Like Crazy: A Star Achievement Remembering Anton Yelchin

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WORDS Moriyo Aiyeola

In June Hollywood lost a talented and underrated star. Most known for his role as Chekov in the recently rebooted Star Trek franchise, Anton Yelchin is the latest artist to join the ‘27 Club’, a group mostly associated with musicians who died at that age, including the likes of Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix.

Despite a career spanning from childhood – delivering memorable performances in films such Charlie Bartlett – Anton Yelchin demonstrated a huge amount of talent yet remains one of Hollywood’s underrated and lesser-known stars. If there is one film that should stand out in his adult career, it is definitely his raw and realistic portrayal of being in love in 2011’s Like Crazy.

This small, low budget film follows the development of a young couple’s relationship over several years. However, a decision early on leads to eventual complication and fracturing in their romance. It’s a simple and intimate study of young love; the challenges of growing up; as well as the impact of decisions and their consequences. Yelchin plays one half of this couple, alongside British actress Felicity Jones. The film’s director, Drake Doremus, chooses not to employ fancy camera work or flashy directorial tropes or editing but instead relies heavily on the young actors to portray the entire emotional arc of the story necessary for the film to work.

If there is one film that should stand out in his adult career, it is definitely his raw and realistic portrayal of being in love and its challenges.

Yelchin’s chemistry with Jones grows by leaps and bounds; the viewer feels like the voyeur as the film plays out like a compilation of moments in another couple’s life. You respond as if present in the room with them. During heated arguments, you feel suitably uncomfortable and anxious. During moments of happiness, the bliss of young love charms and enraptures you.

In all these respects, Like Crazy is timeless film that all people who have experienced falling in love can relate to. Yet there is no doubt about its modernity. Little textures like the presence of smart phones and arguments over text messages are constant reminders that this is very much a story of the current young generation. Even the way the film is concluded does not play to the classic tradition of a film in this genre – the ambiguity of the ending, some might judge, is as frustrating as young people coming to terms with real life itself.

If there are other romantic coming-of-age classics to compare it to, numerous examples spring to mind. Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate or Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy in the Before trilogy deserve to be accompanied by Yelchin’s effort in Like Crazy. Perhaps the film is less sophisticated, some may argue, perhaps less innovative. Nevertheless, it is the perfect film to watch and form your own opinion on. Sometimes the simplicity of following a realistic romantic portrayal of a young couple is enough and refreshing.

Anton Yelchin joins many stars who have died this year, among greats such as David Bowie, Prince and even Muhammed Ali. However, he does not deserve to be swept under the carpet too soon and half forgotten. Director of Like Crazy, Doremus, praised Yelchin having ‘taught me what being humble and hardworking artist is all about.’ The son of Russian refugees, he certainly found a home in the United States and Hollywood definitely accommodated his talent. This small film itself is a humble yet great testament of his skill and legacy, and should be re-watched repeatedly.

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