Chronicle
At: Inox and other cinemas
Directed by Josh Trank
Cast: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael Jordan and others
Rating:* * ½
Being able to fly, to have superpowers is everybody fantasy, and what happens when this power goes into the hands of the unprepared or undeserving is what Josh Trank tries to examine in his film,Chronicle.
When so many films about superheroes throw magical special effects at the audience, this one has a small home video feel to it for most part. The elementary psychology was avoidable, but young Andrew circumstances make him a loner—his father is an abusive drunk and his mother is dying of some terminal illness.
His only friend is his cousin Matt (Alex Russell), the philosophy-spouting, voice of reason. The third buddy is the popular student-leader type, Steve (Michael B. Jordan).
To hide his shyness or to put a barrier between himself and the world, Andrew buys a video camera and starts filming non-stop. While fooling around one evening, the three enter a cave, come across a strange formation and find they have developed telekinetic powers. At first, they use their ability to move objects in a jokey way, like playing pranks or impressing their schoolmates.
Steve discovers that they can also fly, and there is an exhilarating sequence of the boys gleefully playing football in the clouds. Very soon, Andrew’s inner anger makes him use his power in a destructive way, and Matt can only helplessly watch, as no amount of sensible talking to has any effect on Andrew. The responsibility that comes with power, is ignored by Andrew, who lets his destructive rage get the better of him.
The film begins with the simple technique of seeing everything from the point of view of Andrew’s often intrusive camera, then shifts to special effects, but nothing that is too splashy. The film is more about the ill effects of power than about CGI.
However, without a more fleshed out screenplay and stronger supporting characters the idea remains at an elementary fun-to-mayhem level that is predictable.
The strong moral and emotional possibilities of the story are never explored. What does work for the film is the youthful high spirits of the three actors, who look like boys next door, and have an easy camaraderie that helps the film cruise over the bumpy bits.