Two gala films made their bow yesterday night at the BFI London Film Festival, Like Crazy and 50/50. They had a few things in common: both saw relationships going less-than-smoothly; both are a bit unexpected and cooler than you'd think, and both star some of the cooler young actors around.
First up, writer/director Drake Doremus and star Felicity Jones were in town for Like Crazy, which sees Jones as a young English student who falls for an American (Anton Yelchin) but sees the romance run into problems when she's ejected from the country for outstaying her visa. There's able support from the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, the Twilight Saga's Charlie Bewley and Alex Kingston as well - not bad going for such a disgustingly young director (he's only 28).
Then there was 50/50, the "cancer comedy" wherein Joseph Gordon-Levitt is taken ill and has to adjust his life accordingly - a process that naturally has an impact upon his friends (including Seth Rogen) and his girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard). He's also assigned, as part of his treatment, a doctoral candidate to assess his condition (Anna Kendrick). Rogen and Kendrick were both on hand last night, seeing the film off in style.{London Film Festival 2011 - 50/50 Premiere}
50/50 is out in the UK on November 25, and Like Crazy follows on February 3 next year. The LFF continues until October 26.