Bask in 500 days of Summer
Written: Jul 13 '09 (Updated Aug 01 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Well acted, well directed, well scripted. Holds your interest throughout.
Cons: Where is it located?
The Bottom Line: Recommended for its inventive cinematography and clever script.
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| lli_wright's Full Review: (500) Days of Summer |
Have you ever loved someone more than they loved you? or vice versa. Then you know the breakup has to be handled delicately, especially if one of you doesn't have a clue that it's over. 500 Days slowly, sluggishly grabs you throughout and at the end you feel as if you have seen a real live relationship form and unfold. You're a witness to Tom (Joseph Gordon Levitt) unhappy at work in a job he's good at but not passionate about and then in walks Summer (Zooey Deschanel, who I never saw before or knew about) and he falls in like, first, and then in love.
It starts out as another boy-meets girl rom com, but turns into a realistic portrayal of two young people dating and trying to be in love. I state "trying" because that's what it feels like. Tom knows what he wants but not so for Summer. From the start, Tom was given a clue repeatedly when Summer said, "Just friends." He was the one who fell in love; she was the one who knew he was not "the one." He wanted to commit; she wanted to have a good time. When he's happy with her the blue skies open and colorful birds fly around. When they break up, he goes on a drinking binge.
On many levels, 500 Days, is the most mature romcom, it pulls no punches about lop-sided feelings. You can understand how and why Tom falls for Summer. She is unconventional and breezy, she has a devil-may care attitude; she has pretty skin, handsome looks, a full mane of hair and a wide white teeth smile.
He is the geeky guy who went to architectural school and ended up writing greeting cards. His best friends and sister are shoulders to lean on and motivate him. One says forget about her and another says go for it. But he is never assured where the relationship is going. Are they friends? Lovers? Marriage bound? ? Summer never gives a clue. Is it cruel? Or is she being real?It might seem odd, but whatever Tom's mood is, you feel it. When he is happy, it radiates across the screen and out into the audience. When he is down, you sympathize with him. What was he thinking that he could score and keep Summer forever?
Zooey Deschanel is the perfect actress for Summer. Oval blue eyes and innocent looking, as Summer you admire her when she admits her various loves openly and without shame. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the perfect Tom. Slim, expressive, collegial appearance, as Tom he wears his heart on his sleeve.
The movie traces 500 days of their relationship with innovative cinematography; split screens show two sides interpreting their reactions and in the middle there's a cute song and dance number when Tom leads a street full of dancers in a musical.
A few misfires:
-The company's name is "New Hampshire" Greeting Cards, yet LA is mentioned as the resident city; but the locale looked like New Jersey. This was a bit confusing trying to figure out where it was located.
-The backwards and forwards in time to chronicle how the relationship developed. Kind of clever, but got a bit confusing at times.
- too many karaoke bar scenes, which drags the picture out
Otherwise, it was well directed, well acted, comical and will put a smile on your face at the end. I didn't know the actors and the director; they are unknown household names and they pull it off as good as the veterans. At the end you feel like you know and empathize with everyone involved. So real. (Did I use that word again?)
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Date Movie
Viewing Method: Press Screening
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Pacing
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Epinions.com ID:
lli_wright
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Location: Chicago, IL, US
Reviews written: 243
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Working stiff who loves to give opinions to anybody who will listen.
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