Me and Earl and the Dying Girl4.5/5
Directed By: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Written By: Jesse Andrews
Rated:
PG-13
…except it
doesn’t. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
is one of the most unique and inquisitive films I have seen in a long time. Jesse
Andrew’s screenplay balances drop dead humor and dramatic tension with
expertise and precision. It is based off of his book by the same name, and it transfers
seamlessly from the page to the screen. Where his book was able take you inside
the mind of Gregg through inner monologues, Jesse’s screenplay outwardly exposes
Gregg through his dialogue and unconfident attitude. On top of that, Thomas
Mann’s genuine halfhearted performance of Gregg gives vitality and originality to Jesse’s work. It's a memorable performance, and it's exactly what the screenplay requires.
Along with Thomas is Olivia Cooke, who plays Rachel. She holds nothing back of herself, and gives a heartwarming
and tender performance. Olivia even shaved her head for the role, because she believed a bald cap would not give justice to the film. Even RJ Cyler, a
newcomer who plays Earl, brings such raw emotion to this already filled to the
brim film. This entire casts of character actors, including Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, and Molly Shannon, gives each one of their parts a
place and a passion within their curious world. They are a terrific
cast, and Alfonso, the director, does an amazing job pulling them all together
in order to tell this captivating story.
The technical specs of this film are stunning. They perfectly complement Alfonso’s new and unprecedented directing style. The cinematographer takes advantage of the unique architecture in his surroundings, as the film was shot entirely in Pittsburgh. He found the perfect prison like school to shoot in, and a whole suburb of little houses that match each of the character’s personas and upbringings. What is even more interesting is the crew filmed the scenes for Gregg’s house in Jesse’s old house. This sense of comfortableness Jesse and Alfonso have with their locations shows through within the camera work. There is a continuous unfurling dance between the cameraman and the actors. By shooting in these “lived in” houses (as Alfonso calls them), the camera workers are not only able to film fluid long takes but also stark and poignant still shots. Every frame and every angle from this film has been delicately hand crafted and quirked. They all add palpability to Jesse’s already clever screenplay.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl has the power to impact your life and make you think about yourself in a new, accepting and more appreciative manner. Be willing to open up to Alfonso and Jesse’s sense of loss, strife, and personal being, because they have an incredible story to tell.
The technical specs of this film are stunning. They perfectly complement Alfonso’s new and unprecedented directing style. The cinematographer takes advantage of the unique architecture in his surroundings, as the film was shot entirely in Pittsburgh. He found the perfect prison like school to shoot in, and a whole suburb of little houses that match each of the character’s personas and upbringings. What is even more interesting is the crew filmed the scenes for Gregg’s house in Jesse’s old house. This sense of comfortableness Jesse and Alfonso have with their locations shows through within the camera work. There is a continuous unfurling dance between the cameraman and the actors. By shooting in these “lived in” houses (as Alfonso calls them), the camera workers are not only able to film fluid long takes but also stark and poignant still shots. Every frame and every angle from this film has been delicately hand crafted and quirked. They all add palpability to Jesse’s already clever screenplay.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl has the power to impact your life and make you think about yourself in a new, accepting and more appreciative manner. Be willing to open up to Alfonso and Jesse’s sense of loss, strife, and personal being, because they have an incredible story to tell.
