Like Crazy, a beautifully constructed romance film by quiet indie director Drake Doremus has been released into the world of film goers and critics as absolutely wonderful, the type of movie that changes your perspective on the people you pass daily in the street.
The movie opens with close ups of the two main characters – their connection evident from the first moment you lay eyes on them. The bodacious Brit Anna and apathetic American Jacob, played by big names Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, are classmates in America who almost instantly fall into a whirlwind of a relationship.
The almost awkward but chemistry-filled dialogue highlights Doremus’ attempt to create an accurate depiction of young love.
The first few scenes are quite slow moving, enhancing the reality just that bit more.
Throughout the film, there’s a very quiet, calming and most of all hopeful soundtrack behind the couple’s relationship, almost always playing to evoke viewers emotions. Ingrid Michaelson’s Can’t help falling in love with you has been stuck in my head for weeks, and just a snippet of the background music will bring tears to my eyes instantly.
To see their relationship evolve, we’re presented with a medley of short clips backed with beautiful classic music that takes us through the beauty and happiness of their comfortable life together. You see them wandering through the streets hand in hand, talking on the beach and cuddling with one another. The whole scene makes the audience nostalgic for a relationship they’ve never experienced.
The often-whispered conversations about the future and their relationship feel like you’re stepping into someone else’s intimate moment and find yourself somewhat disconcerted by this sensation but nonetheless unable to take yourself out of it.
In a moment of passion and young idiocy, Anna decides to stay in LA despite her Visa having expired and spends the summer cuddling with the man she believes to be the love of her life. The audience is presented with this summer through a montage of images of the two in their bed, intertwined so closely you can barely tell where one begins and the other ends.
In a look at the intimacy and haste of young love we see a juxtaposition of Anna’s relationship with Jacob and with her parents, played by Alex Kingston and Oliver Muirhead. While she’s open and completely relaxed with her parents, you see her tense up and worry about how her relationship with Jacob will work.
Sadly, when Anna goes to the UK and then attempts to return to LA, she finds herself stopped at customs. Separated from her lover, the film moves into a look at long distance relationships and their difficulties. A surprise performance from award winning actress Jennifer Lawrence adds depth and difficulties to their relationship as a long distance couple. Awkward phone calls, missed times, busy lives – the two become separated in heart as well as distance. These heart-wrenching developments draw the audience in and evoke deep emotions.
The depth of the film is indescribable. Though targeted at a direct audience of twenty-something year olds, at any age you’ll be able to feel the deep connection and sadness of the film. It addresses timeless relationship issues while looking at the contemporary issues and good parts of long distance relationships such as phone calls and the ease of travelling.
The film is incredibly emotional, one that will definitely live up to expectations.