Max Joseph does the same here. Just as Hackers showed its characters living almost as their own avatars because that was when they felt at their most ‘real’, the dizzy heights of We Are Your Friends are like an idealised version of clubbing that kicks in when the characters are at their most whole. People might not talk or act like this in reality but then, surely, that’s the magic of cinema right there. And hacking. And DJing. And whatever else you’re passionate about. It’s the magic – that touches fantasy – of being truly alive in the moment of something you love doing, something that you’re really feeling. And this film’s success lies in the way it makes the audience feel. Above all else, We Are Your Friends is a visceral experience. There’s a scene where Zac Efron explains (loosely) the art of DJing and talks about how the first thing you need to do is tune into a crowd’s heartbeat. Once you’ve matched your rhythm to this, they’re in your hands and you can bring them up and down effortlessly. The film does exactly this. Within the first act, it tunes into the crowd’s heartbeat and then just takes you through soaring highs and massive drops – an adrenalised whirlwind of beautiful photography, pounding beats and flawless melodrama. Sure, if it doesn’t hook your heart straight away, you’ll probably miss out on the rest of the experience but then… who wants to be the guy standing in the corner, awkwardly clutching his drink, checking his watch and complaining? Just go with it, bro. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
