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CHRONICLE (2012)Movie Reviews
Science fiction thriller about three high school students who develop strange new powers that lead them to embrace their darker sides. Cast:Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael KellyDirector:Josh TrankRelease Date:February 3, 2012DVD Release:May 15, 2012From:20th Century FoxRating:PG-13Length:1 hr 23 min
Chronicle (2012) played to very good reviews. • Roger Ebert wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times, "...uncommonly entertaining... involves elements of a superhero origin story, a science-fiction fantasy and a drama about a disturbed teenager." • And Andrew Schenker wrote for Slant, "...handles its gimmick with consistent effectiveness and occasional imagination." More Reviews Below...
Richard Corliss, Time: MODERATE "...diverting and annoying... Writer Max Landis and director Josh Trask are preoccupied with aping and synthesizing other films into an ultimately ordinary one of their own..."(See all of Richard Corliss's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,097 words, 02/02/12
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "...director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis (as in son-of-John) have come up with a clever way to tell a hand-held, point-of-view story without relying on the same old..."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 02/02/12
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the most original and excitingly executed wow-factor-meets-handheld-video feature since 'Blair Witch'... rebuilds the power of special effects from the ground up..."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 02/10/12
Claudia Puig, USA Today: VERY GOOD(cg) "Bolstered by the natural performances of a trio of little-known actors Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan... very watchable... keeps us captive throughout."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 467 words, 02/03/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...uncommonly entertaining... announces the arrival of considerable new talents -- director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/03/12
Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a reasonably engrossing and occasionally inventive piece of sci-fi schlock.... even as its ostensible innovations flag, 'Chronicle' remains watchable..."(See all of Glenn Kenny's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 533 words, 02/01/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...exists beneath the superhero umbrella but seems nothing like a 'Batman,' 'Spider-Man,' 'Superman,' or 'X-Men'.... unusual, and perhaps unique..."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 872 words, 02/03/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "Mr. DeHaan, whose vulnerability and physical awkwardness here can evoke Leonardo DiCaprio in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' is invaluable.... he pulls you uneasily in."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/03/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...mind-and-fork-bending... from the freaky imaginations of director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis, who've packed their feature debut with smartness."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 02/03/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: WEAK(cg) "You may think sci-fi writers could come up with something fresh instead of constantly rearranging the same dozen moldy ingredients, but..."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 607 words, 02/03/12
Roger Moore, Chicago Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "...this is 'Cloverfield' meets 'Fantastic Four'... a semi-serious sci-fi romp, lighter and more fun than many of the comic-book movies that it steals from..."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 447 words, 02/03/12
John Anderson, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...one smart thriller, a parable of unchecked power, and an action film in which the action -- although seen through a viewfinder -- carries the viewer away."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 322 words, 02/03/12
Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine: VERY GOOD "...maintains a kind of austere, provincial integrity. In the end, it's just a movie about the joys and dangers of finally having some power over our fate."(See all of Bilge Ebiri's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 488 words, 02/03/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...uncommonly entertaining... announces the arrival of considerable new talents -- director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/03/12
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...there's a shrewd naturalism to this outlandish fantasy that befits these emotionally underdeveloped, horny, and otherwise average high schoolers."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 395 words, 02/01/12
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...found-footage times two... takes the viewer out of the movie, prompting thoughts about why someone would be filming when they should be more involved."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 605 words, 02/03/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...there's no way to describe why the movie works so brilliantly without spoiling its greatest moments. It's thrilling to watch it evolve... Go see it. And marvel."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 179 words, 02/02/12
KEY CITIES (10 Reviews)
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post: MODERATE(cg) "...can't finesse the essential problem of the found-footage genre: When faced with a potentially lethal threat, nobody's first instinct is to hit 'record.' "(See all of Mark Jenkins's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 466 words, 02/03/12
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a thrillingly inventive take on an old genre, a fun story that turns increasingly dark, a nerd-boy fantasy realized with cinematic flair.... pretty exhilarating, start to finish."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 498 words, 02/03/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: VERY GOOD(cg) "...plays like an extended episode of 'The X-Files' might; Dane DeHaan in particular comes off like one of the series' more memorable characters. That's a compliment."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 592 words, 02/03/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...will never be mistaken for an artistic breakthrough, but it has a solid gimmick and pieces of it are brilliant."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 583 words, 02/03/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...there's enough here that's fresh and surprising... at not quite 90 minutes, the movie gets credit for ending before it's begun to wear out its novelty, or our patience."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 522 words, 02/03/12
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...brisk, brusque, disturbing... deconstructs the conventional superhero narrative and reassembles it as a canny discourse on impulse control and the troubled teen psyche."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 338 words, 02/03/12
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: MODERATE(cg) "What would you do, the movie asks, if you suddenly had superpowers? It's an interesting question, even as it fades away in a blur of chaotic special effects at the end."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 02/03/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "After a while you just sit back and smile at a gimmick well done.... I'm almost disappointed the ending doesn't leave room for a sequel."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 482 words, 02/03/12
Adam Graham, Detroit News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...fresh, invigorating... Even with a small, unknown cast and modest effects, it manages to outdo the mega-budget comic book spectaculars..."(See all of Adam Graham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 325 words, 02/03/12
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "The found-footage style Trank employs works perfectly with this material, making the outlandish plot feel real, not fantastical.... a pleasant surprise..."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 487 words, 02/03/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (10 Reviews)
Aaron Hillis, Village Voice/LA Weekly: GOOD "...there's a shrewd naturalism to this outlandish fantasy that befits these emotionally underdeveloped, horny, and otherwise average high schoolers."(See all of Aaron Hillis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 395 words, 02/01/12
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: VERY GOOD(cg) "...director Josh Trank and writer Max Landis offer a canny little adventure with just enough verve to sail over its bumpier parts."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 627 words, 02/01/12
Scott Tobias, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "...becomes what 'Hancock' wanted to be -- a dark superhero story with firm footing in the everyday. Perhaps now the found-footage gimmick has been fully exploited..."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 404 words, 02/02/12
Michelle Orange, Movieline: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a new spin on the subject of teenage alienation and its more extreme social side effects.... uneven but earnest, often exhilarating..."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 791 words, 02/03/12
Andrew Schenker, Slant: MODERATE(cg) "...doesn't exactly have anything new to offer an already moribund mini-genre... but it at least handles its gimmick with consistent effectiveness and occasional imagination."(See all of Andrew Schenker's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 661 words, 02/01/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...there's no way to describe why the movie works so brilliantly without spoiling its greatest moments. It's thrilling to watch it evolve... Go see it. And marvel."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 179 words, 02/02/12
Edward Adams, Atlanta Creative Loafing: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a great cast, a relatively good script and some killer visual effects make it worth watching. But beware of the predictable pratfalls and heavy moral subtext..."(See all of Edward Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 810 words, 02/08/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...makes us reconsider the terms superhero and supervillain entirely.... they're just people doing the best they can with what they have."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 850 words, 01/30/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "Mr. DeHaan, whose vulnerability and physical awkwardness here can evoke Leonardo DiCaprio in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' is invaluable.... he pulls you uneasily in."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/03/12
David Denby, New Yorker: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a mildly experimental commercial film, and, for the most part, it's loose-limbed fun... [until] it becomes a cautionary tale..."(See all of David Denby's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 473 words, 02/06/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...mind-and-fork-bending... from the freaky imaginations of director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis, who've packed their feature debut with smartness."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 02/03/12
Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...a clever twist on superpowers and hand-held filmmaking that stumbles before the ending.... doesn't take advantage of the ideal opportunity it sets up to explore..."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 02/02/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: VERY GOOD "...mind-and-fork-bending... from the freaky imaginations of director Josh Trank and screenwriter Max Landis, who've packed their feature debut with smartness."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 557 words, 02/03/12
Manohla Dargis, New York Times: VERY GOOD "Mr. DeHaan, whose vulnerability and physical awkwardness here can evoke Leonardo DiCaprio in 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' is invaluable.... he pulls you uneasily in."(See all of Manohla Dargis's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 695 words, 02/03/12
17.7 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Chronicle (2012)'s reviews are separated by an average 17.7 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Chronicle (2012) (41 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Chronicle (2012)'s reviews cover 81.6% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 21,725 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 530 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 2.2 Hours After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Chronicle (2012)'s reviews on average broke 2.2 hours after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Chronicle (2012)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Chronicle (2012) (41 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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