14) 500 Days Of Summer
Directed by Marc Webb
Released in 2009
500 Days Of Summer, as the title suggests, takes place over the 500 days in which Tom Hansen knows Summer Finn and it follows the blossoming of their affection for each other right through to the eventual heartbreak. While this sounds more cynical than most romantic comedies, I love the movie because it is one that everyone can relate to. Everybody has their Summer Finn; the one person who you loved and lost, the one person you will always look back on no matter how many relationships down the line and the one person who changed your perception on love forever. It may be one of the most memorable and important factors in growing up for a lot of young adults, however, it's a theme that has rarely been touched upon in romantic comedies; a genre that instead thrives on the idea of happy ever afters.
It's a wonderfully written film that deserves to be placed alongside other modern rom-com classics like High Fidelity and Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind for developing such an original concept in a genre that has become so tired over the last two decades. It's also extremely funny with scenes of our two protagonists in Ikea and the main character taking part in a dance interlude after he and Summer sleep together causing huge laughs even on a second viewing.
Aside from the writing though, the acting is tremendous. I refuse to believe that Tom and Summer could have been played by anyone other than the talented Joseph Gordon Levitt and indie sweetheart Zooey Deschanel as they have a brilliant chemistry together and do a wonderful job of bringing their characters to life.
However, the real star of 500 Days Of Summer is director Marc Webb who gives the film a quirky yet stylish touch that makes it stand out from the crowd. From the use of black and white to changing the aspect ratio and from the use of slow motion to split-screen sequences, the direction is constantly artistic and clever in the movie.
Undoubtedly the high point though is the excellent Reality Vs Expectation sequence when Tom goes to a party hosted by Summer after their break-up. The sequence, which features the song Hero by Regina Spektor, is both fascinating to watch and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time as it juxtaposes the main characters optimism with what really happens.
But juxtaposition is something that occurs in 500 Days Of Summer a little too much. The narrative is told in a non-linear structure and uses this device throughout a huge chunk of the film's mid-section to contrast Tom's happiness against the heartbreak that is later to come. For example, cutting out a scene like the one where Tom and Summer go to the cinema juxtaposed with Tom sitting there alone would do little to affect the outcome of the movie. After all, the contrast has already been enforced by the scenes at the greeting card offices, the two montages of why Tom loves Summer and hates Summer and the aforementioned dance and Reality Vs Expectation sequences. Sure, the moments like this are funny and prove how good Webb's style is, but I can't help but feel they become pointless after a while and do nothing to develop either the characters or story.
Nevertheless, Webb has created one of the most honest, refreshing and funny romantic comedies of the last decade in 500 Days Of Summer and I strongly believe that it's a film that everyone who claims the genre is dying out should check out immediately.
4/5
7 comments:
Fucked up above message ^ ;)
I love this film with all my heart, it really kept me company earlier this year. Definitely sneaks into my top 50.
But I noticed something really special regarding the composition which really enhances it for me. When Tom is on the left of the screen and Summer is on the right, they're making progress in their relationship. When she's on the left and he's on the right, they're going backwards in their relationship. This because of the whole film journey thing that adventure flicks do.
For example.
- When they're in the elevator and she notices The Smiths, he's on left, she's on right.
- When they're in the bar and open with the Springsteen joke, he's on left, she's on right.
- When they're in IKEA and there's a lot of tension between them ("sinks don't work"), he's on right, she's on left.
- On the bench when he writes on her arm, the camera refuses to show a front view and only on the back so he's on the left and she's on the right, otherwise only so they're equal on camera.
- In the first record store scene when they get the porn (and also when they get home), he's on left while she's on right, but in the other one where he finds the Ringo Starr album and she doesn't care, she's on left and he's on right.
There are also many faux pas.
- In the copier room just before their first kiss, she's on the left while he's on the right but when they kiss, she joins him on his side.
- In their first sex scene, she's on the left while he's on the right, but straight after his fantasy sequence and before we get to see Summer again, he's miserable.
Maybe you'll find it interesting.
9/10
Ooooo! That's very interesting!
I'll have to watch it again sometime to notice all of those things.
After I first saw 500 Days Of Summer I thought it was perfect, but I don't think it's quite as good on second viewing.
Still a wonderful film though and way ahead of most movies in that genre.
I had really high expectations. It kind of disappointed me because I was hoping for something existential, rather than quirky. After the second viewing, which was pretty much the same, I got the craving for more and watched my third, fourth and fifth in the same week, noticing these things and loving it for what it is.
I'm totally straight, but if I was to be locked in a room for a weekend with just JGL or Zooey... I think I'm going for Lev.
If I could choose to look like any man in the world, I think Joseph Gordon Levitt would be very high on my list of possibilities. Along with Cillian Murphy and Brad Pitt obviously. :)
Has anybody said you look like any celebrity? I've been compared to Ryan Gosling, Ben Foster and James Cameron. Heh.
Everyone tells me I look like Seth Green.
Not sure if I'm flattered or offended by that really. :|
Haha.
I'd be made up if someone told me I look like Ryan Gosling! :)
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