Movie: 50/50

sweetblood22 said:

Not my cup of tea.
I have never been a fan of tear jerker movies, or chick flicks. Sci fi - fantasy filled with action or a good comedy has been more my genres. I have always wanted to read or watch a movie or show that makes me laugh or transports me to a different place and away from the tragedies of my life. Having had worse odds than 50/50 for getting through radiation, I think I will pass. I do really like Joseph Gordon-Levitt though.

80/20
From the trailers I see on TV I don't think it is my cup of tea either. Gives me the impression of trivializing cancer?

nwasen said:

50/50
I am going tonight! I will let all know my thumbs up or down.
I personally have always had a warped sense of humor (got it from my dad) and even during my darkest treatment days I had the techs laughing at my "gallows" humor...
And being it is based on the truth we shall see.
I like dramas better than comedy as a rule but this one intrigues me.....
So off to the movies
Peace,
Nancy

Ending
50-50 chance that "the butler did it"

Enjoy the movie.

staceya said:

The writer is a cancer survior
So it may be of interest. I hardly see any movies (you can't bring the cat...) but if I did see movies, I might see this one. Below is a good review...

"Inspired by a true story, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humor in unlikely places. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen star as best friends whose lives are changed by a cancer diagnosis in this new comedy directed by Jonathan Levine from a script by Will Reiser. 50/50 is the story of a guy's transformative and, yes, sometimes funny journey to health - drawing its emotional core from Will Reiser's own experience with cancer and reminding us that friendship and love, no matter what bizarre turns they take, are the greatest healers."

Yes, that's what I read. I
Yes, that's what I read. I read that his way of coping with his cancer was to think about writing a comedy about it. Apparently the author, Reiser, is actually best friends with Seth Rogen.

nwasen said:

50/50
I would give the movie a Siskel and Ebert 2 Thumbs up. The comedy might be too raunchy for some but it was nicely interspersed with touching scenes.
There were some moments when I turned to my friends and say Whoa, can I relate to that!?
It was a mix of comedy, drama and love. And then scenes with his new buddies in chemo were a hoot.

Ms. Toughcookie
Glad you enjoyed it.

I saw it last night...
I saw it last night and really enjoyed it but I also had one of my best friends who took me and we cried a lot through it because we could really relate to the main character's feelings, what he was gong though, and what I am, and about to go through. My friend is female and I'm not sure I would have bawled as much if I went with one of my close male friends. I kept joking she was Seth Rogen in the movie. The main character is 27, I'm 43, I always see the generalized stat of 50/50 for H&N so it kind of drew me in when the trailers started coming out. In my personal situation, the last few appointments, some health care providers like bloodwork staff who do not know my condition have said to me I look in my 20's which for whatever reason now makes me feel worse. So although I am not really in the character's age group, I often feel so, because people around me peg me as younger and sometimes treat me that way. As a male, it was never cool when I was 30 and still asked for ID at bars, lol.

At the end when people were leaving, I couldn't help but look at the audience of 20 and 30somethings and think how lucky many of them are, who came just to see a Rogen comedy. Not to assume, I'm sure some are touched by cancer in some way whether family or friend, though, I felt I was there because I was actually going through it, and perhaps there may have been some in the audience who are too.

From my own experience as an RN, the portrayal of the health care seemed fairly accurate, the equipment they used, the terms and even the not completely rosy climax (without giving it away). At the beginning, I completely understood what the frank doctor was dictating while the main character sat there bewildered waiting to be spoken to about his diagnosis. It all seemed pretty authentic with Rogen type comedy interspersed throughout provided you enjoy his type of movies, the difference being the main topic is not often associated with a comedy. And I would say the movie focused more on relationships and his feelings rather than visualizing his treatment progress.

My friend and I shared a lot last night so maybe that's a bias too because it added to the experience (she originally offered to babysit and have my wife and I go as a date, but my wife insisted I see my friends when I can).
Anyway, if you want to see it, I suggest going with someone who you are close to, you'll enjoy it together and make it more meaningful. Movies are meant to evoke emotions in us. 50/50 may to some extent for you but it really did for me.

robinleigh said:

great feedback
I think I'm going to have to see the movie from reading the reviews of the two of you who saw it. However, I'm the caregiver so it's a different experience for me. Andy and I are awaiting scan results (which we will get Tuesday) so the outcome of those will influence our decision to go.

On a slightly different note (but I don't think a new thread) ... We are huge fans of the Showtime series "The Big C" with Laura Linney. We started watching it before Andy's diagnosis and now watching it does touch us in a much more powerful way. Anybody else a fan?

No Showtime at Home
I watched the whole series this summer when I was housesitting - might have to wait til next June to catch up, I dunno - loved the show - hated when the neighbor got killed off.