The joys and tribulations of a couple that sees love, relationship, and life in antithetical ways.
Funny, sad, awkward, introverted, and very non-chronological. Well, as the narrator explains, it may be partially a boy-meets-girl story, but I would argue that also partially, it is the old fear-of-opening-up story. The narrator also talks about “walls,” but narrators are liars (see Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, link below). Filmmaking is a manipulative art, so don’t blame them; narration is meant to be misleading. What you want to happen and what needs to happen might not match what will actually happen. Sounds convoluted? Well, we are! Individually, let alone collectively. There are no fingers to be pointed at, though. We are who we are due to numerous personal, professional, academic, or even cosmic reasons. Do we want to change that? Do we need to change that? Then, how much of it and which part(s)? If yes, who for? Are they willing to do the same? It always has been and always will be convoluted.
Very well-edited, acted, and directed, focusing on the dark side of love but also its silver lining. Writers Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, and Director Marc Webb open up with a film that speaks their truth about human feelings and the things we say to one another or actually don’t. The amazing Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt share that vision and fully express the significant differences between expectations vs. reality, “forcing” you to root for one or the other. The way the story is told, though, I don’t think anyone could root for Summer. I believe that what she does, in the end, is brutally cruel. But, as we ultimately get to find out whether they actually meet one last time or not (you’ll get to decide), the truth is… even… more… cruel…
500 Days of Summer belongs to the category of films I have been revisiting these days, and I truly believe they deserve your attention. Other films that do, too, are Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Ruby Sparks (2012), and The Rules of Attraction (2002). More to follow!
P.S. Jenny, the girl mentioned in the beginning, was actually one of the screenwriter’s ex. Summer is based on her. So, the disclaimer is… personal.
P.S. I still can’t believe sometimes how fast Chloë Grace Moretz grew up and how far she has come. She is an incredible actress!
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Solidarity for all the innocent lives who suffer the atrocities of war!
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