal Activity” series. However, at least “Chronicle” tries to put a few creative twists in their use of the method. It allows for more original shots and angles; some of the more impressive bits in the movie includes the trio flying and falling through Seattle clouds. Still, “Chronicle” does suffer a bit from this dependency on hand cameras; there is a character whose sole purpose is to also carry a hand camera
around for her own reasons, allowing the perspective to switch if it makes no sense at all (as opposed to just little sense) for the main character to be carrying his at that moment. One issue the movie never really dives into are the details as to how the super powers are given. Andrew films himself going into a cave with his cousin, Matt, and popular school athlete, Steve, and there they find a big blue crystal that endows them with the super powers. But after that, we never hear about or see said crystal again, nor was it ever explained what it was and how it functioned. That being said, it isn’t all too important in the long run. The focus of the story is Andrew’s progression into a monster, so the alien space crystal is more or less just a plot device. Andrew lives
with a dying mother and a terribly abusive father and is endlessly harassed at school. He is in a position of powerlessness with nobody who cares about him but his sick mother and his cousin, Matt, who is usually more interested in hanging out with Steve and the other cameraobsessed girl. Thus, when he is given a tremendous amount of power and pushed over the edge, he begins causing pain and destruction to those around him. It reminds one of a school shooting, or any other tragedy in which an abused person harms others to feel a sense of power and control over their lives. The action scenes and acting aren’t anything noteworthy, but they are nonetheless entertaining. While far from brilliant, “Chronicle” is worth viewing for those who enjoy films of the genre. ■
BIG MIRACLE RATING: ★☆☆☆☆
BY: JOSEPHINE LIEN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The “Big Miracle,” inspired by the true story of an attempted rescue of three whales in Barrow, Alaska, barely made a splash in the ocean of cinema. The film had too many subplots that detracted from its underlying themes of teamwork and environmentalism, while its frequent attempts at comic relief elicited strained chuckles from the audience at most. Forget saving the whales; the movie is what truly needed salvation. Starring “The Office’s” John Krasinski as news reporter John Carlson, the film begins with a gorgeous shot of the Alaskan waters. Unbeknownst to me at the time, it would be the most engaging moment I’d witness within the next hour and a half. After completing a series of news reports in the small town, John has befriended a number of its natives, including a young boy named Nathan (Ahmaogak Sweeney). While filming in a remote area with Nathan, he spots a family of gray whales trapped in the ice. He discovers that these whales cannot follow their usual migration route and risk death if left unassisted. The situation soon gains national attention as numerous individuals become involved for an assortment of reasons. One particular person, Greenpeace activist and Carlson’s ex-girlfriend Rachel Kramer (Drew Barrymore), literally dives in headfirst to protect the whales. As the film progresses, more and more characters spring up in a fruitless attempt to liven the storyline. Jill Jerard (Kristen Bell) becomes John’s love interest, to the disapproval and jealousy of Rachel. I found it difficult to decipher what demographic the filmmakers geared toward; excessive instances of romance and references to politics would cause children to complain, while the cheesy dialogue would unquestionably induce groans from adults. The exchanges between Krasinski and Barrymore’s characters reveal their severe lack of chemistry as well. In fact, it began to appear like a romantic comedy gone
Photos Courtesy of Universal Pictures
wrong. The mediocre acting added to my abundance of disappointment. In a crucial scene toward the conclusion, Rachel breaks down in front of a crowd of onlookers as she kneels on the ice. Not a single tear is shed, although Barrymore succeeds in making hideous expressions and unconvincing whimpers. Krasinski fares slightly better, as his usual comedic approach brings a bit of much-needed amusement to the film. Watching the entire film without drifting into slumber was the only “big miracle” that occurred. Even the excellent cinematography lacked the capacity to entertain the small audience. I departed the theater longing for “Free Willy,” which reigns supreme H in comparison to this unsuccessful whale movie. ■