(500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer  
2009

FILM REVIEW / ANALYSIS
WRITTEN BY: GAVIN MILLER 

Acting: 9
Direction: 6
Score: 7
Visuals: 9
Cinematography: 8
Script: 7
Story/plot: 7
Editing: 8
Action/dialog: 9
Characters: 8


final percent: 78% 


Review:
This is a movie that I have very mixed opinions on. I enjoy the movie overall, and do appreciate what it tries to do; but at the same time I think the film transcends into extreme simplifications of what it attempts to "dissect" and "examine" - love. Joseph Gordon-Levitt really does shine in (500) Days, and Zooey Deschanel is pretty good as well, although I never found her character to be very likable. As much as I'd like to overlook the film's flaws and just fall for the charm of the characters and hilarity of the script, I can't. In fact, some things in (500) Days of Summer I actually find pretentious and others just get on my nerves. Marc Webb directed music videos before going into film, and this was his directorial debut. Unfortunately, it might show just a little too much. The screenplay is packed with silly moments and situations. Some work as great gags. Others, not so much. Gordon-Levitt prancing around the park to a musical number is one that particularly sticks out to me. The scene is intended to show that Gordon-Levitt's character Tom is in love. At first nothing may appear wrong about the scene, the viewer will chuckle, smile (be reminded of Spider-man 3) and continue watching. Later in the movie, when Summer leaves Tom, the film goes into detailing Tom's "depression period". Tom wakes up every morning, goes to the convenience store (still in his pajamas) buys Twinkies and liquor and returns to his mess of a house. After watching the movie, I thought about the two scenes I just described: "In Love" (dancing and singing), and "Depression - Not in Love" (sleeping, drinking, being lazy). Webb tries to show "love" though the most obvious and watery way; shoving it our faces rather than subtly showing feelings subtly through the characters expressions, or eyes. In other words, the direction is lazy. I also found the ending of (500) Days of Summer a bit of a cop-out. All that said, the film mostly succeeds in being artsy and it certainly has a independent style, which I recognize and do appreciate. The movie is definitely worth watching, It's no masterpiece, but you'll enjoy yourself for sure. There's many flaws, but (500) Days is funny, sweet and almost comes together, and for the most part, it works.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta (2006)
film review / analysis
written by: Gavin Miller 

Acting: 10
Direction: 10
Score: 10
Visuals: 10
Cinematography: 10
Script: 10
Story/plot: 10
Editing: 10
Action/dialog: 10
Characters: 10

Final percent: 100%

Two sentence review: V for Vendetta is a masterful, thought-provoking, and poignant action film that doubles as a drama and a criticism of society. This film is extremely entertaining, and very visceral; by the end of the film I was completely enthralled as I watched the spectacular finale unfold.

Full review: James McTeigue's V for Vendetta is to me, one of the few absolutely perfect films out there. I have not read the Alan Moore graphic novel that this picture is adapted from (I plan to read it soon!), so do not expect any comparisons between the two in this review. The more I think about it this film, and the more I watch it, the more I think it may be my all time favorite movie. I think that the idea behind the film really makes it works. If I were to read the premise of V for Vendetta on paper, I would be very anxious to watch a movie about that, and lucky we have one. And, luckily, it explores all it's themes in depth, without even becoming cliche or heavy handed. Also, another reason this movie is so interesting, is because it is relevant. Now obviously we don't live in a totalitarian society - but still the political themes portrayed in the film are more than obviously symbolic of some things going on present-day. The dialog in V for Vendetta is definitely one of my favorite things in the entire movie, I consider it to be the best, most quotable dialog ever written for a film; quotes from this movie cover my Facebook page. Also, the visual style is so great. It's dark, realistic, and the cinematography is beautiful. Take the finale for example, the long shots are sprawling and epic, and gives us the audience the best visual idea possible of the revolution. Hugo Weaving was perfect as the character V. Sure, we never actually see his face, but Weaving pulls off something amazing, he brings emotion to his character, even though he is wearing an emotionless mask throughout the majority of the picture. Natalie Portman also really shines as Evey, she brings incredible depth to her character. Overall, V for Vendetta is an ambitious, potent and explosive film that succeeds in every way possible, and does so in nothing less than spectacular fashion. It may just be my favorite film.


Favorite quote: "Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof."