The expectation: I saw the trailer for this one and I immediately got very excited. I tend to think that love is rewarding because of its fickle nature, because it has the ability to change on you without a lot of notice. Told through the eyes of Tom Hanson, the film chronicles a relationship between two people whose expectations of a romantic relationship differ tremendously and I was hoping for both perspectives- the rationalist and the idealist. And of course, I revel in the tragically creative interactions they have. Heartbreak in a light and comedic fashion.
The result: The narrator begins. He sounds like your grandfather- or the very welcoming voice from Pushing Daisies. This film reminded me a lot of that show; the stylized narrative, packaged nicely for the viewer to comprehend with a narrator who speaks directly to you, gives the film a fairy like quality, as if the story is being told to you while you drift off to sleep. In that way, the film is like one of your friends and it gives itself a familiar credibility. It questions general assumptions we have about how we perceive of love in our culture- how it is never what your deepest dreams and ultimate fantasies make it out to be, but that doesn't mean that it can't also be incredibly rewarding- even if it ends. Tom Hanson and Summer Finn, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel respectively, meet, court, date, woo, fight, mope, pine, grieve.....
Their characters are enlivened by each other, through the good parts and the bad, and the actors come off as sincere and incredibly genuine. The film is not told in chronological sequence, but jumps around to different moments in the relationship to give the viewer an objective sense of specific moments remembered, instead of chronicaling the normal progression of a relationship. We all know how relationships play out, we have experienced the various stages of this progression. But we remember them differently. We remember specific moments and how we feel within those moments- in the same way that the film gives us selective moments and emotions within the larger tale. Because of this, each one of these moments is heightened in our own memory through its contrast with other memories. And we remember these moments differently, even when in the same relationship- and the film provides multiple views of specific moments in the relationship where the context changes. While one view might give the impression of happiness, another will provide clues of apathy and stagnation. Although the supporting characters often seem goofy and immature, overall, this is one of my favorite films of the season. It is smart and funny, creative and colorful, heartbreaking and yet still light, and of course hopeful and serene. And of course, I tend to prefer fall over summer when it is cooler and crisp, not stifling and unbearably hot.
What to look out for:
The two leads- both are exceptional (and so are the rest of their careers). If you haven't seen Gordon-Levitt in Brick (2005) or The Lookout (2007)- you must. He is definitely one of those brilliant actors to look for in the future.
Director Marc Webb's cinematic choices- song and dance scenes, cartoon animals, split screen ingenuity, narrative devices. All incredibly fascinating without making the film over the top or cheesy. I cant wait to see what he does next!
The music- thanks to Ross for my introduction to The Smiths years ago.
Flick photo by Protectorrr
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