Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this page(500) Days of Summer (2009)
Director: Marc Webb
Synopsis
A romantic drama with a real-world twist, as Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s young idealist optimistically woos the cynical, troubled Zooey Deschanel.
Movie review
From Time Out London
Where did it all go wrong? One minute you’re in love, the next it’s all over. In this rom-com-as-postmortem, greeting-card writer Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) tries to pinpoint the key moments in his ill-fated liaison with co-worker Summer (Zooey Deschanel), as the movie toggles hither and thither across individually numbered days in lieu of a familiar linear trajectory. When a stentorian omniscient voiceover announces that ‘this is not a love story’, it’s easy to figure we’re in for another dose of smugly hermetic US indie-cool, yet no matter how clever-clever Marc Webb’s film gets (and it does), it never overwhelms the subtle registration of this young man’s bitter yet enriching learning curve – it takes a broken heart to shatter our youthful illusions about love and prepare us for clear-eyed, grown-up romance.
Gordon-Levitt and Ms Deschanel are simply ideal as these bright young things: he always suggests that fires are burning beneath that deadpan wit and forbidding exterior, while she does the combination of pixie-ish Lorelei and withholding emotional sphinx to a tee. Their workplace affair is certainly believable, though perhaps the problem with Scott Neustader and Michael H Weber’s otherwise peppy script is that it relies on a shared nexus of pop culture references (The Smiths, perhaps inevitably) in lieu of individual chemistry, and flings in smart pastiche (Gallic art-movie torpor, a colourful Demy-esque dance number) when it might have delivered more authentic passion. So, if it just misses being this generation’s ‘Annie Hall’, it’s still deliciously refreshing, sweet and fizzy. A sherbet dip of a movie.
Author: Trevor Johnston
Time Out London Issue 2037: 3 - 9 September, 2009
User reviews of this film
-
- Mark said...
- Posted on Jan 09 2012 13:42 I'm surprised at all the negative comments. This is a well thought out, original and funny romantic comedy. Easy and enjoyable viewing about two very likeable people. I'd highly recommend it!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Dani said...
- Posted on Sep 06 2011 02:54 0 stars. 500 days of dog shit.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- denZol said...
- Posted on May 30 2011 06:20 Absolute Rubbish....director transform historical events georgia was agressor... not Russia.... See UN documents... FALSIFICATION...
- Report as inappropriate
-
- hafsa said...
- Posted on Apr 15 2010 02:18 I watched this film and thought it was actually a good film until the end the ending is quite frank-illy rubbish it makes no sense but like the idea of autumn lol but is there another one going to come out called 500 days of autumn lol!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- irishgoatboy said...
- Posted on Feb 08 2010 10:15 A laundry list of, 'Hey that'd make a good scene in a Rom-Com, wouldn’t it?' Mr. Fear was kind with his three star review, the whole thing being episodic and very much a retread of other better films. What is its own is thin & dressed up in indie-pop LP sleeve graphics. Zooey Deschanel gives a subtle performance almost pulling at you, like her in film non-boyfriend, to enjoy proceedings more than you really should whilst lacking any of Cameron Crowe or Judd Apatow’s clarity for this kinda stuff.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Dan said...
- Posted on Feb 06 2010 13:23 Great script and these two are truly electric together.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Justin Berkovi said...
-
Posted on Jan 21 2010 21:42
Just watched this on BluRay after missing it at the cinema. What can I say but a HUGE disappointment. Contrived, twee but without real warmth or soul this is a very vacuous and odd film that just doesn't work. It tries hard to provide us a with an alternative view on relationships and a quirky script but it all comes across so strained that it's just boring and painful to sit through.
It just doesn't work. - Report as inappropriate
-
- Douchebag said...
- Posted on Jan 06 2010 19:41 Usually I don't write comments on movies - but this piece of crap made me do it for the first time! Don't waste your time with it - sooo boring :-(
- Report as inappropriate
-
- john said...
- Posted on Nov 19 2009 11:38 this is the worst movie ever.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- usman khawaja said...
- Posted on Oct 23 2009 14:37 LEVITT IS A GOOD ACTOR -he is a simple looking ordinary yank but he is a natural and he was credible as the confused lead who has no idea of what he wants though the movie is under-edited and over written at times -still it is worth watching -it could have been more sophisticated and concise too instead of going to and fro in the 500 days following the la vie en rose narrative -i hope this is not going to become a trend as it is neither original nor pleasant
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Sara said...
- Posted on Oct 19 2009 16:44 TOTALLY BRILLIANT!!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Brockley Sarah said...
- Posted on Oct 04 2009 16:43 This is a marvelous and thoroughly enjoyable film. It's mostly funny in a make you smile kind of way but a couple of times I laughed out loud. It's not a saccharine sweet romk-com so if you go looking for a stereotype rom-com it might not be for you. It's intelligent and wity and I heartily recommend it. No idea why there are so many negative reviews here. Would definitely see again when it comes to DVD.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- sharon said...
- Posted on Sep 27 2009 22:08 wow this was the most boring film i have ever seen i was ready to walk after sitting through to the end i wish i had,i looked at other peoples reviews of this film and cant believe i was watching the same film its rubbish slow moving and frankly boring give it a miss
- Report as inappropriate
-
- lucy1sally1 said...
- Posted on Sep 20 2009 06:05 Not sure where the Annie Hall comparisons come from. The film this reminded me of was Gregory's Girl, but whereas that film was laugh out loud funny, this is only mildly amusing.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Paul said...
- Posted on Sep 16 2009 21:05 Went to see it today, it was the only film that finished before 2.30pm as we had to pick the kids up from school. What can I say except from crap. I love a good film including rom coms. There were 6 people in the cinema including us, 2 walked out after half an hour. My wife wanted to walk, but I was determined to stick it out. Good job it was orange Wednesday so only cost £6.50 for both of us. We couldn't wait for it to end. Only wish I could rate it zero stars but have to give it a minimum of 1 so it is recorded
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Marc Webb
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Matthew Grey Gubler, Clark Gregg, Chloe Moretz, Rachel Boston full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Rated: 12A
Duration: 95 mins
UK Release: Sep 4 2009
US Release: Jul 17 2009
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
What do you think?
Post your review now