(500) Days of Summer

[Lazy Boy]

http://thecia.com.au/reviews/1/images/500-days-of-summer-poster-0.jpg

Directed by Mark Webb

Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber

Genre: Comedy/romance

Release date: July 17th, 2009

Tagline: This is not a love story. This is a story about love.

Plot: An offbeat romantic comedy about a woman (Deschanel) who doesn't believe true love exists, and the young man (Gordon-Levitt) who falls for her.

http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/500daysofsummer_filmstill1_joesephgordonlevit2-445x296.jpg

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel

Rated PG-13 for sexual material and language.

Runtime: 95 minutes

This looks like it was made just for me! Maybe a wee bit whimsical, but I can't wait to see it.

[Bourne101]

Looks great, and the reviews so far have been great.

[BakeTheMooCow]

I'd watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel paint a fence for an hour and a half, so... yes, I'll see this.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I'd watch Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel paint a fence for an hour and a half, so... yes, I'll see this.

Yup.

This, Moon, Enter the Void, The White Ribbon and Antichrist are my top five must-see movies.

[someguy]

I feel like this was created in the bowels of a studio to make the perfect film to market towards the hipster/'indie' crowd.

[BakeTheMooCow]

I feel like this was created in the bowels of a studio to make the perfect film to market towards the hipster/'indie' crowd.

Too cynical and aware of hipster label. oh fuck i better not put merriweather post pavillion on best of 2009 list so let me go for something more obscure

Film does look pretty twee, but I have more faith that it won't be of Garden State variety.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I feel like this was created in the bowels of a studio to make the perfect film to market towards the hipster/'indie' crowd.

Join us, someguy. One of us, one of us...

P.S. Thanks for the heads up on St. Vincent.

[Tweek]

It doesn't look like Garden State to me. Hopefully it's nothing like that movie.

I probably won't be able to see it until August due to lack of funds.

[ilovemovies]

What's with the Garden State hate? I love that movie.

And yes, I'm definitely looking forward to this. It looks great.

I <3 Zooey Deschanel.

[CosmicPuppet]

Well, I've already seen Joseph Gordon-Levitt trying to sing like Tom Waits at a movie theater, so why not this?

Plus, it can be the one romance movie I can take my girl to that doesn't look like complete dog shit.

[bigred760]

I'd rather see Levitt in this than in G.I. Joe. This looks like a great character movie, and the trailer makes it look worth watching. Will be doing so.

[zombievictim]

I've seen the trailer at least 15 times. I absolutely love it. I can't wait to see this film. I'm prepared to drive several miles for this bad boy.

[JCPhoenix]

I LOVE the first trailer (the one that is a bit of a homage to Godard) and I've been a fan of Gordon-Levitt since Mysterious Skin. I'll be seeing this.

Oh and if anyone has a link to an HD 1080p (or even 720p) version of that first trailer, please post it! I save my favorite trailers every year in HD and try to compile them on a disc every once in a while but this one doesn't seem to be anywhere in HD...

[someguy]

Too cynical and aware of hipster label. oh fuck i better not put merriweather post pavillion on best of 2009 list so let me go for something more obscure

bake u mad

[BlownCamaro]

Looks really good from the clips and trailer posted here on joblo. Doubt I will see it in theaters but for sure a good rental.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

Too cynical and aware of hipster label. oh fuck i better not put merriweather post pavillion on best of 2009 list so let me go for something more obscure

Film does look pretty twee, but I have more faith that it won't be of Garden State variety.


MPP IS the best.

I'm looking forward to this, and I'm going to completely ignore the whole self-aware negativity vibe coming from the impossible to please indie crowd.

[Venus Venusia]

I can't wait for this! I hear there's a montage where they play a Hall and Oates song, which is right up my alley, lol. Plus, it has my future husband, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I'm really hoping I get to see it in theaters. :D

[echo_bravo]

Looks like a sweet little film...I am in!

I just hope there isnt constant name droppings of cool/hip bands (are you listening Diablo Cody?)

[Jon Lyrik]

If I hated Garden State, Juno and Me And You And Everyone We Know, will I like this?

[Mr.HyDe807]

I was pretty interested in this movie when I saw the cardboard setup of the poster in one of my local theaters. Then, the Joblo review and trailer came out, and now I'm definitely down to checking this out.

[anakinsrise]

Looking forward to this but i wonder if its only in limited release this weekend?

[ilovemovies]

Goddamit! My local theater isn't getting this Friday. :mad:

[Bourne101]

It's only opening in 27 theatres.

[TeawithBlood]

I saw this at Cinefest in Philly in March. I was really impressed.

[Borris]

I was able to catch a screening of this in Dallas several weeks ago. I can see why it was recognized at Sundance. It was a very good story told in a way that we don't really see with these types of movies. The hardest part for this movie is describing it to others. It's not a love story nor a romantic comedy. It's just that slice of life story of a relationship that doesn't work out, but no one is to blame. Both main characters are likable and very well developed.
Highly recommended.
9/10

[anakinsrise]

The extreme highs and lows of a relationship are explored with a big sense of humor in (500) Days of Summer,one of the best romantic comedies,(even though the narrator denies its a romance),i have ever seen.Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are equally excellent as Tom & Summer.She's the new assistant to the boss,he's a greeting card writer.
Tom is instantly smitten with Summer,and why not,they like the same music,she's encouraging,inspiring,fun,and beautiful.Though they butt heads when it comes to the big C word commitment.He wants more,she's a take day by day type of woman,but they still go for it anyway.
The bliss and misery of the relationship plays out in many different visual styles,split screen,dance numbers,and animation.The standout for me being the expectation and reality sequence.
The last time i saw a romantic comedy so well written and cleverly done was,Woody Allens,Annie Hall.The supporting cast is fun and likeable. Geoffrey Arend (or as i refer to him the fortunate guy dating the hot red head Christina Hendricks from Mad Men)McKenzie Tom's friend and co worker,Matthew Gray Gubler as his best friend Paul and last but not least Chloe Moretz,as his pre teen sister Rachel who's view of relationships seem more based in realism than Tom's.
Summer's actions towards the end of the film are not really explored to the level i would have liked,and actually come off quite cold.But anyone who has ever been in a relationship either long or short term,knows that when a relationship runs its course,you can never really explain why it ended.God knows i have spent many sleepless nights with a bottle of Rum trying to figure out how a few relationships went wrong.
I wonder how many other people will see themselves in the characters on screen.I definitely related to Tom.
Scale of 1-10 a 9

[dmbman32]

SPOILERS



Wow. What a great film. Easily one of the (of not the) best film of the year. Hell, this will probably go into my Top 10 of the decade.

The thing that made this film so great was it took a story/formula that's been done a thousand times, and did it in a way I've never seen before. I've seen so many movies of boy-meets-girl/falls in love/relationship problems/sad endings/etc. But never like this. The sad scenes still had humor, the humor was never over-the-top of crude, the characters were never "too" clever, and the back-and-forth storytelling never got too out of control.

Like most people who see this, I had a relationship that was very similar to what is portrayed in the movie. Mutual attraction and interest, but more so on my end then theirs. The girl wasn't vindictive or plotting, but trying to balance everything for her own benefit. The good times were unforgettable, but when you reflect, the bad times were clearer than you'd like to remember. Tom & Summer's story never got too unbelievable to where you couldn't see that happening in real life.

In terms of the filmmaking...wow. So original. You know you have a great film on your hands when you have a romantic movie using "You Make My Dreams Come True" for the 12th time, and you love every minute of it. God, that dance sequence after he sleeps with Summer was one of the most original, funny scenes I've seen in awhile. When he looks at his reflection and it's Han Solo winking at him, I hadn't laughed that hard in awhile. And when he starts high-fiving total strangers, hilarous. Also, the entire "Expectations vs. Reality" sequence was A+. Great soundtrack choice, editing, everything. Heartbreaking scene. Even some of the scenes were Scorsese - P.T. Anderson-esque. The black and white introduction of Summer was like the opening scene of "Magnolia." When Tom was watching the foreign film, and he was doing all the Euro scenes, that was great.

Both Joseph Gorden Levitt & Zooey Deschenel were excellent. Zooey didn't have to emote as much, but had a difficult task of not turning into a total bitch by the end. Her character was genuine, even though her actions were contradicting. Levitt was hilarious, and perfectly cast.

"She's a robot.....like Small Wonder, you know..Vicki......"

"She took a giant shit...on my face." "No, not literally.....that's disgusting...Jesus...."

GO. SEE. THIS. MOVIE.

9/10.

[zombievictim]

This isn't opening within 200 miles of me. This sucks.

[Katsumoto]

Got advance passes for next week... looks good, i'm excited.

[APzombie]

Just came back. I really, really enjoyed it, but i can't say that i absolutely loved it.

If we played a game where i would have to take a shot after seeing a situation mirror my love-life in this film i'd be on the floor drunk ten minutes in. There is a lot of honesty in this movie, and the screenwriters nail the twenty-something relationship scenario down to a tee. Every scene i was nodding my head, damn.. I empathized a lot for Tom as i've been there too (even the living with two roommates: one who never had a girlfriend and just wanted sex, the other with the same girlfriend since elementary school). It's a situation every guy knows.

I have a few slight issues with the film. Zoey is playing the exact same role she played in All the Real Girls and both go through the exact same motions in their relationships. The problem is that, while they are basically the same character, i really almost fell in love with her in All the Real Girls, where as here i just liked her. I think that's because (500) Days of Summer is tied too neatly in a bow. Relationships, more specifically, love, is a messy and confusing thing. Films like All The Real Girls and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind showcase love in a fluid, organic and messy way. This movie does far too much telling and not enough showing. The title cards are cute but they are used as punchlines most of the time, giving us time to breath, collect and nod our heads in the casual "i know what you're going through man" fashion. Why is practically the same story from All the Real Girls not making my hear bleed? The relationship is there but the narrative doesn't feel as organic as it could have been.

Even the last words play as a cute "Hallmark Card" moment (in-joke intended) when the films thesis is that life and love isn't like that.

Despite these convictions i still very much enjoyed the film.

8/10

[CosmicPuppet]

I saw this tonight. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. It was a little too cute at times for me, like a scene in Ikea which felt more like a cute scene from a movie rather than something a couple actually does on a date. Why were they even there? Zoey Daechanel plays the same character she always plays, only a bit colder this time. Levitt is as good as usual. The film is a subjective look at how a guy fell for a girl and gets dumped. It was a nice take, but this severely undercuts the characters. Summer is meant to be an enigma, but it felt flat. She isn't interesting in any way outside of being a cute girl. Tom's a bit more sculpted but the director constantly uses his interests/likes as a way to define him.

This is a film that relies heavily on style to make up for its shortcomings in story and characters. It misses the mark on why Tom really fell for Summer. He believes he is in love, but you never see what could reel him in with Summer for so long. Again, she's just cute. How could you be with somebody for over a year and be in love just because they look cute? She likes the Smiths. Ok, but what else? If I fell in love with every girl that liked the Pixies, I'd have my heart broken constantly. This could have been really good if the script was stronger. That was the weakest element in the movie. Everybody was fine, the directing was strong, it's probably the best shot romance since Eternal Sunshine. If only the script was better.

Oh and if you hate directors name dropping bands and stuff, you're going to loathe this. That hasn't really bothered me much though.

6/10

[JoeChar4321]

Wow. What a great film. Easily one of the (of not the) best film of the year. Hell, this will probably go into my Top 10 of the decade.


9/10.

Huh? You're a tough critic. 9/10? Ten years in to the decade and there haven't been ten 10/10 films for you?

My local main art theatre is giving me Wizard of Oz sing-a-longs but not this movie. I'm pissed that I can't see it.

[Badbird]

I feel like this was created in the bowels of a studio to make the perfect film to market towards the hipster/'indie' crowd.

I agree. This looks intolerable.

[ilovemovies]

Ten years in to the decade and there haven't been ten 10/10 films for you?

I've only given 8 movies this decade a 10/10.

[bigred760]

I really enjoyed the movie. The characters were fun and interesting, the story was easily relateable, and its presentation of the events was simply brilliant, in my opinion. It was really fun watching how the two main characters met, how their relationship grew, how things proceeded, and how each dealt with said proceedings. And how the movie kept showing which day of the 500 days was being presented was clever as well. Both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel were great. There are plenty of emotional moments, funny moments, and relateable moments that kept the movie interesting, charming, and watchable. And I loved the ending as well.

8/10

[BakeTheMooCow]

I thought it was really cute without being cutesy (up until the very end), the lead performances were excellent, great use of music and I thought that they didn't hammer me over the head with pop culture references like Juno. The direction and pacing is mostly fantastic, it's nowhere near as pretentious as Garden State and it really does get across the intoxication of infatution. I was bothered by the omniscient narrator which is just a lazy device in my opinion. The kid sister should have been axed completely too. And the ending really does nudge it into gooeyness. If the film had ended a few minutes earlier, I would recommend it higher. But much more works than doesn't and it's a very breezy and fun watch.

7/10

[dmbman32]

[QUOTE=JoeChar4321;3083710]Huh? You're a tough critic. 9/10? Ten years in to the decade and there haven't been ten 10/10 films for you?
QUOTE]

Eh. Yeah, I guess. To give a movie a 10/10 is saying there is basically nothing wrong with it (overall, not in technical terms). Even in my all-time favorite movies, I can tell you some flaws with the story/etc. But I'd probably still give them 10/10.

Movies This Decade I'd Give 10/10:
-The Dark Knight
-Good Night and Good Luck
-There Will Be Blood

[Bourne101]

Just found out this will be opening at a theatre near me this weekend. Obviously, Funny People is the top priority, but I'll definitely be seeing this at some point.

[bigred760]

I've only given 8 movies this decade a 10/10.

That's more than I have. I think I've only given two movies this decade a 10/10.

[dellamorte dellamore]

I heard they are working on a sequel already , 500 Days of Summer's Eve

[Tweek]

I heard they are working on a sequel already , 500 Days of Summer's Eve
Boo. :p

[JCPhoenix]

I personally loved the feel of the narration (I was happy to see that carried over from the trailer). It didn't interfere too much with the storytelling and it only really came into play a few times in the movie.

My brief thoughts - really really dug it, thought it was one of the more realistic takes on a relationship I'd seen in a while. Even with some of the more bizarre moments in the film (like the musical sequence), the movie didn't come across as too quirky at all - in fact, it was much more grounded than I expected and I don't think it'll fade like Garden State did (I, like many others, enjoyed Garden State overall on first viewing but grew to like it less and less).

I do see that Zooey Deschanel's character is a bit of an enigma but I think it works in the film because it is more about Gordon-Levitt's idea of her than the character itself - it's about Gordon-Levitt coming to certain realizations (trying to be vague) and I think the fact that he doesn't quite know Deschanel's character as well as he thinks he does is a factor in those realizations.

I also didn't really have too big a problem with the ending - I thought it ended on the right note - hopeful but not exceedingly so. It already takes quite a detour from where other romantic comedies usually end up.

All this said, I think the problems people are having with this movie might relate to its attempt at mixing drama with comedy. It definitely straddles the line at times and so the parts that are more dramatic sometimes feel a little jarring with the comedic elements. I didn't have too much of a problem with it but I think that affected the tone of the movie because some of the comedic elements could be seen as undermining some of the drama a bit. Nonetheless, definitely one of my favorite movies so far this year.

8/10

[legato]

If I hated Garden State, Juno and Me And You And Everyone We Know, will I like this?
Well, does Annie Hall for the hipster crowd minus the interesting characters sound good to you. Thought not. I'd say this is somewhere between Garden State and Juno on the twee scale. No where near as bad as that July shit. (I still can't believe she had a character talk in LOL cats) There are a few good sequences and the premise was good, but just rent Annie Hall instead. I'd give it 6/10, but only because the musical sequence was so ridiculous that I had to laugh...hard.

[bigred760]

I'd say this movie's style is a tad more original than Garden State and much more original than Juno. It's not predictable at all, and I thought the characters were interesting, especially in the way the movie presented them and their relationship.

[CosmicPuppet]

Garden State was much worse than this movie -- a sign to never trust Zach Braff to write and direct anything. He made Ian Holm boring and Natalie Portman a ditz. But I don't think this movie was all that special either. Summer was way too flat. She wasn't even enigmatic like the movie suggests... there was nothing mysterious or really appealing about her. If the movie was going to take Tom's POV, it should have done a better job presenting her as somebody he could fall in love with other than looks. You don't fall in love simply from looks, especially if they had been going out for a year (the time might be off on that).

The film's attempts at comedy was often trying too hard to be cute. The IKEA scene being a good example of that. And the sister character was yet another "smarter than their age" type of character we see in a lot of movies. It's a boring cliche. The breakup scene was another attempt to be clever but failing (I hardly think I'm Sid Vicious)I felt for the good things about the film, it was bogged with a paper thin script relying on its gimmicks and tricks rather than the characters and the actual relationship. The only real character in the movie is Tom. I wish it gave me something more to chew on.

[Lazy Boy]

7/10

I've been interested in girls like Summer, I've fallen for one like her, and I found Zooey Deschanel's utter coldness fitting for the situation (I've never been more attracted to anything other than her blue eyes, but beyond that...)

Yet, I can't help but feel that maybe this coldness is what makes the movie nothing more than an okay, aggravatingly "look at me" work. I didn't buy the Hall and Oates scene, which seeks to both make fun of the convention and celebrate it...Fox Searchlight is an adept studio at distributing films that are indie in a way that no film has been since the massive onslaught of Team Weinstein in the mid-90's. The know-it-all sister...snip it. The sex crazed buds...not really funny, didn't add to the picture. Joseph Gordon Levitt's performance is the one thing I took from it. I've always felt put off by his performances (especially his nauseating, mannered work in Killshot), but he's excellent here. To be fair, some of his reaction shots were well timed by the editing, as in the conclusion to the musical dance sequence, he gets in an elevator, and the time cuts to so many days later. Elevator door opens, and he's bitter and sullen.

Is he excellent because he has a script that is, for better or worse, on his side? The tone is set with a humorous epigraph, that the following story is not based on a true romance or person.

Followed by a girl's name. Followed by "bitch."

Canned laughs or two screenwriters angry at somebody who spurned them, and here's the revenge. But the way Ms. Deschanel is shot (and later eviscerated for her callousness), it spins in its wheels. I can see where Tom lights his path to the beat of her drum, but she's also only interesting based on what the narrator says about her, not what we see, in a little bit of Pushing Daisies honey-dripped voice over.

[echo_bravo]

I liked this movie.

Joesph Gordon Levitt was great and showed off his comedic skills.

Summer (Zooey Deschanel) is probably every hipster's wet dream. Her character was pretty unsufferable through some parts of the film. But I guess that was sorta the point to show how she drove Tom crazy (in good and bad ways).

I was relieved that the name-dropping of bands and all things pop culture were done in a funny way. Unlike Juno which tried way to hard to be cool.

7/10

[Lucky Denver]

So far my favorite movie of the year. As some people here have said, you can see yourself in the characters. I think a lot of people will relate to both characters at different moments rather than the men see themselves in Tom and the women in Summer.

I can usually gauge just how much I loved a movie by what I remember when it's over. And there are several scenes, quotes or shots that I remember.

The dance sequence deserves the praise it's gotten because it's hilarious yet doesn't seem as out of place as you'd assume. I also loved the shot of Tom walking by the windows as it rains outside. A simple shot made beautiful by the lighting and the slow motion. Also, luckily, the dialogue never felt forced to me or at least it wasn't enough to really remember.

I also enjoyed Tom saying all the things he loved about Summer only to turn them around to things he hated after they broke up. Who hasn't done that? I know I have. Plus, the Sid and Nancy conversation is one for the books. Hilarious.

There are a lot more but the movie needs to be seen, especially by those who usually groan at romantic comedies, which I tend to do. It's not run of the mill and despite what you'd think, it's not as aimed at the hipster crowd as some make it seem. Yes, there are plenty of musical references but considering that Summer and Tom first connect over music, it's not surprising or over bearing.

4/5

[Bourne101]

(500) Days of Summer - 8/10

Finally got to see this and I really enjoyed it. It's very well-made, well-acted and delightfully unconventional. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to show why he is one of the, if not THE best young actor working today. Zooey Deschanel is great and adorable as usual. I really like the style of the film, jumping around from this day to that day, back to this day, forward to that day. There were also quite a few funny moments. I really liked the ending as well. I definitely recommend it.

[unspoken]

Just saw it, loved it.

I don't get why the critics who don't like it are saying Levitt and Deschanel didn't have any chemistry... Um, isn't that kind of the point??

What I don't understand is why Levitt isn't get the calls to do the young-20's dude roles in bigger pictures. Instead it always seems to be Shia Lebouf. It's also too bad that a gem like this from a genre normally filled with tripe gets limited release and marketing treatment. I think they really missed out on this one, as while most guys will complain about rom-coms, this is actually one I think that many would enjoy and could have been marketed as such.. The non-linear storytelling was great, the music was awesome (loved Tom pulling out The Pixies for his karaoke performance), and probably some of the best laughs I've had all year in the theatre (the opening captions and last line were especially good I thought). Easily a top 5 of the year (so far) pick for me.

9/10

[Mr.HyDe807]

500 Days of Summer is essentially a movie that looks at the reality of relationships in a way. Yeah, if you are looking for those romantic comedies where guy meets girl, sparks slowly arise, and they don't have their big kiss until something happens in the last 10-15 minutes in which they finally see each other, smile, say some corny line and make out. Marc Webb's movie doesn't really follow those trappings, as evident in the narrator's opening lines in what kind of movie people are dealing with.

The movie follows Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon Levitt), a greeting card writer and designer who falls for the boss's receptionist Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Summer doesn't believe in relationships, or love for that matter, while Tom has always believed that there is "the one". So, the movie doesn't follow their relationship (?) from the start, but rather jumps towards different moments in their time together. It may seem a bit disjointed from how I'm explaining it, but trust me, it works in how the movie presents itself. Leviitt and Deschanel have great chemistry, with Levitt hitting all the emotions, while Deschanel evokes beauty and personality in a natural fashion.

Now, the movie as a whole works great, with the comedic bits getting a big laugh out of me courtesy of Tom's friends and little sister, as well as getting me with the drama. However, the thing that really makes this movie such a hit for me was how I could pretty much relate towards the happenings in the relationship. Hell, I'm not gonna lie, I walked out of this screening feeling pretty blown away with how I could connect with the character of Tom, which is something i have never really felt in a movie, let alone a "love story" type movie, for a while.

I think the only real flaw i could find was, despite some predictable happenings, near the final minutes of the movie, which kind of felt corny, but sort of worked in it's own of the movie's ideas. I don't know, maybe i wasn't expecting that sort of thing from this movie, which just made me feel a bit annoyed with how it all went down. Hell, there are times in the movie that feel cheesy, such as a typical dance number, but I felt it went great for the character's moment at the time.

So, all in all, I would say that 500 Days of Summer definitely blew me away with the material it brought in light of all these typical "boy meets girl" movies that get spewed out most of the time. You know you see something special when there is a scene that not only goes against the romantic movie norm, but also makes you go "Damn, I can defintiely relate to that!". There is defintiely something for everyone here, especially for people who have been in relationships. Trust me though, the TV spots do not do the movie justice with how the whole movie is played out.

9/10

[Monotreme]

My review:

(500) Days of Summer is, hands down, the best unrequited love movie ever made. In fact, now that I think about it, I can't think of many movies if any that deal with the subject so comprehensively and wholly as this one. As it warns us in its opening narration, this film "is a story about boy-meets-girl, but it is NOT a love story." Rather, it's one of those rare films that takes the human condition and emotions and depicts them in absolutely the most realistic and identifiable way possible. The film itself even refers to the fact that movies, pop songs and the media feed us with an unrealistic portrait of love, and goes on itself to portray one of the best explorations of that unexplainable and elusive emotion as I have seen in recent years, depicting it as the complex, impossible-to-describe feeling that it really is.

First and foremost it should be mentioned that the film is extremely well-made, despite its crew being composed mostly of first-timers. Marc Webb, the first-time director, has years of music video and commercial experience behind him, which explains how well-made and good looking the film is. But the fact that he managed to craft such a taught and fluid feature-length film is nonetheless quite impressive and almost surprising. In any case, I expect great things from him in the future. Fact is, this is an entirely indie film but without an indie feel; it's very well shot and professionally made, and I think that just adds to its genuineness. The film also features many elements that distinguish it from just an average film telling the same story: split-screen, frequent breaking of the fourth wall, a spontaneous song-and-dance number, animation, and of course the non-linear storytelling (with a number on screen indicating the position of the scene portrayed out of the titular 500 days to boot) are just a few of said elements that lend this film much of its uniqueness.

But ultimately, what makes this movie as special as it is are its characters. I have always said that a film begins and ends with its characters, and as far as I'm concerned, a good, plot-less character study will always be more interesting than a great story with uninteresting characters. And in a film like this, which eventually tells a pretty simple, straightforward and mundane story that we've all seen and heard before, the characters are key to distinguish it, to make it stand out. And this film succeeds more than most others in defining and presenting real, grounded, three-dimensional and identifiable characters. First-time screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber do a fantastic job at defining these characters, but the credit lies with the actors for embodying them and breathing the life into them that radiates from the screen. I have been a long-time fan of both of the leads, especially of Joseph Gordon-Levitt who over the years, be it in Mysterious Skin or in Brick, has carved himself a niche as one of the most interesting and consistent young actors of his generation. Zooey Deschanel has always been wonderful, from her small supporting roles in older films such as Almost Famous to her more recent status as a leading lady, but this is the first movie of hers I've seen that really gives her a chance to shine and portray a fascinating and full-fledged character. Both performers really stand out in the film, and the supporting cast does a great job as well.

With films like this, it is easy to appreciate the technical accomplishments, from the spot-on cinematography to the fantastic performances. But a true, emotional connection with the audience is something rare, and very personal. This film connected with me. I just felt a very strong affinity to its characters, and to the situations it put them in. What I love about movies of its type is that it portrays circumstances that are all-too-familiar, drawn from real life, and totally identifiable if one goes through similar experiences in one's own life. I think that anyone who has had experience with sour relationships or with unrequited love can identify very easily with this film and its characters. Or perhaps some people will identify with Summer; people who have found themselves in relationships, basically, in which their feelings weren't as strong as their partner's. Some moments in this film are right out of life – the moment shared by Summer and Tom outside the bar, when she's just standing there waiting for him to kiss her but he hesitates and they end up parting ways. And the film flawlessly portrays the characters' feelings as they go through these motions and find themselves in these true-to-life situations.

This is an indie film, but it doesn't feel like one. It's whimsical, but never precious. It's stylized but never unrealistic. It's very small-scale but it never feels cheap. Eventually, what makes it work so well as a film is the fact that it takes a very simple story and situation, drawn from real life, and portrays it in a way that is cinematic enough to keep our interest, but realistic enough to resonate and stay true to life. It's a film that doesn't reach for the stars, doesn't feature a meaningful plot or story and doesn't convey some big message; rather, it's a film built on moments, beautiful and wonderful moments that make it so special: the narration, the song-and-dance number, Summer's glances at Tom and her reactions to his behavior, the dialogue, the two lead performances, the genuinely hilarious moments and jokes (I neglected to mention that the film is also really funny!) the music, the Belle and Sebastian and Smiths references, the non-linear chronology, the split-screen sequence showing Tom's "expectations" on one side and the "reality" as it actually unfolds on the other, the moments that just totally capture exactly what the real life situations they depict feel like, such as the aforementioned bar exterior, or the encounter on the train. It's one of those films that stays with you, that you want to go see again and again, to take that journey with the characters one more time, to get to know them even more, and to look into their lives and see so much of your own.

RATING: 9/10.