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PAGE 12, SEPTEMBER 14, 2009, THE ISLANDER
“Goin* to
the Show...”
with...
Roland
Willis
-(500) DAYS OF SUMMER-
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel,
Chloe Moretz, Geoffrey Arend,
Matthew Gray Gubler & Clark Gregg
Directed by Marc Weber
Written by Scott Neustadter & Michael H. Weber
Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Rated PG-13 - Implied sex and profanity
(500) Days of Summer is a bitter
sweet romantic comedy which spells
out in the opening credits that there
will not be a Hollywood ending by
quoting the authors, “The following
is a work of fiction. Any resemblance
to persons living or dead is purely
coincidental, especially you, Jenny
Beckman. B—
The movie is surprising good com
ing from an unknown director, Marc
Webb. Then a little research reveals
that he has directed some 100 musi
cal videos and, although unknown to
moviegoers, he is in high demand in
the music industry.
This background explains why the
movie is soundtrack driven featuring
The Smiths and Regina Spektor,
and why the direction is offbeat and
innovative.
The story is simple... boy meets
girl; boy falls for girl; girl does not
fall for boy.
The boy is Tom Hansen (Joseph
Gordon-Levitt). He was planning to
be an architect but somehow ended
up designing greeting cards for an
outfit in Los Angeles.
Cynically he explains, “Why make
something disposable like a building
when you can make something that
lasts, like a greeting card?”
Anyway, Tom is a bit of a softie
and believes in love and Santa Claus,
so when Summer (Zooey Deschanel)
joins the office staff as assistant to
the manager, Vance (Clark Gregg),
Tom falls madly in love.
She is, after all, beautiful, bright
and funny, but having witnessed the
disintegration of her parents’ mar
riage, she does not believe in long
term relationships and just wants to
be friends with Tom.
Her idea of friendship, however,
involves holding hands, kissing and
having sex in the shower, so it is
little wonder that Tom becomes con
fused.
Their ‘friendship’ lasts for 500
days and the movie follows their
relationship in non-chronological
order starting at day 488.
Movie Night
at the Casino
. S po n so he d i b.vlt hfitSt. Simons Library League
Brideshead
Revisited
Saturday, Sept. 26
7 p.m.
Casino Theater
"Brideshead RevisitedJ'UK, 2008, directed by Julian
Jarrold. Based on the book by Evelyn Waugh, this
film is told as the memoir of Captain Charles Ryder
who is stationed at Brideshead Castle during WWII.
He remembers his involvement with the owners of
the estate, in particular brother and sister Sebastian
and Julia. ID minutes; Rated ROB. (On Saturday,
September 19,10:30 AM there is a book discussion of
the novel at the St. Simons Public Library.)
Upcoming Movies and Events Include:
Wednesday, Sept. 30 - Last Chance Harvey
Movies are free, but contributions are appreciated.
Yes, he’s got it bad and that ain’t
good!
He explains to his stunned friends,
McKenzie (Geoffrey Arend) and Paul
(Matthew Gray Gubler), “I love her
smile. I love her hair. I love her
knees. I love how she licks her lips
before she talks. I love the heart-
shaped birthmark on her neck. I love
it when she sleeps.”
He is euphoric and everyone sens
es his happiness. In a Disneyesque
sequence he dances through the park
with a bluebird on his shoulder.
Only his little 12-year-old sister
Rachel, beautifully played by Chloe
Moretz, sees what’s coming and tries
to talk him out of the clouds.
‘You can’t build a relationship
based upon your absurd fantasies of
love.”
Summer drifts along seemingly
enjoying the friendship, dinners and
movies. She seems oblivious to the
fact that she is sending out all the
wrong signals.
Zooey Deschanel is perfect in this
role.
The director makes the most of
her beautiful eyes and in close-ups
reveals that we never really know
what’s going on behind them.
He also comes up with surprising
directorial sequences such as split
ting the screen and showing Tom’s
expectations on one side, and the
reality on the other.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific as
Tom as he runs the emotional gamut
from euphoria to deep depression.
The screenplay by the relative
newcomers, Scott Neustadter and
Michael H. Weber, is great and there
are lots of quotable zingers.
Tom’s sister points out that her
soccer team loves him and that,
“There are a lot of fish in the sea.”
‘Yeah,’ replies Tom, “But they are
guppies.”
The tragedy of one-sided love is a
common theme in country music and
for those who like to wallow, "Far
ther Down the Line" (Lyle Lovett),
"He Stopped Loving Her Today"
(Bobby Braddock and Curly Put
nam), "Beneath Still Waters" (Dallas
Frazier), "They’ll Never Take His
Love From Me" (Leon Payne) and
"Can’t Help It If I’m Still in Love
With" (Hank Williams) immediately
jump to mind.
But in the movies we like the
‘happily ever after’ theme and in this
movie we keep expecting Summer to
come to her senses and accept some
one who loves her.
This is a very good movie. My rat
ing is A.
I might even buy the soundtrack.
□