Mysterious Skin review

 Number 534 on the top 1000 films of all time is the coming-of-age drama 'Mysterious Skin.'

Neil McCormick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Brian Lackey (Brady Corbett) are two seemingly unconnected young men. However, they were both victims of CSA. The films sees them coming to terms with their childhood trauma.

Last year, I wrote two separate lists detailing the films that are too traumatic to watch again. If I were to write another list, Mysterious Skin would surely feature at the top. It was a deeply unsettling look at he lasting effects of CSA. This theme is explored within the two central characters of Neil and Brian.

Firstly, we have Neil whose experience with CSA has led him to become a hedonistic sex worker selling his body to the scummiest of men who rape and beat him senseless. Compared to his rom-com roles in Ten Things I hate about you and 500 Days of Summer, this was a sharp departure for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. However, it was also a deliberate departure as he was actively seeking more adult roles in independent films. Gordon-Levitt was great in the lead role as he brought humanity and vulnerability to an emotionally shut-down character.

On the other hand, Brian grows up believing that he has been abducted by aliens in a desperate attempt to repress the truth. Although Brady Corbet hasn't gone onto have the same momentous film career as his co-star, he was every bit as good as his Levitt especially when the truth started to become clear.

There is no doubt that Mysterious Skin is a powerful film. There is also little doubt that it is a deeply traumatic film addressing uncomfortable topics which should be discussed.

50/50 review

 Number 511 on the top 1000 films of all time is the 2011 comedy-drama 50/50.

Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a radio journalist whose world is turned upside down after he is diagnosed with spinal caner. Seth Rogen plays his best friend Kyle, Bryce Dallas Howard is his girlfriend Rachael, Anna Kendrick is his trainee therapist Elizabeth and Angelica Huston plays his over-bearing mother.

When I first started reviewing films all those years ago, I used a silly arbitrary rating scale that ranged from superlative to shit. Films like 50/50 would land decidedly in the 'meh' category. It wasn't amazing, but it also wasn't terrible.

It wasn't hilarious like how Heat Magazine described it, but it had its funny moments. The scenes where dam is receiving his chaemotherapy and bonds with a couple of old-timers were charming to watch. There were a few other funny moments, here and there, but nothing that had me rolling in the aisle, wetting my pants.

It didn't help that the characters were quite annoying. I get that a cancer diagnosis is unlikely to turn anybody into a ray of sunshine, but Adam does spend much of the film being an unlikeable, whiny jerk, especially to his best friend Kyle. And while Kyle is lacking in the social graces, he does have his friend's best interests at heart. But he was also loud and obnoxious. Rogen played the role with his trademark crude humour that wore thin after a while.

Bryce Dallas Howard's character was little better. She plays Adam's girlfriend who soon cheats on him when the pressures of being his carer became too much. Finally, you had Angelica Huston who played the standard over-bearing mother. All in all, not the most likeable lot. In fact, I probably liked Elizabeth the most - Adam's inexperienced therapist who is trying her best to help him.

As the two grow closer, Adam thankfully does become more likeable. I admit that it was predictable from the start that the two would end up together, but it was still nicely done. Their relationship was understated and quiet, as it should have been. The studio wanted the pair to be more physical, but thankfully this idea was rejected.

50/50 wasn't an entirely offensive film. Did I like it? Did I hate it? 50/50.