Tuesday, August 4, 2009

"(500) Days of Summer" Review



I've been quite excited for the release of this film for some time and finally went on a date with myself to check it out. I thought this film was heart-breakingly deflightful, well acted, well executed and mildly depressing. It was nowhere near as extreme as the soul-crushingly brilliant Revolutionary Road, but you're informed right at the start that it's a work of fiction and that it is NOT a love story, but of course a part of you hopes that there is a happy ending, but you soon realize that this movie is most likely not going to provide you with one for the unbeliveably adorable Zooey Deschanel and positively perfectly cute Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I describe both actors with postive adejctives because their portrayals of their characters and their chemistry was fantastic, each was incredibly flawed and relatable, throughout the film that chronicles the 500 days of their relationship, which are shown out of order. Entertainment Weekly's Owen Glieberman wrote:

(500) Days is like a mood ring cued to the ups, downs, and confusions of modern
love. It's a Gen-Y Annie Hall made by a new-style Wes Anderson who uses his
cleverness for humanity instead of postmodern superiority. None of it would
work, though, without such lived-in performances. Deschanel makes the lovely,
sensuous Summer just precocious enough to know what she wants without coming out and saying it, and Gordon-Levitt, with his junior Springsteenian chin jut, 
lets
you read every glimmer of hope, pain, lust, and befuddlement beneath his nervy
facade. It's a feat of star acting, and it helps make (500) Days not just bitter
or sweet but everything in between.

And I certainly agree.

My rating: 8.9/10

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