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(500) Days of Summer

Posted by Ryan Adams On April - 15 - 2009

Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Girl doesn’t. This post modern love story is never what we expect it to be — it’s thorny yet exhilarating, funny and sad, a twisted journey of highs and lows that doesn’t quite go where we think it will. When Tom, a hapless greeting card copywriter and hopeless romantic, is blindsided after his girlfriend Summer dumps him, he shifts back and forth through various periods of their 500 days “together” to try to figure out where things went wrong. His reflections ultimately lead him to finally rediscover his true passions in life. (Fox Searchlight)

This script is one of the most entertaining I’ve read all year. Constructed so delicately, though, I worried that it might be hard to carry off. The trailer seems to show the light touch has translated nicely to the screen.

500b
aww…

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24 Responses for "(500) Days of Summer"

  1. Diane April 15th, 2009 at 9:08 am 1

    I’ll watch anything with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The movie looks cute and funny too.

  2. Rob Y April 15th, 2009 at 10:41 am 2

    An actual boy meets girl story that looks interesting.

  3. jennybee April 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am 3

    I reading started the screenplay, then saw something shiny and promptly forgot about it. Trailer has piqued my interest. Love the leads, both of ‘em.

  4. Magaly Solier April 15th, 2009 at 11:25 am 4

    I’ve been thinking for a bit now that this film will be the surprise hit of the summer. It just seems so endearing and the leads are utterly likeable. Will this be the movie that make Joseph a household name?

  5. Bill April 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pm 5

    Its Fox Search Light, so who knows how big it could get

  6. Will April 15th, 2009 at 2:27 pm 6

    After Brick and Mysterious Skin, I will follow Joseph Gordon Levitt anywhere, except maybe the back alley. Maybe. :D

    I really do hope that this doesn’t become another Juno. Ugh.

  7. amanda April 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm 7

    I really cant wait for this movie. It’s one that I am really looking forward to seeing. In other words…. PLEASE DONT SUCK!!

  8. S.T. Stevens April 15th, 2009 at 3:46 pm 8

    Saw this at the Wisconsin Film Festival and absolutely loved it. Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel are as insanely charming as you think they’ll be, and it provides a nice alternative take on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype.

    Also Will, it’s nothing like Juno, thank God.

  9. Loyal Mehnert April 15th, 2009 at 4:22 pm 9

    They need to stop using the “You Make My Dreams” song in trailers.

    It’s awfully nice of Fox Searchlight to take an Oscar season off and let the big studios play in the sandbox again.

  10. Nick K. April 15th, 2009 at 5:38 pm 10

    It piqued my interest at the beginning with the realization that he was in love, and then I knew I had to take a look when there’s a musical number with a cartoon bird on Joseph-Gordon Levitt’s hand. Because, in all honesty, how many times does that happen in a tragic-comedic romance (discounting disney movies and a brief snippet of Annie Hall)?

  11. SaltireFlower April 15th, 2009 at 5:39 pm 11

    I agree with everyone about Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If he’s in a movie, I’ll watch, and this looks like it’ll be good.

  12. Ryan Adams April 15th, 2009 at 5:43 pm 12

    Does this help you guys forgive me for posting the trailer for The Ugly Truth?

  13. Eddi April 15th, 2009 at 8:58 pm 13

    Saw this at AFI Dallas. It was funny and entertaining. You go out of the theater with the same feeling as you just watching Little Miss Sunshine & Juno. Joseph Gordon Levitt is really awesome in it. I actually did not like Zoey Daschnel in the movie. She’s too detached from the audience, her character never grabbed me.

  14. Kyle April 15th, 2009 at 11:50 pm 14

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt looks kinda like Heath Ledger in a way..

    …BUT..to whoever cut that trailer….STOP IT RIGHT NOW WITH THE HALL & OATES!!! If there’s a song that I never wanna hear in a trailer again, it’s that one.

  15. HaroldsMaude April 15th, 2009 at 11:52 pm 15

    This does look good. I just hope Zooey isn’t crazygirl from “Weeds.”

    Cool to see JGL grow up so nicely (he has elements of Christian Bale about him, but he clearly is his own person).

    Oh, and isn’t the diner in the end of the clip, the same one from “When Harry Met Sally”?

  16. Watermelons April 16th, 2009 at 12:51 am 16

    this looks powerful… i wonder if it will change as many lives as Zach Braff’s GARDEN STATE??

  17. loving_KATE_WINSLET April 16th, 2009 at 3:00 am 17

    kyle..i always thought he looks like HEATH(RIP)…if there will be a biopic about HEATH he’ll be the perfect one…

    hopefully JGL will be recognized soon..he’s great…can’t wait to see this one…

  18. Tufas April 16th, 2009 at 7:13 am 18

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt, one of the cutest faces ever, looks kinda muted in this trailer, barely showing up any emotion bar a couple of scenes. Why so serious?

    T.

  19. Miss April 16th, 2009 at 9:13 am 19

    He looks nothing like Heath. I don’t get the excitement over this movie. I do think JGL is talented and has major potential. Zooey is
    going through a career revival, definitely seems to be an “it girl”.
    I understand her appeal to other people but she always acts the same. I thought he was good even in 3rd Rock from the Sun. I was less impressed with the overrated Brick and Mysterious Skin. I thought he was good in The Lookout. He is definitely a name that is on many casting lists. This movie seems forgettable, sappy, and corny. Though I am not really into romantic comedies. I would rather watch this than Ghosts of Girlfriend Past, that upcoming Sandra Bullock movie, or that Gerard Butler film. I think Charlie Hunnam is the only one who had a resemblance to Heath before he grew out his hair and became all bikered up. I heard Cillian Murphy, Paul Dano,
    Jake Gyllenhaal, James McAvoy, and Jared Leto turned down this part.

  20. Trevor Keilholtz April 16th, 2009 at 7:29 pm 20

    I am really pissed because it is playing opening night (right now) at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival and I was not able to get tickets!

  21. Friedl April 18th, 2009 at 7:31 am 21

    Hmm.. He’s a hopeless romantic & he writes copy for greeting cards?
    The girl is named Summer, which gives the title a nice double entendre?

    Plot synopsis makes it sound a bit like hope-no-one-notices-this-is-Eternal-Sunshine-of-the-Spotless-mind-Lite.

    HOWever, it sounds interesting, Joseph Gordon Levitt is interesting, and Zooey Deschanel… aahhh… (I will forgive her for The Happening, and remember that she was the only good thing about Yes Man).

  22. McAllister April 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am 22

    I’m seeing it Tuesday at the Atlanta Film Festival!

  23. Craig Hamilton April 20th, 2009 at 9:34 am 23

    Saw it last thursday at the Nashville Film Festival. It’s great!!

    I don’t want to use the term “romantic comedy” because it doesn’t fall in that crappy genre. It’s romantic and it’s funny, but it’s also independent and very well done.

    Please go see it!!

  24. 500 Days of Summer Trailer » Right Cinema May 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm 24

    [...] film revolves around a woman named summer, who doesn’t believe that true love exists, and a hopeless romantic [...]


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  • Contender Tracker

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    A Serious Man
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    Up

    Julie & Julia
    Star Trek
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    A Single Man

    Best Actor
    Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
    Colin Firth, A Single Man
    George Clooney, Up in the Air
    Matt Damon, The Informant!
    Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
    Viggo Mortensen, The Road
    Ben Foster, The Messenger
    Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man
    Michael Sheen, The Damned United

    Best Actress
    Gabby Sidibe, Precious
    Carey Mulligan, An Education
    Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
    Abbie Cornish, Bright Star
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    Michelle Monaghan, Trucker

    Best Supporting Actor
    Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
    Alfred Molina, An Education
    Stanley Tucci, Julie & Julia
    Peter Sarsgaard, An Education
    Robert Duvall, Crazy Heart
    Peter Capaldi, In the Loop
    Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover
    Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker
    Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker

    Best Supporting Actress
    Mo'Nique,Precious
    Anna Kendrick,Up in the Air
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
    Julianne Moore, A Single Man
    Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
    Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
    Samantha Morton, The Messenger
    Emma Thompson, An Education
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    Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
    Lee Daniels, Precious
    Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
    Lone Scherfig, An Education
    Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Neill Blomkamp, District 9
    Spike Jonze, Where the Wild Things Are
    Tom Ford, A Single Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star

    Best Original Screenplay
    Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
    Joel and Ethan Coen, A Serious Man
    Jane Campion, Bright Star
    Quentin Tarantino,Inglourious Basterds
    Michael Haneke,White Ribbon
    Bob Peterson, Pete Docter,Up
    Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, 500 Days of Summer

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    Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air
    Nick Hornby, An Education
    Spike Jonze, Dave Eggars, Where the Wild Things Are
    Peter Morgan, The Damned United
    Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
    Scott Burns, The Informant!
    Tom Ford, A Single Man

    Best Editing

    Chris Innis, Bob Murawski, The Hurt Locker
    Sally Menke, Inglourious Basterds
    Dana E. Glauberman,, Up in the Air
    Joel and Ethan Coen,, A Serious Man

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    Greig Fraser,Bright Star
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    Bruno Delbonnel,Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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    Best Sound Editing

    District 9
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    Up

    Best Costume Design
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    Mary Zophre, A Serious Man
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    Consolata Boyle,Cheri

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    Carter Burwell, Karen O,Where the Wild Things Are
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    Sergio
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    Under Our Skin
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    Best Visual Effects
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    Best Makeup

    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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    Best Song

    Best Live Action Short

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    Best Documentary Short

    China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
    The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
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    Rabbit a la Berlin
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