Matthew D
Like Crazy feels like you are on a series of dreamy dates with Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin.
Director Drake Doremus’ indie romance drama Like Crazy (2011) is adorable, romantic, heartwarming, devastating, and creative. Doremus’ intimate direction is enthralling as it feels like we’re in the room with these characters’ exchange students throughout their tumultuous long-distance relationship. It was based on Doremus’ real life long-distance relationship with Desiree Pappenscheller as they went back and forth between London and Los Angeles. Like Crazy is Felicity Jones getting her own depressing film equivalent of Blue Valentine or Manchester by the Sea. I hope new viewers give Like Crazy a chance as it is easily one of the greatest indie films I have ever had the pleasure of watching.
It’s insane to me that Like Crazy was written as an outline of 50 pages by writers Ben York Jones and Drake Doremus, then Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin improvised almost all of the actual dialogue in the film. They filmed Like Crazy in just four weeks and only for a small budget of $250,000. What a brilliant display of innovative acting and raw creative artistry. I appreciate Felicity and Anton going through the awkwardness of asking someone out, the intrigue of getting to know someone, the joy of having fun with the person you care about, the nervousness from getting serious about marriage, the frustration with immigration visas, the yearning ache of being separated from your love, the anger and jealous in a tumultuous relationship, to the gradual decline of love once you’ve both grown apart. Watching this tender love fall to pieces is truly devastating to me. I was tearing up seeing their love fade. Once Felicity’s wrist bracelet saying “Patience” breaks, I knew it was really over.
Anton Yelchin is outstanding as the sensitive furniture designer Jacob Helm. Yelchin is handsome, funny, sweet, furious, tender, sensitive, jealous, caring, uncertain, and dejected as the romantic hero Jacob Helm. I miss Anton Yelchin so much and it makes me cry seeing him so full of life as Jacob. He’s really phenomenal in Like Crazy.
Felicity Jones is excellent as the poetic writer and blogging editor Anna Gardner. Jones is gorgeous and delicate as she displays all of Anna’s euphoria and despair. Jones is devastating as we get to know her playful and thoughtful romantic heroine Anna, who opens up her vulnerable heart to this young man. Seeing her get insecure in their love and dealing with the horrifying injustices with the travel visas, and how this negatively affects their enjoyment together broke me. I found her lovable and realistic as she depicts how a loving long-distance relationship can wither away in time.
Felicity Jones is one of my all time favorite actresses since seeing her in The Theory of Everything, Rogue One, On the Basis of Sex, and now Like Crazy. This has to be her absolute greatest performance as a dramatic actress. She should have gotten an Oscar for this dazzling acting.
Jennifer Lawrence is sympathetic as Yelchin’s later girlfriend Samantha, who is his on and off again girlfriend. Lawrence is very subtle as she hurts inside that Yelchin’s Jacob is not picking her over his overseas girlfriend. Charlie Bewley is great as Felicity’s later boyfriend, the controlling Simon, with his own ideas for her life.
Alex Kingston’s bubbly mother Jackie Gardner and Oliver Muirhead’s warm, but stern father Bernard Gardner are wonderful as Felicity’s loving and friendly parents. Chris Messina apparently appears as Mike Appletree, but I don’t recall which friend he played. Finola Hughes is friendly as Felicity’s lady boss Liz.
Cinematographer John Guleserian keeps the camera near the cast in very intimate close-ups. I love the sweeping camera motions as much as the pretty close-up shots of Felicity’s hurting eyes or Anton’s forlorn head gazing off to the side. Composer Dustin O'Halloran’s gentle piano film score is mesmerizing with a very romantic main theme. I was captivated by the music in Like Crazy. Paul Simon, M83, Stars, The Mary Onettes, and Figurine also get great songs for the soft soundtrack.
In conclusion, I adored Like Crazy for Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin’s vulnerable acting performances that are fully improvised in this indie darling romance drama. In 90 minutes, your heart will shatter.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/18/25
Full Review
Mon B
This is a great movie. It isn't easy to portray complex feelings of romantic love on film. It isn't just the acting, but how it is edited together. It reminds you of all the pain and joy of falling in love, and falling out of love. I can think of few other movies that nail it like this.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
12/07/24
Full Review
Faiz D
Really liked the style of the film.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
08/29/24
Full Review
Audience Member
another one of the finer entries of 2011 Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin put on terrific performances you really do buy them as a couple and feel sympathetic as they struggle through the toughest things in order to stay together even though a lot of the choices these characters make are completely idiotic the film does have enough of a heart to be in the right place you'll smile, laugh and cry considering the director had a similar life experience it really projects onto the audience depicting the harsh realities of love, heartache, and renewal if the two leads didn't have such good chemistry this movie wouldn't have worked at all the characters try their absolute hardest to remain plutonic and yet they ultimately give in to their hearts relationships are good, sweet, hard and very fragile nowadays 'Like Crazy' is a very good movie that amazingly hits you hard on an emotional level
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
03/06/24
Full Review
isla s
This is a sweet, touching film. Its uplifting and sad at times but not as unbelievable/over the top as some 'chick flicks'. It is a bit sickly sweet but I liked the characters and found myself feeling sorry for Anna, facing a long distance relationship. I liked that she didn't seem overly naive. I won't say more so as not to spoil the film but I thought it was one of the better young adult based romantic dramas. However, I have a slight warning - if you don't like unanswered questions then this may well not be the film for you.
Also, sometimes the background music is a little 'airy fairy' but I liked some of the cinematography used and the plot wasn't bad, so I'd recommend it on that basis. Oh and also, any film that features Paul Simons solo music in it is good in my books!.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Rachael H
Started off slow, got some traction and then lost it again. I personally didn't like it. I was holding out for something to happen, but it never does. Disappointing ending :(
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
12/23/21
Full Review
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