The Watercooler: (99) Degrees of Summer
Weatherwise, LA doesn’t have a lot to complain about compared to other parts of the country, but there’s always a stretch of summer, especially here in the Valley, where the heat settles in and it never seems to cool down even at night. On days like this, it feels like it’s been hot for as long as you can remember and there isn’t so much as the promise of a stir of fresh air as far into the future as the chirpy weather people can see. These are the days when air-conditioned movie theaters beckon like oases in the Sahara.
The Grove isn’t exactly an oasis, more like a Euro-Disney consumer death trap that crowds out the old school cool of the Farmer’s Market, but the outdoor mall’s soulless movie theater held the right combination of movies to help make it seem worth driving over Laurel Canyon and down Fairfax to find parking and make a day of it. It wasn’t. It never is, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. These things always do.
It turns out the overcrowded auditoriums were under-air conditioned and anything beyond the four validated hours in the rat’s maze of a parking garage would’ve cost a small fortune. Under the circumstances, 2 1/2 stuffy hours at Hogwarts knocking elbows with sticky-fingered grade schoolers and their permissive parents would’ve been a horrible idea so I cut the whole day short after (500) Days of Summer.
In retrospect, I was in no mood to watch the miserable flailings of a nervous punk who understands nothing about the working of his own heart (let alone that of a member of the opposite sex), but in the end it all worked out nicely. It was touch and go there for a while, though. I spent the first 3/4s of the film lurching between active dislike and modest pleasure. It’s hard to muster sympathy for someone who is so clearly a dumbass as he tries in vain to woo a woman who is blatantly wrong for him (even when I’ve been exactly that dumbass at least once in my life) and I wasn’t finding much for our hero Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he flung himself repeatedly at Summer (Zooey Deschanel) like a bumblebee bouncing against a closed window trying to escape. Either the bee is going to brain itself senseless and lie there cooking in the sun on the windowsill or the hand of god (or man) will open the window and the insect will make an unlikely and unsatisfying escape.
Somehow, screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber found a middle way that not only felt right, it also contained a core of truth that character Tom had been oblivious to for most of the film. I won’t say whether the ending was sad or happy, just that it was right and that it was satisfying. Though the movie theater’s promise of relief may have been a mirage, (500) Days of Summer provided a refreshing break amid the endless cinematic desert known as the love story.
Filed under: Watercooler
Tags: 500 Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Zooey Deschanel
I will be seeing 500 DAYS OF SUMMER later tonight at 10:00 PM at the Union Square Cinemas in Manhattan. I am startled to see this Watercooler post up this early as I was surfing LIC and i figured what the heck, I’ll report in, even though I’ll have to revise with the late screening tomorrow morning.
I had a hectic week.
Two nights under the stars in both Bronx’s Van Cortland Park and Manhattan’s Central Park with free concerts/picnics courtesy of the annual summer concerts series conducted by the New York Philharmonic. In Van Cortland, it was Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony and Mahler’s First’ In Central Park it was Copland and another Mahler symphony. While the Thursday night venue in the Bronx was clear weather-wise, the skies opened up in Central Park on Friday night forcing my entire family to flee (after the cancellation) with a multitude of people, who headed out like a cattle stampede. We were fortunate not to be trampled. Ha!
Movie-wise, in addition to the pending screening tonite of the subject of your lead-in, I saw two films in theatres:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *** (Wed. afternoon)
Somers Town **** (Saturday night; Film Forum)
HARRY POTTER, discussed to death previously at this site an delsewhere, needs no further embellishment from me, but my kids were split, with two loving it and three others liking it moderately. I have honestly forgotten it, hence the further demotion of a half-star.
The Shane Meadows British drama by the well-regarded director of THIS IS ENGLAND is a black and white film of great depth, warmth and visual style. I will soon write my own review of it this week, but I am debating whether I should go with 4 1/2. It’s about a cross-cultural friendship between a local boy and the son of a Polish immigrant living in Britain. It’s one of those films that says a lot, while appearing like it’s not saying anything. The young lead Thomas Turgoose, from THIS IS ENGLAND is again excellent.
Here at my Mom’s house in the NYC area the weather is not that hot. In fact, the weather has been beautiful and I spent every minute of the day at the pool. :D
So, nope didn’t get to the Harry Potter movie with the rest of the mainstream world. Last night Tom Jones was on TCM so we watched that. It’s one of the funniest books ever written and the movie really nailed the spirit of it beautifully. An incomparable cast led by Albert Finney, who was quite the looker when he was young, great scenery and background music. Everything about this movie was awesome.
Later on we caught Billy Elliott again on PBS, which is such a great and touching movie. It still kills me to watch the scene in which they chop up the piano and use it for fire wood.
An American in Paris is on TCM as I write this comment, and Mom and I are watching it. :D
Another comment about TCM: they have reels of old trailers for many of the movies they show and it’s a hoot to watch them. Some of the trailers from way back when are SO corny, but they’re great.
I saw “Bruno” on Friday because I truly needed a laugh and some mindless entertainment. Cohen didn’t disappoint much. The film was basically Borat redux, but I did laugh quite a bit, so the job got done.
The highlight of my weekend was seeing Paul McCartney last night. Talk about a life affirming experience. I went with my brother, who is also a fan, so we had a lovely time. What a man!
I might check out Harry Potter next weekend, depending on the workload.
Sam: I saw the preview for “Somers Town” and it looks pretty endearing. “This is England” was a tough but ultimately satisfying film, so I might check this new collaboration out as well.
craig don’t come to houston. this year. seems so much hotter.
i walk for few minutes and my shirt is drenched/semi drenched.walk around some more get home. look in mirror and i’m like. uh how much did i sweat ?? that looks scary.
this morning/walking around someone had their air conditioner on abit after 8:am and this didn’t seem weird at all. it’s like that…
i’ll be getting to 500 experience friday. guess i’ll be there…
I think I have the entire entimology of Oregon encrusted on my grill and windshield today. Ah yes, we once again made the round trip journey circumnavigating the polar ends of the Beaver State in roughly 24 hours and let me tell you, not a single 600 miles of this round trip was wasted on me. But being as it consumed the lion’s (beaver’s) share of my waking hours, I didn’t see anything projected on a screen this weekend.
We did manage to end our weekend with a quick trip to the Edgefield Hotel for a lovely outdoor concert featuring Blind Pilot, Andrew Bird, and the Decemberists and that was quite nice, although I’m thoroughly wiped after driving half the day and then baking in the lovely sun for the rest. Local faves and opener Blind Pilot is amazing. If you fancy a nice mix of Cat Stevens and the Arcade Fire, I suggest checking them out. My analogy may be off, but they’re still great.
And unless you’re pining to revisit your freshman college dorm room in a faux Euro-facade, avoid Microtel like the plague. Makes a Days Inn look positively luxurious by comparison.
Dorothy, I am certain you will find SOMERS TOWN to your liking. I do rate it higher than THIS IS ENGLAND myself. And as Paul MCartney, you were in heaven there!
I just got back from 500 DAYS OF SUMMER and I am amazed that I am right on the money with Craig with the 3 1/2 star rating! I pondered that on the way home and thats what I came up with.
It has some charm and endearment, and both Zooey Deschanel and Gordon-Lewitt were excellent. But some scenes were hokey, and the film was sometimes exhausting and cloying, and it has a clunky voice-over narration. Like Craig, I didn’t care much for the calendar roll-out.
500 Days of Summer *** 1/2 (Sunday night; Union Sq.)
Below is what I said about Bright Star at AD.
The first word that comes to mind with this film is beautiful, followed by poetic, romantic, tragic. But the beauty wasn’t so much supplied by lush cinematography. I had envisioned pre-raphaelite vividness. The visual style reminded me a little of John Adams. The colors were saturated, it had a fine grain texture, and mostly a shallow depth of field so that outside of the immediate foreground everything blurred and created a kind of muted painterly effect. I was wondering why this choice was made and in the end decided it fitted very well with the psychological space Keats and Fanny occupied – so intensely in love and mutually obsessed that nothing much existed outside of each other. Campion is completely on form – she makes lots of memorable and effective choices re visual metaphor and depicting small human moments that evoke a sense of the natural poetry and joy of life. The love affair is beautifully rendered, totally convincing and winning. And cleverly parallels Keat’s poem Endymion in some of its aspects. We see them connect powerfully from the start even though initially they’ve not fully able to recognize the cause of fascination. You know that once the feelings are more fully embraced they’ll burst with passion and, given their natures and the impractical circumstances of their potential union, with inevitable complication. Keats’ poetry and words are often heard through the film. What is so effective is how Campion’s vision does justice to their lyricism, intelligence, and romance. You’re left with a clear sense of a person who could plausibly have composed them. The inevitability of the tragedy is made bearable by Keat’s sense through his poetry that we should celebrate the beauty and love found in our fleeting and fragile lives. The ending is perfectly delivered with the grieving Fanny walking in a wintry landscape reciting aloud Bright Star (his poem for her), followed by the closing credits where accompanied by music Ben Whishaw beautifully reads from Endymion.
The performances were all wonderful. Abbie Cornish is truly a bright star and holds her own with the immensely talented Whishaw. Both convey a sense of formidable and exceptional individuals without making them larger than life and free of foibles. Campion also uses the main set – Brown’s house – expertly to convey both the depth of closeness and the significant barriers between the two lovers.
Sorry for the long post above. Also saw Summer Hours on the big screen for the first time. With each repeat viewing I marvel at the quality of the writing and directing. So much is conveyed about the characters and the family dynamics in such an understated, naturalistic way.
Seraphine completely lived up to Craig’s praise of the film. Yet again he has alerted me to a gem I could easily have overlooked.
Thirst was terrific fun – inventive, surprisingly funny – for all but one odd section where continuity seems to slacken, we’re presented an implausible (within the film’s own logic) turn of events, and some unnecessary melodrama ensues. Fortunately, the film recovers after this nadir to offer a satisfying resolution.
Sadly, I’ll miss Moon’s showing at the NZ International Film Festival because work has taken me out of town for a couple of days.
I’ve been going to a ton of films lately. But they’re all classics or stuff that I’ve seen before.
Still have to write about one of them at the site.
(500) DAYS OF SUMMER opens here on the 24th.
THE HURT LOCKER and THE GIRL FROM MONACO both arrived here last Friday. But they’re just going to have to wait while I see WHATEVER WORKS again (FINALLY…) and DUPLICITY for the very last time.
Not to worry. I’ll fit them all in eventually.
Don’t ever be sorry, my beloved sartre. That was one hell of a post – deep, poetic, deliriously reverent and exquisitely detailed.
Thanks so much for that.
I’m grateful that you have such a high opinion of BRIGHT STAR because I’m genuinely anticipating it. Your perspective gives me hope.
Goddess D, I’m thrilled to bits that you got to see Paul. You lucky duck, you. Though Mr. McCartney has been here many times (and to a ton of other west coast cities), I have never seen him live.
Must have been an exceptional experience.
Oh, well. Maybe some day…
So the Buster Keaton screening and live music were outstanding. Really an unforgettable experience as the first time I’ve ever seen a silent film in a theater. It makes me want to check out all of his films and marvel at the man’s ambition.
I also saw Paul Newman in The Hustler for the first time and very much enjoyed it, though my attention was in and out as I was doing laundry. I also saw but didn’t see those that you mention on TCM, Alison. I got really excited when I saw For All Mankind is playing tonight, but wouldn’t you know it somebody just scheduled a dinner with me right at that time. I was really looking forward to watching that on this momentous anniversary. I’ll also encourage those interested to see In the Shadow of the Moon, probably the most recent documentary on the space program, just from a couple years ago.
Recommendations on 500 Days, Bright Star and Somers Town duly noted.
I have been rather busy lately, and this weekend I had a friend over, but I did manage to see a few films.
Friday I took another look at Gattaca, which I’ll always have a biased opinion on simply because it showcases the Marin County Civic Center, which is approximately fifteen minutes away from my home.
Saturday I partook in in an old episode of Peter Gunn, shortly followed by another viewing of Burn After Reading. It must be stated that the Coens’ last film is, like quite a few of their pictures, one which ages well. Many of the (predominantly small) issues I had with the film dissipated with this latest viewing. Even for a Coenista like myself, the switch from No Country for Old Men to this work was slightly jarring, but separation from those expectations of chronology likewise bolster the film. The depictions of various forms of louche behavior ring truer, and as I had earlier estimated, the film is more closely related to the McCormac adaptation in its more abundantly contumacious view of humanity.
After that I watched Desert Fury, a slightly noirish romantic drama starring Lizabeth Scott, John Hodiak, Wendell Corey and Burt Lancaster. It was fair.
Sunday I viewed Tarkovsky’s Zerkalo (The Mirror), which remains a stirring experience; Chrystal, a peculiar and offbeat drama starring Billy Bob Thornton and Lisa Blount, which I cannot say I especially liked but found it fairly interesting (though the denouement was rather annoying); The Between Man, a fine and underrated Carol Reed spy drama starring James Mason; Ace Ventura–Pet Detective for no reason whatsoever (the laughs are few but occasionally solid–Dan Marino is funny in an apparently unintentional way); King Soloman’s Mines, starring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr, which I hadn’t seen in many a moon (July 20th anniversary duly noted in my poorly conceived pun).
Hey folks, Craig is having internet issues and is unable to post or access the site this afternoon. He asked me to post a message explaining his absence, so there you are.
Oh Geeez, I know how he must feel.
Thanks for that, joel.
Poor Craig.
It’’s absolute hell whenever it happens. So I do hope that situation gets cleared up SOON.
I’m not sure whether to be gratified or annoyed that The Watercooler carries on nicely without me! I’ll go with gratified. You guys are great.
After I posted this, I saw Cheri on Sunday night. Much better than I expected, but it ended rather abruptly…I had the feeling they were trying to condense too much of a novel into too small of a space, but the fact I wanted it to be longer is kind of a good thing, right?
This sort of thing isn’t in my wheelhouse, but the story and cast were great. Not quite a return to Dangerous Liason’s form for Frears and certainly better than his overrated The Queen.
I’m with you on The Queen, Craig. Frears is hit and miss for me, though I’ll always value him for delivering The Grifters. I’m thinking of catching Cheri at the festival. Regardless of how well the film works in general I’m a big Pfeiffer fan.
sartre, I can’t give you any guarantees.
Sadly, there are none in this life.
But I do think that CHERI is worth catching.
Even if you don’t like the film, if you’re a fan of Michelle I think you’ll really be mesmerized by her. This woman commands the screen. She wasn’t one of the biggest film stars/serious actors of the 80s for nothing.
IMO she should be nominated for an Oscar for this. The Academy would be fools to let an opportunity like this pass.
But that’s been said many times before.
I hope you do check it out…and come back here later and tell us all what you thought of it.
And, as I said over at CP, I’m ecstatic that you enjoyed CHERI, Craig. That makes me very happy.
Yes Sartre, I agree with Miranda. Whatever else you end up thinking of the film, I think you’ll like Pfeiffer in it.