500 Days of Summer (2009)

I honestly couldn't bring myself to enjoy this movie. It’s one of those frustrating experiences where everything on paper seems perfect—the soundtrack is absolutely stellar, the acting is top-tier, and the underlying themes are genuinely compelling—yet the film itself just never clicked for me. Throughout the runtime, I was left with this nagging sense that the narrative was trying far too hard to paint her as some sort of uniquely "special" protagonist, which ultimately stripped the story of its groundedness and made the whole thing feel incredibly unrealistic.

The thing is, we were looking at it from his side—where she just looked perfect through rose-colored glasses ☕

Gerald Wright8 said:The thing is, we were looking at it from his side—where she just looked perfect through rose-colored glasses ☕

To my eyes, it wasn't about how he perceived her; it was her own behavior that felt entirely forced and artificial.🤷

She was just your typical, indifferent hipster who couldn't have cared less about him, while he sat there looking at her through rose-colored glasses.

It’s basically a movie about a duck. I was hoping for a bit more, but honestly, it’s put together pretty well. I actually dug the slow-burn Atmospheric vibe they went for. The cast is alright too—they aren't exactly Hollywood heartthrobs, which is kind of refreshing since most modern blockbusters just rely on eye candy. The ending was a little dumb though, which drags the score down. 6/10. If you're into indie flicks, give it a shot.🙂

crimsontrucker4 said:I've been waiting forever for this movie, and honestly, Zooey Deschanel is just incredible.🙂

She’s cute, sure, but in this film, she’s just gratingly annoying and hard to like.😠

Honestly, this movie was terrible—one of the absolute worst things I’ve ever sat through. I wish they had just leaned into the party scene for the whole runtime. It would have been so much better if they showed his delusions and what he actually hoped for during the first half, only to hit us with the harsh reality of the second half. That contrast would have really punched through all that colorful, superficial fluff at the start.

The way it opens, I’m just sitting there wondering, "What on earth are we doing here?"

This had all the potential to be an incredible character study—that clash between his fantasies about her and their relationship versus the brutal truth that she doesn't give him the time of day. Instead, it felt like a glorified commercial or some massive music video for a "Best of the 90s & 2000s" compilation. There's almost no plot; it's just a guy stuck in a relationship with himself while the other person is basically a ghost.

I am somewhat uncertain if this constitutes a spoiler, so I shall offer a warning at the outset. However, there is a specific point I am pondering; do you all believe this film serves as a depiction of how disastrously things can unravel when someone trifles with another person's emotions—even if it appears, on the surface, to be unintentional? It seems to me that her actions are, at their core, fundamentally selfish.

She isn't being selfish. That girl—the one sitting next to him during those AI scenes right before the movie ends—was actually being incredibly direct. She looked him dead in the eye and asked, "Did she cheat on you? Did she tell you exactly how things were from the very beginning?"

She told him right out of the gate that she wasn't being serious and that they were just "having fun." He knew that was the deal, but he let himself get swept up in it anyway.

At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple: when you find the real thing, everything else falls away. She walked away from all that because she finally found her person.

That's just how I see it..

Daniel Perez6 said:She told him right out of the gate that she wasn't being serious and that they were just "having fun." He knew that was the deal, but he let himself get swept up in it anyway.

At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple: when you find the real thing, everything else falls away. She walked away from all that because she finally found her person.

That's just how I see it..

I agree. But I wonder, did she actually realize where this path was leading him? Or, if she did, could she have stepped away sooner?

Personally, I really enjoyed the movie; I actually found it quite moving.

Sweet Disposition 🙂

Sure. That song, plus "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want," and of course Regina Spektor. 😍

crimsonscout362 said:I agree. But I wonder, did she actually realize where this path was leading him? Or, if she did, could she have stepped away sooner?

Personally, I really enjoyed the movie; I actually found it quite moving.

Hmm, I don't know about that. I get the feeling she never truly anticipated he’d spiral that far. She pulled the plug once the fun died out and she realized some lines had been crossed. 🤷That's how I handled things too...

rowdyowl said:She’s cute, sure, but in this film, she’s just gratingly annoying and hard to like.😠

Look, she's definitely cute, but man... those front teeth are just way too big for me.😁

Gregory Rodriguez10 said:Just grab it from a torrent site; I actually watched it about three weeks ago.😁 It was just a DivX rip, but whatever, it works.😁😁😁

The first time I saw it, the movie really hit home, but by the second viewing, it just wasn't the same. I'm definitely not rushing to watch it a third time. The soundtrack is great—lots of The Smiths and Regina Spektor—but the whole thing is starting to get on my nerves. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is as charming as ever, but the girl is just incredibly grating. I think I saw a critic tearing it apart on a major US news site today.🤣

Personally, I wouldn't pay even 20-$10 for something like this.☕

The guy’s actually brilliant, though. Honestly, that movie is one of the best in its genre—it absolutely wrecked me by the end.

But... "Hello, I'am Autumn..." 😂

crimsonscout362 said:I agree. But I wonder, did she actually realize where this path was leading him? Or, if she did, could she have stepped away sooner?

Personally, I really enjoyed the movie; I actually found it quite moving.

I'm with you—I was absolutely bawling my eyes out when she pulled out that engagement ring. And that final scene where they’re just sitting there talking on the bench? Total tearjerker. 😢

Daniel Perez6 said:She told him right out of the gate that she wasn't being serious and that they were just "having fun." He knew that was the deal, but he let himself get swept up in it anyway.

At the end of the day, it’s pretty simple: when you find the real thing, everything else falls away. She walked away from all that because she finally found her person.

That's just how I see it..

Yeah, that's exactly why it's realistic—this stuff happens in real life all the time. He knew exactly what she was saying—that she wasn't looking for anything serious or whatever—but you can't just flip a switch and stop yourself from falling for someone just because they gave you a disclaimer.

Daniel Kelly57 said:It’s basically a movie about a duck. I was hoping for a bit more, but honestly, it’s put together pretty well. I actually dug the slow-burn Atmospheric vibe they went for. The cast is alright too—they aren't exactly Hollywood heartthrobs, which is kind of refreshing since most modern blockbusters just rely on eye candy. The ending was a little dumb though, which drags the score down. 6/10. If you're into indie flicks, give it a shot.🙂

He's totally whipped if he's actually in love. 🙄

Joseph Hill2 said:Oh, come on, you picked such a mediocre photo of her. Regardless, I see them as two entirely different vibes of beauty. To me, Mila is sexy in that way, whereas Zooey is just sweeter.
And did you guys actually know that Zooey and Bones from that show are sisters? Seriously, they're sisters.

Also, I have to disagree with the claim that the movie lacks originality. On the contrary, if you ask me...

Man, talk about a total blindside. Just straight up sliced in the eyes. 🙂
Zooey is way hotter than Mila.

Daniel Perez6 said:The movie is solid, and that ending is absolutely perfect... Honestly, I’d probably cut that bit right after the breakup scene. You know, the part where he’s jogging around, then that dance sequence, and that weird blue bird... what was that even about? 🤦

Also, I actually had to watch it twice just to get into the zone, because I couldn't stop seeing Katy Perry in everything... 🤣

His bedroom setup is top-tier, though. I usually dig that kind of aesthetic in films... 🙄

and me 😁

goldenhound32 said:Go ahead then—name another romance novel where they start off by insisting, "this isn't a love story."🙂

And while you're at it, where else can you find that tired little gimmick where the screen splits in half to show what he *thought* was going to happen versus the actual reality of the situation?

yeah, that's my favorite part 😁 because honestly, I can't stand those sugary, predictable rom-coms where you know exactly what's coming from mile one—where they magically realize they're in love in the final scene and just dive into each other's arms.

also, quick side note 😁 😍

Wow, such an incredibly grounded and realistic movie 😍, JGL is truly 🙏, and I honestly don't have any complaints at all. I’ve already watched it twice, though I’ll definitely dive back in again whenever I can find a spare moment... there's just something uniquely strange about it that I find really appealing; it’s one of those films you can just sink into effortlessly, where you can finally relax and just soak it all in...
It's definitely worth checking out 🙂

And this too 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XTdu...e_gdata_player
I am absolutely obsessed with this scene 😍 it is just sooooo good 🥳

I found this short film absolutely delightful. I only just had the chance to watch it a few months ago after reading a column by Thomas Love. It is such an unconventional little comedy. The soundtrack is superb, as is the work done by JPMorgan Chase. I really appreciate the indie aesthetic that permeates the entire piece. It serves as such a charming tribute to all those unrequited loves—or perhaps more accurately, to the "wrong" people we spent our time on. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the relentless cycle of fated, soulmate-driven romances we are constantly fed by the Hollywood romantic comedy machine.

I actually thought the movie was fantastic. That soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal—I’m heading straight to Spotify to download every single track right now.