101 Monday, August 3, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com The longest summer of all time By KAVI PANDEY Daily Arts Writer One of the smash hits of the 2009 Sun- dance Film Festival, "(500) Days of Sum- mer," has finally made its long-awaited release into cinemas nationwide. The film follows greeting-card company employ- ee Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, "Brick") and his relationship with the girl of his dreams, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel, "Yes Man"), to understand why it failed. As a decidedly unconventional roman- tic comedy, it may seem unusual for "(500) days" to be released among the season's typical popcorn movies. But in an inter- view with The Daily, the two stars of the film affirmed that this was the perfect time to release the film. "This is at heart a very entertaining film ... if you're looking for something a little bit more lighthearted," Deschanel said. Gordon-Levitt added, "It's a really good summer movie ... a few less timpani drums and blood, and more Joy Division and kiss- ing. What summer blockbuster has Joy Division and kissing?" Gordon-Levitt explained how easy it was to work with fellow independent-film mainstay Zooey Deschanel. "I was really just playing a guy whose modus operandi was 'I'm madly in love with this girl,' and she's easy to play madly in love with," said Gordon-Levitt. "I kind of just focused on her, listened to She & Him in the morning ... it was easy," he added. Brief segments of the trailer hint at some "larger-than-life" elements, like a cartoon bird and an elaborate dance sequence. But, as the actors explained, they were all incorporated for a specific and admirable purpose. "It all comes from a sincere point of view," Gordon-Levitt said. "Even the most surreal parts, like the dance number. It's because ... I know how it feels when you got to finally be with the girl you've had a crush on for so long, and it feels like that." While many of today's romantic com- edies brazenly try to be "quirky" and "dif- ferent," "(500) Days of Summer" isn't afraid to accept some of the conventions of its genre. Gordon-Levitt: '(Deschanel) is easy to play madly in love with.' "I think (the film) doesn't so much avoid clichas - it walks right up to them and has a conversation with them," said Gordon- Levitt. "It follows some and deviates from other ones and that's what I like about it. With avoiding cliches, then you just start becoming obscure." "Also, if your goal is to not be something, that's not a goal that's too amorphous," Deschanel added. "My only goal is to not be this ... well you're already not that. If you aim for something - something actual - then you're not thinking about what you are not." Both Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt shied away from giving their own interpretations of the film. "I don't really like to tell people what they should take away because I like to go see a movie and be allowed to feel," Deschanel said. "It's a sacred relationship the audience has with the artist." "It's best to do my part and then hand it over to those that are going to experience it because it's a very personal experience," she added. "I think it's a more 20th-century attitude that watching a movie is 'I am an audience member' and it's a passive thing," Gordon- Levitt added. "I think that watching a movie can be and ought to be a creative act. You come up with what it means." Ship anywhere with the UPS Store! Boxes, packing and shipping supplies and more Student discounts 512 E William (734) 663-3379 H.ARRY HOUR an the han and patio z 0 4- MONDAY-FRIDAY 3:00sPMi-7:h 0P I/2 PRICE APPETIZERS $2.50 PINTS u ON ALL 0 DRAFT BEE RS MON-THURS tu 9:OOM - CLOSE 2 PINTS OF 0 BEER, AND C 1 TOPPING 0 HALF TRAY C S10 not valid week of 7/13-7/7 The UPS Store 2232S. Main St Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Next to Busch's Grocery Store in Woodland Plaza Shopping Ctr. 734-662-7777 M-F8:3Oam-7pm, Saturday 10am-4pm, Closed Sunday