American romantic comedy movie – 500 days of summer, with its great mix of everything from actors, soundtracks to screenwriter, is a rare but delightful dish for the meal.
The indie movies and television duo-stars, Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gorden-Levitt, is a couple of fey and quirky hispters. Their encounter in 2001 has produced an idiosyncratic storm on Manic. The 2009 reunion, however, is surprisingly palatable and sweet.
The casting of Summer Finn is arguably safe, but generally satisfactory, since the key of the story is depiction of Tom's feeling towards Summer. Joseph's role is, as usual, done with a minimalistic style. The subtle graduations in his performance reveal little by little the character's portrait and keep the story development at soothing pace. Tom's character is cooked from pure love and romance. It hits the audience with light, romantic humor and extreme forlornness.
The film starts at day 488 – considerably the last day of the relationship. It goes back in a non-linear fashion, as Tom's reflection on the failed relationship. As Tom looks back, he tries to study the cause of failure as well as Summer's disposition of the entanglement. The movie leads audience through all usual ups and downs, not in time sequence but a series of heartfelt moments. It never reveals Summer's feeling towards the male lead, as it is also left unknown to the character himself.
The movie's soundtrack works great with the 'moment' concepts of the non-linear narration. The CD seems to be a great indie-ish mix to bring about the scene to listener's mind. It is sweet, and at the same time, all over the places: from the tender Sweet Disposition and Here comes your man, to the punky Bad Kids, to the two depressing songs from Regina Spektor. The two songs from The Smiths, to me, are good picks. They are somehow hopelessly romantic without being too wacky.
Despite a few spot here and there, 500 days of summer can still be tasteful for a person with the strictest appetite.
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