(500) Days of Summer: A Review, or Something Like That. // October 23, 2009

I am probably one of the few people who waited to watch the new feature, (500) Days of Summer, until it came out locally in theatres on October 21st. Because I am the sort of person who frequents the Internet, I have been bombarded by mysterious quotes from the films, lacking in context, and photo collages intended to convey a certain mood or message from the movie, for the last month and a half. So, I knew, essentially, how it would end.

But because I am a curious cat, I decided to see it, to find out how things would unravel. And also because I find Joseph Gordon-Levitt attractive. And also Zooey Deschanel.

I was admittedly wary of seeing the film because a) I am a completely judgmental person and I own up to it. For the last few weeks, this film was shoved into my face by people whose tastes I did not trust. I know that’s pretty shallow of me, to judge something based on what kind of person likes said thing. But I’m just telling you what I felt and why a little part of me did not want to see it.

b) I could not reconcile reality with a world where someone knowing who The Smiths are is unique. I thought, “Well, honestly, who doesn’t know The Smiths?” But my brother has assured me that this is indeed a rarity among girls.

c) Mostly everything the author of this post pointed out, pretty much turned me off of the film.

However, my reaction to (500) Days of Summer wasn’t nearly as antagonistic towards it. Just to clear things up, I did enjoy the film. I liked the leads, the soundtrack, the visuals, the editing, the supporting characters. I liked that scene in Ikea, which I am taking as a Pavement reference. I liked the build-up, the transitions, the clothes. I liked the rabid shouting of “Penis!” in the park.

My favorite part, probably, is the treatment and editing of the film. I enjoyed how it cuts the “500 days” into segments and rearranges them into a chronology that lets you understand their whole dynamic and the duration of their relationship better. Where it shows a scene of them in Ikea at one point, then returns to this a little later, bearing the existing context, explaining why that place is so important to the both of them. I think this is also a reference to how the mind works, when we remember things. How we break everything into moments that matter, and then look into the unimportant parts, where we begin to realize that what we failed to see at that particular time, there are traces of what would go wrong.

I remember where JGL’s character, Tom, talks about how he runs through all his moments with Summer, trying to figure out where it all started to go downhill. And it was all in the little subtleties that he finds what he was looking for, like when he waves that Ringo Starr LP and she was obviously fighting against rolling her eyes. It’s funny how when someone stops finding you funny is when you know, absolutely, that things probably aren’t going to work out between the two of you.

I like how it made me feel like one of the main reasons why you grow attached to a person, despite them being such a big douche to you, is because of all the nice things you’ve shared with each other.

Everything, probably, up until that last scene, I liked. Some parts were a bit too indie-hipster-quirky, but as a whole, I thought it was a very good film. I think the reason why I’d also been a bit averse to seeing it is because, really, of how hyped it became and how all these people who I didn’t share these sorts of things with were starting to close into the little part of the Universe I considered to belong to me (and kindred souls).

Something Summer said (about the sunglasses and little purses with dogs in them) actually made me realize that it’s really stupid to think that what other people like is stupid and complain about it. People like what they like, most of the time without good reason.

So, I like this movie, because I like it. There are many good reasons for me to state (which, technically, I already have), explaining the reason behind this attraction to the film, but I don’t need to have any to be able to say that I do.

And because some people are interested in these kinds of things, this was what I wore:

21 Comments »

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1. Thanks for the tip of the cap, and kudos to you for drawing your conclusions on the movie. I may not have cared for it, by I appreciated reading your take on it.

   Comment by Alyx — October 23, 2009 #

2. I like this entry because I like it. :)

   Comment by eira IS the cutest! — October 23, 2009 #

3. On b)–

   Maybe it just seems that knowing the Smiths isn’t a rarity because the people you know are like you and share that point of interest, or are into the same things as you, more or less. If I were to ask a random set of girls within our age bracket if they knew the Smiths, here’s what would probably (most likely) happen:

   1- they’d say yes, they know the Smiths, but will actually mistake them for “some other old rock band,” or will just think of them as that. They won’t be able to recall a single Smiths song.

   2- they’d say yes, they know the Smiths, but will probably just know “This Charming Man” or “How Soon Is Now.”

   3- “The Smiths? Like, are they some rich and famous family or something?” Completely clueless.

   4- Well, what do you know, someone who actually knows the Smiths!

   It’s easy for us to roll our eyes because we’ve read books like High Fidelity and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. There are actually girls who haven’t because they’re not into things like that. :P

   And oh, I like your bag!

   Comment by Kamyl — October 23, 2009 #

4. I am glad you liked it!

   But hmm? I read that post from the feministmusicgeek you linked and I wasn’t so convinced. Maybe I’m biased because I already saw the film, and maybe because I haven’t really read anything else from the author of the review, but it seems to me that the author would only like a film if it were a stark dramatic representation of life with a soundtrack that mostly consisted of bands other people probably haven’t heard before and/or extremely popular but not in the “indie” sense, because, you know it’s just *too* pretentious.

   Heh, I mean. The points made were rather too I’m-going-to-roll-my-eyes-at-everything. Like, okay so what if there’s a musical number? I thought it represented perfectly what he felt, and the movie’s “mood” scenes like the Expectations vs. Reality one (which I thought was awesome) were done really to help the audience understand what it was like for Tom. Not everything has to be so understated and subtle. It’s a rom-com movie and I felt like they had fun with the execution so I had fun too. If it seemed like they were experimenting on how clever they can be, then, I don’t really mind because it was clever and I’m just going to enjoy myself without thinking “oh how freaking clever…again.”

   And, you know, I really don’t like it when people decide that they hate this or that because they think only them and the people that they like can like certain things. I am also guilty of this feeling of entitlement, but it’s a movie after all. Should I be so afraid that people are going to like the things that I like now because of this badly executed movie with too many music references (that I happened to get)? It’s that kind of thinking. Maybe it’s the way the review was written, but it really sounded entitled to me.

   About The Smiths– it’s not so much that liking them is rare, but because 1) Tom has a crush on Summer, 2) he has started thinking she’s a stuck up slutty bitch and then believes it is useless talking to her, 3) he believes in things like “the one” and so 4) Summer reacting to his music confirms his “the one” thoughts about his crush. It’s not a very deep thing, but sometimes it’s enough when you have a crush and no matter how popular a band or song is, wouldn’t you be excited if your crush suddenly discusses music with you? I mean, they could’ve replaced The Smiths with any other band because I didn’t think that was the point there. Or maybe I’m just too hopeful with my movies.

   I am so sorry for my long drawn out rant here. And I also don’t think I’ve explained myself well.:(

   (But I liked your post! :P)

   Comment by someone — October 23, 2009 #

5. Alyx: Ha! I have unwittingly trackbacked you. Thank you for reading, I enjoyed reading yours as well. I kept on going, “YES!” but I am a sucker for films like this. Really cannot resist.

   Eira: I see what you did there. Haha!

   Kamyl: point taken. I told my brother how I’m pretty sure all my friends knew who the Smiths were (he only knew two girls who knows the Smiths, and this includes me), and he was still pretty surprised. Oh well~ Thank you, I like my bag too!

   someone: Not gonna lie, I was exactly like Alyx (the author) before I watched the film, although I didn’t know specifically why I thought I wasn’t going to enjoy it, but yes. I threw away my sense of entitlement (because that totally was what it is) and began to enjoy it. As for the Smiths observation, this makes so much sense. Haha thanks~ I guess it turns out way important when someone you like, who you’ve completely dismissed, turns out to be pretty cool.

   Haaa long comment is long.

   Comment by Carina — October 23, 2009 #

6. Just sharing an interesting link about Jenny Beckman, the Bitch: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1209556/500-Days-Summer-Revenge-writing-film-girl-dumped-you.html?ITO=1490

   Like you, I also loved it that the story wasn’t told from start to finish. I like when movies jump in and out of time. (: Makes it a lot more real and interesting.

   Comment by Macy — October 23, 2009 #

7. Everything, probably, up until that last scene, I liked. Some parts were a bit too indie-hipster-quirky, but as a whole, I thought it was a very good film. I think the reason why I’d also been a bit averse to seeing it is because, really, of how hyped it became and how all these people who I didn’t share these sorts of things with were starting to close into the little part of the Universe I considered to belong to me (and kindred souls).

   – well said. i wholeheartedly agree.

   Comment by jess — October 23, 2009 #

8. “For the last few weeks, this film was shoved into my face by people whose tastes I did not trust. I know that’s pretty shallow of me, to judge something based on what kind of person likes said thing. But I’m just telling you what I felt and why a little part of me did not want to see it.”

   I feel the same way, but I’m still going to see it. Great review. :)

   Comment by Patricia — October 23, 2009 #

9. I was always going to see the film because I’m a sucker for things like this but because of your post and the ensuing torrent of comments it received, I’m even more excited to see it. Haha such strong feelings, so much thought given to the weighing of its merits. Any film that garners this much thinking and reflecting is a winner in my book.

   Also, great review, as usual.

   Comment by Raymond — October 23, 2009 #

10. Macy: I love that link! I was going to Google but I forgot her name and forgot to do it when I got home.

    Jess & Patricia: Thanks :) I’m glad you liked the points I posted. Thank you so much for reading.

    Raymond: FORMAL COMMENT IS FORMAL! Haha. Thank you for reading. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy it~*

    Comment by Carina — October 23, 2009 #

11. Actually you know who I am haha, but I was too afraid you’d react negatively because I liked the movie *that* much. Lol. And we’re not really close and I like you for being cool and you might be annoyed etc etc….haha

    This was a really good review, by the way. Forgot to say it, heh. Also, I am usually careful about feeling entitled, because I think it’s a thin line crossing “stuck-up elitist” to the left and “pretentious hipster” to the right. Haha.

    Comment by someone — October 23, 2009 #

12. I’ve been waiting for this film since the poster came out a year ago (or was it several several months ago?)and after watching it, i loved it.

    Your right. Some scenes are too indie-hipster for my liking but the performance of the actors, the editing, and how the visuals were handled made up for it. I also loved how it’s like an-anatomy-of-a-breakup but handled in a new way. The movie had so many things: subtleties, instances.. (such as the song, or that part where he loved her heart shaped birthmark then later on he hated it hahaha) that do happen to a lot of people in relationships. The way it was presented was quite adorable.

    It may not be as realistic (because it is still the movies) but it’s incredibly honest. I also liked how it didn’t leave me with a very depressed/ bittersweet feeling like most movies like these do. However, it didn’t leave me with a completely happy feeling either. I think it managed to trudge the line very well.

    Comment by aziel — October 23, 2009 #

13. Great review, Carina!

    And yes, everything but that godawful last scene. Why. Why she named that. I laughed and laughed. Hahaha.

    Comment by Ubas — October 24, 2009 #

14. *Why was

    Comment by Ubas — October 24, 2009 #

15. i haven’t seen it so i can’t say but judging from this review it’s something i’d enjoy as well. not so much be obsessed like i was with the little mermaid when i was younger… but something enjoyable to sit through. i don’t like going to the movie theaters for the sole fact that it’s disgusting to me. so i have to wait for it to come out on DVD.

    ps. i don’t use my tumblr anymore so i’m usually blogging away on my site.

    Comment by kristine — October 26, 2009 #

16. i actually cant remember it! lol xo

    Comment by kirsty — October 27, 2009 #

17. someone, LOL, it’s cool. I’ve learned to just let things be and let people like what they like. Unless I am overly protective of something, but those are just special cases.

    Aziel, that is true. I liked how upfront they were about everything because you immediately knew what was eventually going to happen, and somehow, I felt a sense of closure, really, even though I was pretty sad about what happened.

    Ubas, HELLOOOO. Yeah, grabe, I made a face and a sound like, “this is ridiculous!” Even the part where JGL looked at the audience and “broke the fourth wall” felt out of place. I lovelovelove Minka Kelly, though. <3

    Kristine, haha, I’m the kind of person who has to see it in the cinema (if I can), if it’s an important movie to me, but IA, the movie theaters are disgusting. There’s a workprint floating around the internet, but it’s not so clear.

    Kirsty, that’s unfortunate! I would rather make something that would impact someone (whether in a good way or a bad way), than something that was, in a sense, inconsequential. But to each their own, I guess!

    Comment by Carina — October 27, 2009 #

18. Wait, what DID Summer say about sunglasses and purses with dogs?

    Comment by Anon — November 2, 2009 #

19. Hey, ANON~* it’s from the scene where they were in a bar and she gets hit on by the douche. Because, Tom was ragging on the people who liked the aforemention sunglasses and tiny purses with dogs in them, and Summer was like, some people like that crap, get over it! Of course, this is not verbatim. Hope that helps!

    Comment by Carina — November 2, 2009 #

20. Funny, 500 Days of Summer seemed pretty realistic to me. Seems everyone has his/her own take on the it and I saw it mostly from Tom’s point of view. I enjoy your review!

    Comment by Cola — November 19, 2009 #

21. Cola, yeah, I saw it mostly from Tom’s point-of-view, too. Thanks for reading. :)

    Comment by Carina — November 20, 2009 #

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