Director: Marc Webb
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel and Chloe Grace Moretz
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in Hollywood have managed to get recognition of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Following his rise to recognition in the 1990’s, Levitt has become one of the best actors in the modern-day film industry. Whether it’s doomed lovers, cancer patients or bike messengers, Levitt has played many compelling characters. Arguably, Levitt’s greatest strength as an actor has often been his likability. Unlike most actors, he is one of those stars that has always excelled at playing realistic characters that feel like real people. Through his abilities to play characters that are realistic, Levitt has become a legendary actor whom audiences consider to be iconic. He has always been an exceptional actor with the ability to portray characters that leave a strong legacy. With a charming nature, huge personality and larger than life presence, Levitt has gained a fan following. Making films in every genre, Levitt has become a loved icon in the modern era. Throughout his phenomenal career, Levitt has made many memorable films with appeal which are worth watching without a doubt.
I’m a huge fan of Levitt and adore all the films he has made in his illustrious career. However, “500 Days of Summer” is my favourite. Ever since release in 2009, Joseph Gordon Levitt’s movie has stood the test of time as a romantic classic. Packed with breathtaking production, sharp storytelling and powerful performances, it’s one of the greatest romantic comedies ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, playing a man stuck in doomed romantic relationships. In the end, what makes “500 Days of Summer” a masterpiece is meaningful messages. Unlike most romantic comedies, the movie delivers a message about doomed romance which would resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about a doomed romance, there are countless strong reasons why “500 Days of Summer” is a movie worth seeing.
Set over the course of Summer, “500 Days of Summer” tells the story of a doomed romance facing disaster. Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Tom, a greeting card writer seeking romance in life. Tom is a hopeless romantic that has often been drawn towards unrealistic expectations of love. Tom’s life drastically changes when he falls in love with Summer (Zooey Deschanel). Summer is a bright girl with strong personality. Despite their differences in nature, Tom falls in love deeply with Summer. However, their short-term relationships come towards tragic closure when Summer makes a decision to dump Tom forever. Left heartbroken, Tom questions what went wrong in a romantic relationship enduring destruction. As he reflects on his doomed love with Summer, Tom wonders whether he would ever find love in future. Adopting a pessimistic attitude toward life, Tom questions whether he can find love he once valued.
Marc Webb is a newcomer towards stories of romance. Before he has directed “500 Days of Summer”, Webb has never made a film about romance before. A first-time filmmaker, Webb had never made a romantic comedy in career before. “500 Days of Summer” marked Webb’s directorial debut and first foray into a romantic genre. It was the filmmaker’s first attempts to capture the barriers experienced by lovers but he succeeded immensely. Through captivating cinematography, Webb captures the doomed romance between a pair of lovers experiencing tragedy. Webb successfully uses montages to capture the bonds between lovers over course of 500 days of Summer. For instance, montage elevates the romance scene. During this lovely scene, Tom and Summer fall in love with each other spending time engaged in activities with each other. One admires montages capturing the bonds between lovers forming long lasting relationships. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Gil Junger’s “10 Things I Hate About You” suggested, montages elevate commemorated films about high school teenagers. However, it works immensely in this film. Though stunning visuals, Webb captures commemorated romantic relationships that are engaging.
Another commendable aspect of “500 Days of Summer” is production-design. Webb expertly uses editing techniques to illustrate romantic relationships that are declining. Webb expertly uses split screen montages to capture the grim realities of romantic relationships where reality clashes with expectations. For instance, split-screen montages suit the party scene. During this unforgettable scene, Tom’s expectation of romance with Summer clash with harsh reality of a world where love scarcely works perfectly. Through split-screen editing, Webb constructs romantic relationship which proves compelling. Furthermore, the musical score is memorable. Rob Simonsen’s commemorated music is integral towards the film’s success. It gives the film a heartwarming atmosphere capturing doomed romance affair. Through astonishing production-design, Webb captures doomed romantic relationships which are destined to decline.
Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “500 Days of Summer” is an engaging romantic film that’s compelling. Webb’s finest strength as a screenwriter is his abilities to capture doomed romantic relationships through the use of non-linear storytelling. The film is beautifully written and effectively uses non-linear storytelling that captures romantic relationships are declining. The film successfully switches back and forth between two timelines: Tom’s present day life and joyous memories of his past romance with Summer. For instance, non-linear storytelling elevates the opening scene. During this clever scene, Tom recounts memories of his romance with Summer before his life had faced disaster. Through non-linear storytelling, Webb creates a compelling character whom audiences can relate to. Non-linear storytelling isn’t a simple technique to employ in movies. As Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” demonstrated, non-linear storytelling enhances science-fiction movies about dreams. Rian Johnson’s “Looper” demonstrated that non-linear storytelling elevates movies about time-travel. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Webb captures doomed romance that faces a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers one of his best performances as Tom. Levitt achieved appreciation for playing adolescents in high school dramas. With “500 Days of Summer”, however, Levitt took on his most romantic role. It isn’t simple to portray a man facing a doomed romance but he succeeded tremendously. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: charming, emotional and vulnerable in his most romantic role. It’s a role that gave the commemorated actor an opportunity to showcase his charisma as an icon in Cinema. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, desperation and resentments of a man stuck in a doomed romance relationship. It’s a stellar performance from one of the greatest actors working today.
Zooey Deschanel is fantastic as a woman that is trapped in a doomed romance experiencing tragedy. Although Levitt gets the showier role, Deschanel is equally excellent as a woman in a romance that spirals out of control. Deschanel has always been an actress with the aptitudes for depicting attractive women, and “500 Days of Summer” demonstrated her strengths as an amazing performer. Whether she’s flirting with Tom in IKEA stores or yearning to reunite with a lover, Deschanel expertly uses body language to capture a woman in love enduring disasters. It’s an amazing performance from one of the greatest actresses working in the film industry today.
Finally, “500 Days of Summer” would earn the recognition of everyone for capturing romantic relationships facing disaster. Unlike most films in the rom-com genre, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. The movie discusses strong themes including identity, romance and expectations that will resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of romantic comedies to appreciate it. It delivers a strong message about the harsh realities of modern romantic relationships which would resonate amongst everyone. Therefore, “500 Days of Summer” is one of those rare romantic movies everyone would adore.
Fans of Joseph Gordon-Levitt will definitely appreciate “500 Days of Summer” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A remarkable romantic classic, it celebrates an actor that has built a legacy which is iconic.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about lovers facing heartbreaking emotions feeling upset after ending romantic relationships that are challenging, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor that has gained a huge following achieving global recognition for his abilities to portray realistic characters that are compelling whose unforgettable movies are definitely without any doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 