Everlasting "Summer" - one of the year's best - a mix-tape for those who've ever been in love; Gordon-Levitt & Deschanel are match-made for cinematic heaven!

Rating: 10/10 (27 July 2009)

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER (2009) **** Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, Clark Gregg. A truly wonderfully executed rom/dramedy that has echoes of John Hughes/Cameron Crowe romanticism/whimsy about boy-meets-girl (the amazingly subtle Gordon-Levitt and the deliciously delightful Deschanel, channeling John Cusack from "SAY ANYTHING" and Ally Sheedy from "THE BREAKFAST CLUB" as archetypes of the nice-guy/off-center muse) in sunny LA (never looking better thanks to fantastic camera-work by Eric Steelberg), comes off executed as a mix-tape to the heart in how falling in love can be remarkably schizophrenic/inspring/crazingly difficult/intoxicating/infuriating/admirable/shocking/familiar and practically universal in how one goes from one extreme to the other in attempting to figure out soulmate status or casual sex with leaps and bounds of highly imaginative screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Marc Webb makes a fantastic directorial debut allowing his main characters free-range in displaying their chops as well as showcasing their personas. A superb soundtrack also helps, namely the charming use of Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams Come True" and the ethereally poignant "Bookends" by Simon & Garfunkel. Complex and sublime; one of the year's best films and highly recommended; a must see!