Like Crazy

A lot of my admiration for Like Crazy comes from the fact that I'm an aspiring filmmaker and to watch an 89 minute film that was improvized, shot on the Cannon 7D, and cost $250000 and have the end result be as good as it is, is a breath of fresh air from a lot of the larger budget productions I've recently seen. The film follows the long-distance relationship between Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones). There is actually a statistic about long-distance relationships. Only 10% of them ever lead to a continued togetherness. Our brains and bodies are just hot-wired to be in physical proximity to those we love if we want to continue loving them, especially if the bond isn't as strong as say childhood friendhip or a parent-child dynamic.

Jacob ends up in Los Angeles and Anna ends up in London, but before that, the first time we really see their love for each other is when they touch their hands up against each other with a glass window inbetween them. That may end up feeling forced and corny as you watch it (it's one of those things that tends to happen more in movies than in real life), but that isn't the point. The point of this whole narrative is to have us experience all the moments a couple shares from being too in love with each other to being just plain cynical about the idea of companionship. The acting is certainly stronger than the writing (or the written outline by director Drake Doremus and his co-writer Ben York Jones), but my believability as an audience member in this relationship just continues to evolve as I noticed all the little mental and physical details that the film brings to light.

This is one of those films that can be identifiable in an universal sense and yet I still find myself questioning what is the point of entering a cycle of romance if there is any truth to be found in the events of this film or films like Revolutionary Road, 500 Days of Summer, or Blue Valentine (which depending on who you ask, there either is or isn't)? I guess pursuing love is just one of the faucets of human nature that we all end uncondtionally following and being crazed about... no pun intended.