(500) Days of Summer

BEST ROMANCTIC COMEDY IVE SEEN IN MY LIFE

 5

it amazing 5/5

By Matt

Luv the PUMA... Just kidding

 5

It was an awesome movie luvd it 500 stars... I wanna c it again and again and again. woooooooohooooooooo!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNY!

By Dennis & Sibble

Hugely likeable movie

 4

What a great debut from a director! The plot line was simple and effective, and a superb rendition of how a lot of us blokes tend to pointlessly chase and fret over entirely the wrong woman.

But it's the tightly woven interplay between the leads, the look, sound, and feel of the movie which embellishes it. Even the perfume of the woman sitting next to me on the plane seemed to add to the experience as I watched. Now when are cinemas going to introduce that aromatherapy thing they've been talking about?

By Marty

WOOOOOOOOOOPOOOOOOOO

 1

this movie was actually quite boring ; who reviewd this and gave it 4stars? because its only like one star you nob (:

By holly brown

(500) Days of Awful

 1

This movie is not Romantic nor is it a Comedy.

Cringe factor 99. For any girl who has been in a relationship with a pitiful clingy boyfriend, this is not pleasant.

Yes, there are a few laughs and it may be enjoyable for the naive. If you have any sense of maturity in a relationship you will hate it.

By Alix

seems a lot of people like it not any of the 5 I wnr with

 1

Basically a role reversal him a romantic her not but she still makes the first move etc etc basically I thought she was a bitch

By Tania

empty

 1

This movie relies on the main character's looks. If she weren't pretty, if she were plain or even unattractive, all those endless shots of her face looking gorgeous would be meaningless and ridiculous. I have no respect for a movie where the success depends on the main character's looks.

By susan

HATED IT!!!

 1

This movie sucked! it isn't funny, it's cloying and cutesy and uses music references to appear cool. It's not cool, its just trying really hard to be. Avoid (or listen to the overwhelming majority of people who seem to love this shit) up to you.

By T. V. Jones

Why not feel good?

 5

I can only recommend this movie. It takes you through some pretty tough spots in a topsy-turvy relationship but it is all the closer-to-home for that.

I appreciate that the movie is about the male lead and don't expect much from the female lead. Though Ms Deschanel delivers, a quirky and nuanced true-to-life female that in the end is entirely redeemable in my view, even if she's not "the one." Ultimately you do believe in love again.

And have a few laughs along the way. What else could you want from a romantic comedy? Especially if you are a guy?

By barbarosa

No one's got it all...

 4

I recently saw this again and it was just as wonderful as the first time, despite the lack of a lively crowd accompanying it.

Disclaimer regarding my previously posted review:

My review was supposed to say Ingmar Bergman, obviously. I realised only recently that I had erroneously written Ingrid. I did know who I meant as I was referring to The Seventh Seal, a film which Ingmar directed. I blame this oversight on the fact that those three differing letters are extremely hard to decipher as a mistake, especially when Ingrid Bergman was also a prominent figure in the film industry. Not to mention the fact that I was writing that review under stress of impending assignments; and that I don’t have a proof-reader.

Thanks for the preview screening Flicks ;)

By Shay

I've seen this twice!

 5

And loved it both times. The first few frames of the film capture you, and the film delivers so well from there. It's quirky, funny, emotional... As a guy it's one of the few 'romantic comedies' that I really enjoyed watching.

By K

A for every one (not) love story

 5

5 reasons to watch this film: Beautiful soundtrack, brilliant narrative, lovely cast, spectacular editing, it's (not) a love story.

By Ken

Pretty good....

 4

Pretty funny, at times pretty depressing, pretty well acted and scripted, pretty cool idea, moments that were pretty much all blah blah blah, overall? Pretty good.

By Nick

Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want

 4

In this current epoch, a time in which the romantic comedy landscape is so shamelessly saturated with crass, superficial fodder- to the point where traversing its coarse terrain is an occupation increasingly fraught with peril- it is decidedly refreshing when a film such as (500) Days of Summer, sprouts up organically, like an iridescent flower from the surrounding manure, and freshly plucked, permeates the atmosphere with a clean fragrance of originality.

This first time feature film for prolific music video auteur Marc Webb, and untried scriptwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, follows the romantic trajectory of Tom Hansen, a somewhat foolishly idealistic Angeleno “hipster”, stagnating in a shallow and unfulfilling job. This recusant’s foundations are shaken by the welcome interpolation of the enigmatic and bewitching Summer Finn, simultaneously infiltrating both his workplace and heart. Summer holds a cynical view of love, broken by her parents divorce at an early age, she too finds solace in the bittersweet melancholy of The Smiths- a fact that cements Tom’s attraction to her. Extremely capricious in nature, Summer’s amiability blows in and out on a callous wind, while Tom is left addled and defenceless though haplessly infatuated to the point of masochism; and even in her wake, Tom is unable to move past the memory of their time together, vowing to win her back, and setting in motion his recollection of various moments they shared.

Their ruptured romance is told, initially, in reverse, commencing post break-up, and chaotically traversing the intermediate moments, sewn together like a patchwork quilt. A nostalgia driven journey through his diary-like memory bank, the constantly flipping narrative evokes feelings within the viewer similar to the confusion felt on the part of Tom in regards to the breakdown of his and Summer’s romance. A successful tool to a degree, though at points the disarray works to its detriment, with certain shifts that are overly confounding, diffusing the emotional impact of few key scenes. The soundtrack of the film, a finely cultivated mix of alternative yet prevailingly accessible artists (led by The Smiths & Regina Spektor), helps assimilate the audience to the fluctuating moods of our protagonist, framing many a moment with an impeccably complemented musical accompaniment and allowing certain scenes a striking emotional resonance.

The dialogue, for the most part, flows natural and earnest, sparked by an undercurrent of emotional honesty. However, the rhetoric emitted from Tom’s admittedly amusing, yet excessively precocious little sister walks a fine line between endearing and annoyingly counterfeit. The utilisation of a third person omniscient narrator, acting as a whimsical raconteur and serving up insightful snippets of Tom’s psyche, was a daring and welcome device employed within the film- though at one point, after an extended hiatus; a rather jarring effect is elicited by its sudden return.

The films finest gifts, however, are Webb’s, particularly his undiluted artistry for all things visually eccentric and the sheer audacity with which he implements this skill. This includes an inspired black and white tribute montage to French New Wave films, Fellini and Ingrid Bergman, a split-screen scene showcasing “reality” vs “expectation”, a flawlessly executed creative transition, and perhaps most notably, a surprising and delightful musical interlude, which is used as a parodical embodiment of Tom’s utter ecstasy and joyful abandon after a successful night with Summer. This sequence transitions seamlessly into a later memory, contrasting perfectly between the glory of love and the utter despair of heartbreak.

Archetypal Indie darlings, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Tom) and Zooey Deschanel (Summer), are perfectly paired and equally charming protagonists, exhibiting an easy chemistry, and bestowing their characters layers additional to what is written for them. For there is an innate fragility to both Tom and Summer, one which is masked by a humoured indifference. This marks a creditably recognizable characteristic intrinsic in many young people today, and is a discernment that speaks to the distinctive qualities possessed by the two soulful leads, who often bring such a sense of introspective depth to their roles.

Though not without visible cracks in its mosaic façade, (500) Days is essentially a resplendent and bittersweet serenade to love, heartbreak and everything in between. Moments spliced together into an engaging pastiche of warm humour, sincerity and ingenuity; and awakening the long slumbering buds of romance in the romantic comedy genre, the film carries a tangible sense of the love and care that went into its production, an agreeable sentiment which lingers with the viewer for (many) days after.

By Shay

Achingly realistic (she's just not that into you)

 4

A quirky, bittersweet story about unrequited love, this film is alternately wrenchingly sad and hilariously funny (with a fantastic soundtrack).

The movie is laid out in a non-sequential series of sketches, focusing more on emotional state than action. I found the shifting narrative a little distracting at first, but the clever signposting of mood by the drawing of a tree in different seasons is a great tension-builder (and a nice nod to the original format of the chapters of the book).

The characters are surprisingly complex, although characterisation sometimes is a little heavy-handed. They are realistic and avoid stereotypes in a very uncommon way for the romantic comedy as a genre, complicated and not always logical and very human. The casting of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are just right for this movie, with both able to bring the emotional capacity and depth necessary for a complicated relationship.

The role of the main character's younger sister is worth mentioning as it is absolutely delightful. She is worldly without being unrealistic, and gives the best advice of anyone in the film.

This film is possibly too close-to-home for anyone who has ever been in a similar situation to really love, but it is an honest story about a painful subject that somehow, almost coincidentally, manages to be incredibly funny at the same time. You will be thinking about this for a long time after you leave the theatre.

By Lisa

feel good laugh out loud

 4

I enjoyed this - found a smile on my face through out the whole movie. Lots of laugh out loud moments but found there was the odd? person/woman laughing uproarously when everyone else just smiled?? what is that ?? anyway thought it was great and Joseph GL was lovely to watch - I thought he was very 'real' as was the whole movie:)

By Jo

 5

I've been waiting awhile for this film to finally come out here and when I saw it, I was ecstatic! (500) Days of Summer was everything i hoped it would be. Quirky, beautiful, intelligent, romantic. Most of all the characters were real, you felt their passion and connection as if you were living their relationship. Films about love are always set up for a fail, but this one was a complete win, depicting love how it really is. Rough, raw and beautiful. Need to own this now!!

By Melanie McKay

Great acting, excellent soundtrack, it's going to be a classic!

 5

I wouldn't recommend this movie to people who are a just a few days from a marriage proposal rejection from your guy. I had a great laugh for the first 30 or more minutes, but then I sobbed uncontrollably til the end. Although if you're looking to get all the crying over and done with quickly, then this is a classic cry your eyes out movie in the same league of 'City of Angels'.

If you're fresh from the pain, you'll laugh and then cry. If you're freshly in love, you'll laugh a lot and then cry a little bit. Where ever you are, in or out of love, go and see this movie!

By Emma

Best Romedy Ever

 4

Supported by a killer soundtrack and some excellent actors, 500 days of summer is something of a love tragedy. At times I felt like I was watching a parody of my own life. A romantic comedy for the indie music lovers out there. Lost a star from me as I felt that it ended a bit poorly.

Loved the characters

If you liked 'Starter for 10' you will love this.

By James

Loved this movie

 5

What a delightful movie, it was funny and made you laugh - I enjoyed every minute of it from the beginning to end - and the soundtrack is one of the best I have heard for years. Adored it, adored it, adored it...

By Monolito

Highly Recommended

 5

I thouroughly enjoyed watching this movie. It made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. I really felt for the lead characters but I was also glad that the film acknowledged the harsh realities of life and love. The awesome music in the movie just topped it all off and made it a great viewing experience.

By Rebekah

Not a love story... but a story about love

 5

I think I disliked Summer Finn. And I loved her at the same time. Although I'm sure it wasn't entirely Summer's fault - writers Neustadter and Weber probably have claim to fame on that one. But whatever they intended for Summer to be, Zooey Deschanel embodies her perfectly.

500 Days of Summer is not a love story, but a story about love. Yes it's the very nifty tagline that I 'borrowed'. Jason Gordon-Levitt plays Tom, a guy who feels life is letting him down. He works in a job that doesn't make him happy and, more importantly, he is not in love. In fact, he's not even dating. Life is pretty crappy all-round for Tom. That is until Tom meets the vivacious, beautiful and ridiculously charming Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel) who seems to literally sweep Tom off his feet. Yes, things may seem very backward and non-conventional, but it grows on you... and quickly.

The way in which the movie is structured is very unusual but very hip. As we look at glimpses of Tom's 500 days of Summer in a chronological timeline, we are taken back and forth into varying intervals of Tom's life with Summer - before, during and eventually after the demise of their relationship. Tom hopelessly tries to piece together the puzzle of Summer and why she cannot feel about him the way he does about her. Of course, the blatantly obvious realisation is that Tom will never find the missing pieces of the puzzle (because there's nothing to find), and instead Tom wallows in self-pity about what might have been with the girl of his dreams. It's a while before he begins to see that he's trying to fix something that just isn't broken. As Summer eloquently puts it, sometimes "it's just life".

Zooey Deschanel and Jason Gordon-Levitt are brilliant as the two lovers. And the supporting cast, in particular Chloe Moretz, who plays the younger sister and confidante of Tom, are wonderful. It's refreshing when you see a movie that seems almost too good, when two actors can click so naturally on screen, you're talking about their antics hours later. That's when you know a movie is good, that's when you know a movie is great.

The soundtrack really is the 'icing on the cake' and blends seamlessly with the off-beat humour and unconventional flow of the movie. Infectious tracks such as Regina Spektor's "Us" and Wolfmother's "Vagabond" accentuate the highs and lows as if they were written with this movie in mind.

500 Days of Summer is brill. It's got the right amount of comedy to make you laugh (but not until you cry), the right amount of romance (without being Romeo and Juliet), and a talented cast that makes it all seem just real enough to wonder about all those times it was right to say "it's just life".

By Julie Gray

Lovely rom com

 4

Loved the music, the scenes and the fashion on display in the movie. Age old plot with a novel twist and quirky storyline. Superb casting.A pleasant distraction from everyday life. Would recommend for 1st dates and girly gatherings

By Lavinia

Quirky tale of love at first sight

 5

(500) Days of Summer stands out from the competition simply because of spot-on casting and a witty script. There is no Katherine Heigl or Matthew McConaughey to lead you along into a story of improbabilities.
This tale of love at first sight bounces backwards and forwards between the past, present and future as Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Summer (Zoeey Deschanel) keep the viewer entranced with their semi-on relationship.
There is definite evidence of director Marc Webb's music video background - and I'm sure that's why the soundtrack is also such a cracker. Gordon-Levitt - who was brilliant in the indie movie The Lookout - has come a long way from the tv show 3rd Rock from the Sun and I found him believable as a hopeless romantic. And I'm sure many of the men in the audience got lost in Deschanel's big blue eyes...
But best of all about this 95 minute sure-to-be hit is that it doesn't play by the "rules". I look forward to watching this quirky bunch in the future.

By Jewels

i didnt love it, i didnt hate it

 3

Ultimately this film felt to me like a series of music videos strung together by a common theme. Not unsuccessfully. And no surprise seeing as Marc Webb has made his career out of crafting some impressive music videos. Visually beautiful this film is somewhat let down by Joseph Gordon Levitt (Tom) being a relatively unlikeable character. He's hard to empathise with when he feels so sorry for himself you just want to slap him. Zooey Deschanel (Summer) is her quirky enchanting self however there are parts where she seems quite forced.Chloe Moretz (Rachel) is one to watch as Toms young yet clever and intuitive sister. Pitched as a romantic comedy there is definitely more romance then comedy but the comedic parts are so clever you cant help but laugh out loud, while the drama leaves you a little cold. Liked it. Didnt love it.

By Missp

Tries really hard

 2

It didn't work for me- all a bit too 'wacky' and so predictable.

By tim

Excellent soundtrack

 4

This film makes a refreshing change to the run of the mill romantic comedy and the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic. Well worth seeing!

By Jo

very cool

 5

This film rocked, and definitely touched on themes that resonated with my own experiences, best "romance" I've seen in ages

By Daniel

Love, Love, LOVED this movie!

 5

Right from the beggining this movie was awesome. It was shot in a way that almost had that art-house feel, minus the wankyness and the story was so interesting and well written, but presented in an understated way that really strikes a chord with how you feel when you're on either side of this situation. The characters were portrayed so well that you could really feel them.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was reminiscent of the late Heath Ledger in both acting and looks and Zooey Deschanel couldn't have embodied her character's essence any better.

This movie was so excellent, I really think it's the equivalent of 'Say Anything' for our generation.

By Jenner

Loved it

 5

Hi this is an epic love storey with a twist, I cried my eyes out and loved it thank you so much for the preview

By Denise McCamish

Hilarious yet heartbreaking...

 4

Joseph Gordon-Levitt really shows his acting chops & his potential to be Hollywood's next leading man in this cute little indie flick. Plus...he pulls off an epic dance sequence, complete with Disney-style cartoon bluebird! (500) Days of Summer is a superbly shot, well-written tale of love gone wrong, with just the right mix of humour and heartbreak.

Thanks for the advanced screening!

By Abbey

Brilliant Movie

 4

Been awhile since I have seen such a good movie like this - must see.

By May

Painfully Brilliant!

 4

For anyone who has ever been in one of those horribly so close but so far realtionships, this is for you.
Or maybe it's not, maybe you don't want to re-live those cringe-worthy, heart breaking painful moments in time. Which is fair enough. Regardless, this is really one for everyone.

Zooey Deschanel plays the role of a hot one minute, cold the next, arty and unusual, wants her cake and to be be able to eat it too, pain in the... But does so well. Doesn't mean you'll like her how-ever.

Joseph Gordon Levitt was charming, semi-suave, but painfully awkward and absolutely brilliant. He plays the role of what nearly everyone feels at some point in life and does so very well, I can't wait to see him again.

The movie was very well done and is unpredictable, hilarious, sad, painful, gut-wrenching and feel good all at the same time. It's an emotional roller-coaster but you come out feeling alright after all. Phew.
Definitely recommened it.

By Bede Dwyer

Glad I Went

 5

I loved it! Laughed alot and am very please I went. Thanks flicks.co.nz!

By Emma

Laugh out loud at the analysis of a new romance...

 5

and have a good old-fashioned wallow in the misery of a fresh break-up.
Excellent acting all around, especially by Joseph Gordon-Levitt who I have never seen so thoroughly blossom in his role. The narrator is reminiscent of Stranger than Fiction, like a friend walking you through the story. Awesome soundtrack, I'll be looking for that in stores soon.

By Emma & Karsten

Well written, fantastic performances and a brilliant soundtrack.

Everything I’d hoped this film would be.
At times I'm not the biggest fan of Zooey Deschanel but I must say that she and her pixie ways suit this role perfectly, Joseph Gordon Levitt is utterly charming as usual (so charming in fact that I may be forced to overlook the fact that he starred in G.I. Joe earlier this year) and the soundtrack may be the best thing I've heard all year.

The musical number and animated scene could so easily have been tacky but I think they were very well executed and added a sense of quirkiness to the film, which made it a rather memorable ninety-five minutes.

By Simon

surprisingly funny and vibrant

 4

Would highly recommend this movie after the awesome Flicks screening I went to tonight. A lighthearted movie that was lots of fun, with some laugh out loud moments and some lovely eye candy in the male main character!

By Marie

refreshing perspective

 5

I would recommend this to anyone sick of the diet of happily ever after rom-coms.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt delivers a genuine and hilarious performance, while Zooey Deschanel perfects the icy but caring and complicated Summer.
I loved the group dance, the sketching animation and most of all the message of the film- that unrequited love bites, but keep on keeping on. go see it! the best film i've seen since Juno.

By Lu

Advanced Screening

 5

This film deserves all the praise it gets. The films soundtrack alone makes this film better than most of the films released this year thus far. Zooey Deschanel was perfectly cast as the girl who does not fall in love with Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Gordon-Levitt is at his best in a performance which is polar-opposite to what he created in Brick.

Highly recommended.

By Jay Collins

A surprising delight

 4

A surprising delight. The adorable Zooey Deschanel and sweet sappy Joseph Gorden-Levitt are saved from making one roll their eyes and vomit from an overdose is cheese due to a tight, witty and full of fresh 'lolz' script. The unconventional ending provides a fresh experience to the old-fashioned love story formula.

A fun and definitely worthy view. Very funny, fresh and smart.

By Ro

Good idea.

 3

Good idea. Topics that are brought up.
I would say it's insincere acting of the main actress that did not work for me.
I definitely believe the actor.
100% support to those people who try to create movies about basis romance that's long forgotten but for that some good acting is required as well.
Definite minus to the ending. Nothing learnt and nothing taught.
Behavior of the girl is unexplainable, she doesn't know what she wants and never explains herself. What's the point making the character complicated without making sense?
they needed Charlize Theron to make me believe in that girl as an existing character.

Thank you for the chance to watch it.

By Luiza

COOL

 5

THIS MOVIE LOOKS COOL CANT WAIT TO SEE IT

By TERRY SMITH

can't wait for this!

 5

By marie