DVD REVIEWS
Summer lovin’ As the narrator states very clearly at the beginning of [500] Days Of Summer, this is a “story of boy meets girl, but you should know up front, this is not a love story”. Indeed, this indie rom-com explores the temporary insanity that once can experience when you convince yourself you’ve found a soul mate. Tom Hansen [Joseph Gordon-Levitt] believes in true love, and thus is waiting for the right girl. When Summer Finn [Zooey Deschanel] takes a job in the office of the greeting card business where he works, her unbelievable cuteness and love of The Smiths is enough to make him think that he has finally met the girl of his dreams. Using constant time-shifts to depict both Tom and Summer’s blooming romance and painful break-up, the film starts to overplay the drama, rather than keep things nice and simple. Writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H Weber, and veteran music video director Marc Webb, are working with honest, heart-felt material, but the numerous plot devices make the film feel clunky. The moments of poignant realism are spliced with unexpected scenes of hyper-reality [like Gordon-Levitt’s extended dance sequence] and narrated montages, and these abstract ideas ultimately distance the viewer from the emotion in the story, rather than include them. You’re reminded that you’re watching a movie. Creatively, the film-makers have crammed
reviewed [500] Days Of Summer reviewed by Nick Milligan rated 3/5 the film with too many ideas. The nature of [500] Days Of Summer’s script means that Gordon-Levitt’s character has to act like an immature and mopey idiot throughout much of the film. While it’s the kind of heartbroken behaviour that most people can relate to, it’s uncomfortable and frustrating to watch. While Deschanel’s character is impossibly gorgeous, she is not a warm person. Many viewers won’t invest in their relationship because of their shared lack of charm. The two actors that play Tom’s friends — Geoffrey Arend and Matthew Gray Gubler — steal the show from their cohorts. Their comic delivery adds a level of enjoyment to the film. Chloë Moretz is also interesting as Tom’s worldly young sister. Another frustrating aspect of the screenplay is the ‘cool references’ that have been peppered throughout in an attempt at indie credibility. Tom listens to The Smiths and sings Pixies songs at karaoke. Summer’s favourite Beatle is Ringo Starr, for no other reason than him being the least popular Beatle. It all makes the film feel a little contrived — although it is a lovely surprise to hear The Temper Trap used in the soundtrack. While it’s refreshing to see a realistic relationship portrayed on film, [500] Days Of Summer often stumbles in its execution.
Space exploration Sam Bell [Sam Rockwell] works for a company called Lunar Industries, which is harvesting an energy source, called Helium-3, from the surface of the moon. He operates the mining station on his own, with only an intelligent robot named Gerty [voiced by Kevin Spacey] to keep him company and tend to his daily needs. Sam’s contract is for three years and he’s only two weeks away from returning home to his wife and young daughter. When Sam accidentally crashes one of the station’s all-terrain vehicles, he wakes up in the station’s infirmary. Gerty’s evasive answers to his questions about the accident lead him to investigate further — and he makes a disturbing discovery. Directed by the son of David Bowie, Duncan Jones, this claustrophobic, slow-burning thriller builds in tension as secrets are revealed. At its core is a rather simple idea, and it’s executed with finesse. The mining station’s isolation becomes increasingly heavy and is the perfect backdrop for the intriguing drama that ensues. Sam Rockwell, as always, is brilliant to watch and Kevin Spacey’s polite, genial Gerty is unsettling. Jones’s minimalistic approach is crucial
PHOTO BY SAEED ADYANI
GAME OVER In a not-so-distant future, the concept of online virtual worlds has been taken to an extreme. Via a computer, players can control an actual human being in a real-life venture called Society. The creator, billionaire Ken Castle (Dexter’s Michael C. Hall), has also created a follow-up — a blood-thirsty shoot-em-up called Slayers. In this real life ‘game’, players control the minds and responses of death-row inmates who engage in actual warfare. Caught in this twisted new form of entertainment is John Tillman, who, under the
moniker of ‘Kable’, must survive 30 games to win his freedom from death row and return to his wife and daughter. While Gamer contains a number of interesting, and perhaps even prophetic, ideas, ultimately it’s a rather throw-away action flick. There are also some fairly blatant similarities to 1987’s Arnie action classic, The Running Man. There are some nicely staged and visually interesting sequences — like the rave party — but the plot is resolved in very safe and unoriginal territory. It’s a shame, because writer/directors Mark
reviewed Moon reviewed by Nick Milligan rated 4/5 and perfectly delivered, allowing the mystery to unravel. The sets feel intensely real and special effects are used seamlessly and sparingly. Moon has the palpable qualities of a film from the seventies and is filled the visceral nuances. Moon is ultimately a chilling film that maintains its vision until the final credits. It asks some important questions about our future and an impending desperation for natural resources. It’s a very impressive feature debut from Jones. The DVD release has a comprehensive set of special features. There are three audio commentaries, a short film by Jones called Whistle, making-of and special effects featurettes, and footage of live Q&A sessions. All in all, a release worth owning. Moon is released on DVD on Wednesday, February 24, 2010.
reviewed Gamer reviewed by Noah Cross rated 2.5/5 Neveldine and Brian Taylor [Crank] set up an intriguing scenario. Butler returns to arse-kickin’ hero mode and Hall plays a very cartoon-like villain who — insert shocked expression — has plans for world domination. It’s also hard to accept his Texan accent. However, the film does benefit from a very strong supporting cast, which includes Alison Lohman, Ludacris, Kyra Sedgwick and Amber Valletta. It’s a shame that Gamer squanders the potential of its ingredients.
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