(500) Days of Summer Post-Release Discussion - Page 2

How lame is it that The Smiths are presented as some kind of ultrahip, way alternative act that signifies deep coolness? How has this character never met a girl who liked The Smiths?

You'd be surprised.


And it's probably a Venn Diagram thing. I've met lots of girls who like The Smiths. I've also met lots of girls I'd like to have sex with. I have not, however, met lots of girls who I'd like to have sex with that like The Smiths. Which is why I married the one that fell in the overlap.

You are all insane. This movie, while no masterpiece, is really, really good. I think Summer's perspective IS represented, if you're paying attention. It's ALL in Deschanel's performance. Were people too distracted by her pretty eyes to notice the nuance she brought to the role?

They've faded back into obscurity for a large chunk of the under 30 crowd.

And that.

Yeah, this. I didn't think it was possible, but I remember being somewhere where "How Soon Is Now" was playing and the co-workers I was with were talking about how they loved the song but didn't know who performed it.

I like the parts better than the whole. JGL is incredible, and I like the idea of him walking off a set after just making out with Zooey Deschanel and then hamming it up as Cobra Commander; something oddly neat about that, like CC: the twenty-something years. And I liked the style and the little asides, the musical number in particular, because I've definitely felt that way after getting with a girl. But the whole thing left me cold, like it was too in love with its cleverness; it flirted with greatness, but just sort of fizzled. The ending felt too forced and it's like the rest of the movie didn't need to happen because Tom didn't really learn his lesson. The counter resets and I bet in 290 days, he'll be right back where he was.

Oh, and fuck the sister. I am so bullshit at little kids being avatars of fucking wisdom. Thank god for Russel in 'Up', a little kid who is, god forbid, a little kid.

Exactly. That annoyed the hell out of me. It's the fucking Smiths. What, does the movie take place in another universe where the 80's didn't happen? Right off the bat, the film (or at least, the characters) and I were on bad terms.

What? OK...so what happens when you meet a girl that loves the Smiths and wants to sleep with you? Will the universe explode or something? Will you see stars? This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Did you ask all the woman you sleep with if they like the Smiths? Did you ask mid-coitus? I'm dying to know how/when this exchange took place...

Q: Do you like the Smiths?
A (your wife) Yeah, I like the Smiths.
Q: Will you have sex with me?
A: (your wife) I guess so...
Q: Will you marry me?
A: (your wife) ...

EDIT: I just read this over, and it sounds really mean. I apologize, I'm sure your wife is a lovely woman and I'm sure you're very happily married. I just don't think liking The Smiths is the holy grail of taste and I don't think it should be an indicator of a good mate.

Both the Character were born in 1980-82. They would have been 8-10 when the smiths were popular. Back during 88-92 I was into shit like Mc Hammer and Vanilla Ice. I was 10.

80s retro is HUGE with these kids.

And I don't think it's that The Smiths are presented as unknowns that is the annoyance, but that - as Devin said - they represent "some kind of ultrahip, way alternative act that signifies deep coolness."

I was born in 1978 and was into the same shitty music you were when I was a kid. I still have heard of the Smiths and understand that they were a pretty big band.

No offense taken.

But, in a roundabout way, something like being a fan of The Smiths is critical to mate compatibility. So what I meant by my earlier statement was, in my formerly single life, I (like most men) would chat up girls that I had a biological sexual interest in. Now, sleeping with some girl with a fantastic ass is going to be a good time, but if in order to keep up a relationship that continues to allow me that privilege on a routine basis I am forced to endlessly listen to Avril Lavigne and watch Law & Order while at her place? That relationship is going nowhere because there's gotta be another nice ass out there somewhere that I don't want to strangle the head attached to it.

So yeah, when you meet that girl who your penis pulls you towards and then she's all, "Hey, let's go see Wilco next week," it's something special.

Because isn't that what successful and meaningful relationships are about? Compatibility? Things like taste in art and food and music aren't just tickmarks on a checklist, at least not to intellectuals anyway. Someone who thinks eating at Chili's is "going somewhere nice" and owns Queen Latifa movies probably isn't right for someone who is utterly repulsed by such things.

So yes, this movie struck a chord with me, because I identify with that moment when your heart skips a beat, and some wonderful girl says "Yeah, The Smiths. Rock on," instead of, "Who? Aerosmith? No, I don't care for rock."

The Smiths are lame. That scene is the worst part of a really enjoyable movie. I liked how clearly JGL has learned nothing in the end. Interesting to have a character have pretty much zero change but do it in a way that doesn't anger the audience.

I thought this movie did a pretty good job keeping the style over substance quotient low, in script and direction. There were a few lapses here and there (the Ikea scene was pretty lame, and the wise younger sister is an old cliche) but some parts were really well done, especially reality vs. expectations.

Interesting article by the writer where he talks about his experiences with the real "Summer"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz....html?ITO=1490

According to the article, much of how it happens in the film is how it happened in real life,.

Yeah, exactly. And doesn't the movie start with the director calling Jenny Beckman a bitch? Classy. Really lets me buy into that character redemption.

Yeah, but why start a movie that's supposed to be about a character learning from his mistakes and growing up a little by calling the girl that helped him realize that a bitch? I know it's not the character saying it, but if the director is the author of the film it seems a little immature on many levels.

Fair enough. I thought it was lame and tuned me off from the get go. However it was intended, dedicating the film to your bitch of an ex girlfriend lets me know right from the top that I'm not in for a good time.

Damn, folks. Way to take a cute, innocent and fun movie and go completely out of your way to not like it.

Some of you folks just seem to simply have it out for the movie. The writer called his ex-girlfriend a "bitch" in a cheeky and smarmy way. It was funny, and it set the tone for a lot of people who were probably expecting some saccharine love story.

Is the movie perfect? No, but it's damn enjoyable. Is it entirely noteworthy? No, but it's also not deserving of being dissected and scrutinized so harshly. I'm amazed at how many people who frequent this forum feel that every single film they see must be perfect, or a life-changing event in some way. It's like a lot of you folks enjoy tearing films apart and nitpicking everything they've did wrong, rather than actually enjoying the films themselves.

I just got around to seeing this today (it was only released here a few weeks back.) As a child of the late 80's and, therefore, part of the target audience, I was disappointed with this. I wasn't expecting an Annie Hall-level film either. There are moments - anyone whose seen it or read this thread knows which - that are very good, but the rest of the movie is middling. Knowing when I was meant to be laughing didn't make it happen and Gordon-Levitt's charm could only garner so much goodwill.

I, too, think that the role (and choice) of music isn't nearly as suspect or annoying as has been suggested. It works, for what it is. Overall, I was OK with the structure and tone, though it didn't grab me nearly enough to excel. The script felt very thin. Even my favourite scene - "playing house" in IKEA - suffered from this. I found myself waiting for lines (or better lines) that never came. As a result, potentially wonderful moments were squandered.

On a lighter note, did anyone else notice Tom's predilection for a certain pair of brown Puma trainers? This may be nothing, but I loved it. It was a very simple way of establishing character authenticity.

I knew this film's pop music motifs were going to be pretentious as soon as I saw the poster with Joseph Gordon Levitt conspicuously modelling a Joy Division t-shirt.

Also, can we have an end to the use of 'You Make My Dreams' by Hall & Oates on movie soundtracks? Yes, the 'musical' number is well executed, and yes, you can argue that the use of that particular track here is a deliberate nod to rom-com conventions, but fuck me, that song seems to have been in constant soundtrack / trailer rotation ever since The Wedding Singer 11years ago. Plus it's bad enough they ripped off the Song of the South cartoon bluebird spoof from Fletch Lives.

Not every Joy Division fan is some poseur or Nathan Barley-style numpty. That's part of what makes Tom so endearing - his sincerity. Not to be mean about it, but if the film's marketing foregrounds some band/s so that certain people think "hey, I like Joy Division and the Smiths, too! I should see this", it's a movie. It wants to be seen. That's hardly shocking and it doesn't affect the movie's honest music fandom that's evident in the script.

Don't disagree with you on any of your points, Bobby, and I enjoyed the film as a whole. I just thought it was a bit too blatant in using Tom's musical tastes as a shorthand for personality and character traits.

I recently saw this with a good friend who'd just gone through a breakup after two years...he was VERY taken with the film. I like the movie, it's really good...there are some issues with it, but not many. I didn't really like the older-gentleman voice over...I think alot of the cinematic devices were unecessay, except for the split screen which worked very well.

I had a conversation with my buddy about Summer's seemingly bland character personality. And he replied he used to date someone just like that, big, gooey eyes, aloof, etc (A Playboy bunny in fact, go figure)...but I responded that 80% of the audience has never dated a Summer, so it's hard to see where she's coming from and why Tom fell for her...oh, because they like the same music.

But I do understand falling for someone who doesn't feel the same way about you. My friend also said he'd like to see 500 days of Autumn...though I don't see the point if it's just going to be the same rodeo.

Just saw this and I'm sorry... but it fucking SUCKED. Hard.

This is, so far, possibly the worst fucking thing I've seen all year. The film (and more to the point, the writers) seem to think they're oh so clever, a point they are sadly mistaken on.

Good, not great. Seems like it'll be fairly forgettable in the long run and the statements about it trying to be this generation's Annie Hall are spot-on. Deschanel's cute as a button, JGL's just fine, the cameo/dance sequence were fun, and I liked the emphasis on downtown LA rather than the usual spots, but aside from that it's hard to muster too much praise for this one. And for some reason that goddamn Smiths bit is driving me up the wall.

Liked the flick quite a bit, but the one too-cutesy-film-gimmick-that-needs-to-die that I've not seen mentioned before was that camcorder bit where the characters state their opinions about love or some such.

I am so glad I don't read reviews or threads about films before I see them. I loved this film. Sure you can nitpick it to death, but for me it evoked the feelings of falling in love and having your heart broken. Have there been better films about this topic? Sure. But judging this film on how I felt while watching it, it was great. This reminds me of the blacklash of Garden State. I absolutely adore that movie, Chewer hatred be damned.

I hate those too. But it seemed like it was just part of the structure of the film of aping/paying homage to iconic films/techniques, like the dance sequence, split screen stuff, French New Wave segment, etc.

Sure. The "reality" vs. "expectations" scene was not clever at all. That's the kind of film-making you see in other movies about relationships in this day and age. And yes, I'm being sarcastic. Can you name any other recent relationship movies that were more original or clever? I'll take "(500) Days of Summer" any day over "The Proposal" or some other crap that is being pushed out by the studios.

This didn't redefine the romantic comedy genre, but it didn't need to. It tells a story that is old and has been done to death in movies, and is able to make it interesting for most non-jaded movie viewers. The leads are charismatic, the cinematography is above par for a film like this (especially the train and wedding scene), and there are some nice inventive touches.

It seems like some people just want to sound ultra hip and cool by saying this movie is not groundbreaking and a cinematic piece of art. If anyone honestly thinks this is one of the "worst fucking movies" of the year, they must not get dragged out to many relationship movies on dates.

It's kind of amusing that this film is nearly up there with Avatar as the most polarizing movie of the year. The latest issue of EW postulates that (500) might even sneak in as a Best Original Screenplay nominee which will send me screaming to the heavens.

The film was just a great big fuck you to an ex-girlfriend.

AGREED on it being better than Garden State at the very least.

Looking back, I only liked Garden State because I had no taste and wasn't really into indie rock at that point, but now that I'm past 21 I can safely say "fuck that movie". Natalie Portman, you're adorable, but I can't swing that overbearing mess of a film just to watch you act crazy anymore. Just come over to my place and we'll do some hallucinogens together and hit the town.

EDIT: Also, is the whole "precocious sister" bit really a thing? Nooj's post is the second time I've seen it mentioned as kinda cliched and I feel like I missed the previous instances of precocious little sisterhood in movies.

This movie's kind of borrowing it from Catcher In The Rye. Imagine Me & You had one as well, I think. And there has to be one in the John Hughes ouvre somewhere...

Oh, and the director pats himself on the back for it, to boot (from collider):

That entire quote's kinda hurk-worthy.

Ugh...all the talk about Oscars and that quote makes me hate this even more.

Its true its better than Garden State. But that's like saying a slap in the face is better than a kick to the balls.

Dear Marc Webb: The movie would have been vastly improved if Deschanel had turned to me and said "Let's stop this elevator so that we can fuck while you listen to Total Abuse."

Garden State is a much better movie than this.


Deschanel is not a very good actress at all, and Webb sounds kind of insufferable.

Webb comes off as a pretty cool and down to earth guy in the special features on the disc. Although I thought it was kind of weak when he directly stole a line Gordon-Levitt said earlier in the same special feature (about it being a dream of his to be at Sundance) at the introduction of the screening. It is possible that he has become more of a douche after the film gained some success though.

And I like Jake's idea about adding some hardcore sex to the elevator scene.

Saw this for the first time this weekend, and I kinda adored it. I can see how people could call it precious and even a little pretentious, but I bought into it pretty early into the film. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is just a fucking star in this movie and seeing this after having seen INCEPTION the guy needs to be a lead.

I loved SCOTT PILGRIM but there was a distancing factor to it that made me not respond to it as deeply as other people here did. But I fell for this movie, which covers the same thematic material in its way.

Yeah, I was surprised by the backlash towards the movie. It was just nice to be taken off guard by a movie and be genuinely impressed by the flourishes. It also really benefits from Joseph Gordon-Levitt who is so fantastic as the lead that it kind of grounds everything. Fantastic soundtrack too. Always nice to see Doves get some play in a movie.

Give Mysterious Skin a whirl!

Is that a genuine recommendation, or are you being ironic? Araki always seemed like someone with potential, but after Doom Generation I swore off his films.

It's serious. Gordon-Leavitt is really fantastic in it.

It's really good, and Levitt is excellent in it.

Huh. You guys might have sold me. I did the same as Spike after watching the shitshow that was The Doom Generation.

I hate this movie. For all the reasons undoubtedly mentioned in this thread: Moretz's character, the useless chronology shuffle, and above all, the cloying, nut-punchingly painful ending. I also felt like Tom was an obsessive, mopey ass and I didn't buy the chemistry between him and Summer.

There is some good direction, but fitting of a music video director, it's all encapsulated into 3 minute chunks that could easily be (and sometimes are) set to a song.

Garden State is not as good as I thought it was back in 2004 by any stretch of the imagination, but I think the performances in that film are all better, giving weight to many of Braff's more navel-gazey moments. There's nobody in this that is half as good as Sarsgaard in Garden State and that's Sarsgaard at half-speed. People also compare it to Annie Hall but I think all things considered it's closer to When Harry Met Sally, and even that movie is still much better.

The deleted scenes on the DVD have a slightly darker tone that I thought was much more interesting. I wish the movie had that same sense of foreboding. It may sound weird but I think it would be interesting to anyone, who liked it or not, to give them a spin if they have the disc available to them.