Film Review: (500) Days of Summer

And we thought one Summer Finn was enough.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Overall Score: 89%

Certified: Black Swan

Score Breakdown:

Performance: 85% Plot: 100% Script: 90% Visuals: 80% Music: 85%

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

Director(s): Zack Snyder

Writer(s): Zack Snyder, Steve Shibuya

Producer(s): Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder

Distributor(s): Warner Bros. Pictures

Country: United States

Language: English

Starring: Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Jena Malone, Abbie Cornish, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, etc.

Studio(s): Legendary Pictures, Cruel & Unusual Films, Lennox House Films

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 110 Minutes

This movie was named the leaders of all indie movies, and I agree. First released on January 2009 at the Sundance Festival this movie is my favorite movie all-time. All-time. Maybe because I feel the same way as how the whole things go, and this movie is the movie I can mostly relate to. This movie is very cool, not only because of the actors and actresses performed very comical in an ironic way, the soundtrack really backs up the mood and everything. This is how a romantic comedy should be like. Very honest and lifelike. 

"Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel charm the pants off us -- and each other! -- in this irresistible comedy." - Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com 

Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) fell in love with Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Tom is a typical guy that believes in love while Summer thinks love is a fantasy, and its not real. This movie does not flow in a one direction, but rather a back-and-forth pace. It moves from day to day in no particular order or pattern. It's very risky, but Marc Webb's direction did it. Here I saw Chloe Grace Moretz's first appearance and  I can see her appeal in the entertainment scene. Here, she is Tom's little sister who's very funny and such a smart-ass tomboy. A great addition for this quirky movie. The casting itself are both familiar, but not overly exposed or a celebrity in any sense of that word. They are a perfect fit, as they did not overshadowed one another.

This movie is very fun to watch, because its very real but out-of-the blue. Joseph plays his role as this sarcastic, fun, young typical kind of guy who studied architecture but ended up working in a greeting card company. While Zooey plays the character Summer, who is attractive, free and such a hippie as she is able to liberate herself when life starts to take control of her. I could not find a better couple to play Tom and Summer. As a pair, they are really fun to watch. The plot and the story defines them and their strength as a pair, with the IKEA scene, the Ringo Starr, everything. We can sense the carefreeness, the freedom of love and it's simply is perfect. It also get a little random with the cartoon blue bird, the dance sequence, the 'what I love about her Summer Finn' which also changes to 'what I hate about Summer Finn', the montages brings even more a uniqueness to the movie, giving this movie more things to be offered to the table.

"Here is a rare movie that begins by telling us how it will end and is about how the hero has no idea why" - Roger Ebert, Chicago-Sun Times

The plot is sarcastic. Especially the characters presented. Very sarcastic and ironic and real. There are no holding back when it comes to freedom, and they did that by inventin the character Summer Finn. She's the title of the movie, she is the movie. Tom is the main character, but his story, the movie, is all about Summer. The plot is definitely not a cliche, and they gave the problems and complications, right at the beginning of the movie. Even though it goes back and forth all the time with the timeline, it's still heading in one direction without confusion. I love this style of movie presentation. It's new, it's fresh and not boring. Just like David Fincher's 2010's The Social Network. You can see that in The Social Network, they combine the past and the present. The past includes the story and several trials. The whole story is a series of flashbacks, while the present is Mark Zuckerberg's trial. 

"Boy gets girl and boy loses girl in convoluted, sometimes cloying but ultimately winning fashion in 500 Days of Summer." - Todd McCarthy, Variety.

The element of the movie also hold the key for making this a great movie. The story is beautiful, not because it's filled with big moments, but for the small moments. The music and the visuals, mirrored one another. We can see beautiful views and how the story gets a little lighter with the 'Expectations' and 'Reality' screen. The music is very indie. The Indonesian/Australian/New Zealand band The Temper Trap gives their song Sweet Disposition as the main title track of the whole movie and it fits perfectly. 

"It's a feat of star acting, and it helps make (500) Days not just bitter or sweet but everything in between." - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

This is one of my most favorite movies, all time. However, I promise you that this review is not over-exaggerated, it stays professionals despite my affection to (500) Days of Summer. It got everything, a pop sweetness, a heartfelt hero, a sarcastic narrative, clarity with a bit of a cute quirk. This movie is fun, hip and enjoyable. A must watch. And after you watched it, it will be lovable, intelligent, and playful movie that remains. Much like an youthful American summer - the season, I never wanted it to end.

+R