(500) Days of Summer

Rating: 10/10 (18 October 2013)

The film (500) Days of Summer is a refreshing take on the beaten-to- death genre of love stories. This comedy-drama follows the rise and fall of the relationship between hopeless romantic Tom Hansen, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and the truthfully cynical Summer Finn, played by Zooey Deschanel. The film is set in modern day with the backdrop of Los Angeles. Director Marc Webb chose to not approach the film in a standard chronological order, but to jump in between the days of Summer the way that Tom looks back at their pleasures and pitfalls.
The narrator begins the film by warning the audience that this is a story that the story is about a boy and girl but not about their love story. The story progresses in a nonlinear fashion of the 500 days of their relationship and numbers the days to give you chronological reference. The first day that we observe is the day of their relationship ending after watching Tom's ideal romantic film "The Graduate." Tom is in shambles with no idea why Summer would want to end the relationship he deemed to be his last. In the beginning, the film cuts back to scenes where the two are innocently enjoying each other's company or Tom is reminiscing about their good times. At the karaoke bar, Summer explains that she is comfortable being defined in her own terms instead of by a relationships. Summer's proclamation of autonomy is a foreshadowing of the fate of their relationship.
The depth of their relationship is beautifully displayed with Webb's choice of directing. The slight chaos of the nonlinear format and mix of styles for the scenes illustrates Tom's battle for coming to terms with the reality that his object of affection does not see the same future for their relationship. (500) Days of Summer feels like an autopsy of a relationship which is unique for its film's genre. We are told the ending from the beginning and use the film to dissect the characters journey to this point. The film also displays a rich sense of style with tasteful choices in the shots of the city. On Tom's tour of the city or his time spent with Summer in the park, the views of Los Angeles are unlike ones you have experienced in other movies.
(500) Days of Summer provides a fresh take on the development of Summer and Tom's characters. Instead of seeing their characters grow from beginning to end, the viewers get to see their past and future decisions or actions with a flip of the scene. In one scene, Tom is involved in an exuberant dance number while on his way to work after spending his first night with Summer. In the next scene, Tom is miserably shuffling to work while still coping with their break up. The audience is being lead through Tom's memories with his time with Summer almost as if they are in his shoes.
It is rare in this day in cinematic age where a film can be called unique, and that is what (500) Days of Summer did. The innovative choices in directing partnered with the sincere portrayal of the characters by Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel eloquently carry the viewer on the demise of their relationship. The vast array of styles and nonlinear evolution set this film apart from others in its genre. (500) Days of Summer has established itself as an example for future films to strive for such raw individuality.