The 31 Best Films Of 2011 - No. 2050/50 How do a write a film about suffering with cancer? Simple, you suffer with cancer. The majority of people who saw this film, me included, can’t possibly comprehend what it’s like to be diagnosed with, or have someone close to you be diagnosed with a life threatening illness but when watching Will Reiser’s deeply personal representation of his own experience with the disease you feel you come away with a slightly better understanding of his situation. At no point does the film suggest Reiser is looking for sympathy for what in went through. There are points that some may say he stepped the line into being a little insensitive but these are overshadowed by the ever so heartfelt performances from the three main players in the film. Gordan-Levitt has been one of my favourite actors for a long time now so I really shouldn’t of been surprised by just how nature he appears here. It’s like he’s actually human which is something of a rarity in films these days. The scene that got me the most was when he’s just about to be administered the anesthetic before his big operation. It’s not whether the operation will be successful that now alarms him, it’s whether he will actually wake up from unconsciousness. Most of us have been put under general anesthesia at some point in our lives and I’m sure the exact same thought has gone through all our minds so being able to relate to that harrowing moment on screen was nearly too much to take. The film finds the perfect balance between making the viewer laugh and making the viewer feel touched by an experience anyone would find difficult.

The 31 Best Films Of 2011 - No. 20
50/50

How do a write a film about suffering with cancer? Simple, you suffer with cancer. The majority of people who saw this film, me included, can’t possibly comprehend what it’s like to be diagnosed with, or have someone close to you be diagnosed with a life threatening illness but when watching Will Reiser’s deeply personal representation of his own experience with the disease you feel you come away with a slightly better understanding of his situation. At no point does the film suggest Reiser is looking for sympathy for what in went through. There are points that some may say he stepped the line into being a little insensitive but these are overshadowed by the ever so heartfelt performances from the three main players in the film. Gordan-Levitt has been one of my favourite actors for a long time now so I really shouldn’t of been surprised by just how nature he appears here. It’s like he’s actually human which is something of a rarity in films these days.

The scene that got me the most was when he’s just about to be administered the anesthetic before his big operation. It’s not whether the operation will be successful that now alarms him, it’s whether he will actually wake up from unconsciousness. Most of us have been put under general anesthesia at some point in our lives and I’m sure the exact same thought has gone through all our minds so being able to relate to that harrowing moment on screen was nearly too much to take.

The film finds the perfect balance between making the viewer laugh and making the viewer feel touched by an experience anyone would find difficult.

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