500 Days of Summer | pinartarhan.com

Adam starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne. Lovely romantic drama/comedy from 2009. Photo: http://thewarrenreport.com/wp-content/uploads/adam.jpg

Adam (Hugh Dancy) is a 29-year-old guy living in New York. He has recently lost his dad, his boss isn’t thrilled by him and is struggling to lead a normal life, despite his Asperger’s Syndrome.

Beth (Rose Byrne) is Adam’s new neighbor. Beth easily starts a friendship with him, without noticing his condition at first. However their friendship continues and strengthens afterwards. They manage to start a relationship despite Adam’s social awkwardness. Adam’s inevitable honesty is like a breath of fresh air after her previous relationship. Things could have gone more smoothly however, without Beth’s father’s (Peter Callagher) current run-in with the law and his disapproval of Adam.

This is one of the sweetest stories ever. I read that a lot of people with Asperger’s found Hugh’s performance as quite natural and true and frankly, in this case they are the movie critics we should listen to.

I always like watching Hugh Dancy. True, he is given a lot of romantic roles but it is like he is made for them. I don’t mean to underestimate his talent. It does take chops to take on some of the roles (The Jane Austen Book Club, Confessions of a Shopaholic…), he had and manage to differentiate them from another. He pulls of a great American accent and his baby face comes in handy when portraying Adam’s innocence. I like watching Rose Byrne. You might catch her in the law drama/thriller Damages co-starring with Glen Close. Amy Irving and Peter Callagher play Beth’s parents.

This is a romantic comedy but it is not your typical romcom in so many ways. Adam’s interactions with people in general and Beth’s relationship with her family adds a lot of necessary drama. Your funny moments aren’t laugh-out-loud cases. Instead, they intend to make you smile. And it works. You watch the movie with a big smile on your face most of the time.

7.3 on IMDB. Because of it is dramatic elements and (I am guessing high rating) a lot of people have been reminded of 500 Days of Summer. Actually plotwise or structurewise, they have virtually nothing in common. And Adam’s love is reciprocated from day 1. But if you do like your romances a little bittersweet, yes, I can see some similar mood setting. I prefer Adam, though. Written and directed by Max Mayer.

Recommended Film

Snow Cake starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie- Anne Moss

Other Hugh Dancy Posts:

The Jane Austen Book Club

The British Actors We Love: The Hughs

6 Hollywood Couples: Gorgeous, Glamorous and Happy Together

Adam Trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92U6OnVZG3U&NR=1&feature=fvwp[/pro-player]

500 Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This is one real, sincere and a little gem of a movie. It is quite lovely, actually bordering on brilliant. I have seen better movies and I’m sure you have too. I am just not sure I have seen any better in the whole romance/comedy genre though. I think most people have been in the places of both of the leading characters- Tom and Summer.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM[/pro-player]
Tom (Joseph Gordon- Levitt) is a young man working at a greeting cards company. When Summer (Zooey Deschanel) starts to work at the same office, he can’t believe his luck. She is beautiful, fun and seems to share his taste in music. There is one problem: Summer is a cynic who doesn’t believe in love and doesn’t want a serious relationship. So Tom only has one choice really. As much as he’s falling for Summer, he pretends he is OK with the casual relationship they are having. The movie adds a half-serious/half-amusing documentary approach to the background as the story takes a look at Tom’s 500 days spent either with Summer or thinking about her. The days are not shown in order and we just join the emotional rollercoaster Tom has got on.

The movie provides all the bittersweet reality of falling in love, the great days when we think the other person feels the same and the other days when we simply feel all alone in the relationship. This is of course Tom’s point of view. I once fell for a boy who didn’t love me back yet I was certain we were such a good match. As Tom’s terribly smart and mature younger sister points out, just because the other person likes the same stuff with us, it doesn’t mean they are your soul mates. Attraction and love may not be mutual or even if there is chemistry, it doesn’t mean the other person fells the same way about you. But then again, I understand Summer too. I have been Summer, meaning where I was the one who didn’t want a relationship, where I wanted to keep things casual. That is what makes this movie so good to watch. The characters are us. We have been them or met them at some point in our lives. But the story is never slow or boring because the familiarity is always presented with a lovely sense of humor.

But as the tag line says, this is not a love story. It is a story about love. And as far as emotional and funny movies go, this is pretty well-done.

The soundtrack is lovely. The actors are totally believable and very likable. And do not consider as just a love a story. It is a great look on life,relationships and dreams. It takes a girl like Summer for Tom to start thinking about his goals again. All people that enter our lives leave some sort of mark, whether they stay on or not. This film is the perfect combination of escapism and reality.