Broke my heart, but definately deserves it's 5-cent price
Added 10/26/2009
This movie is really sad and very realistic if the given circumstances were reality. But I honestly did not enjoy this movie. I purchased it because it was so cheap. The only reason I even know about this movie and purchased it was because Elijah Wood is my favorite actor. But Elijah's character in this movie is really messed up so I didn't win from any perspective. I wouldn't recommend it.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
Great little movie
Added 7/18/2009
All three of the main characters were great in their individual reactions to the news of getting drafted and most likely to go to war.
SPOILER: Chapter 10 - the scene with Mara (Sofia Vassileva) and Dixon, the cab driver (John Bernthal) is the most touching, moving and absolutely heart-breaking of the entire movie. The soon-to-be soldier going off to war, leaving a memento behind for a loved one. In this case, his neighbor's daughter who he has befriended. The ages-old promise that he will return. With the ages-old reaction from the loved one of thoughts that this soldier, like thousands before him, in wars past; may never come back. Excellent performances by the two actors in that scene.
Elijah Wood gives an excellent portrayal of a psychologically troubled, socially inept, nerdy, wimp, pacifist-type writer; the kind of person who should never be admitted into the service. And who finally deals with his fears and the hopelessness of it all in the end (read END).
Chris Klein played the part of a lawyer who's Dad has connections with a U.S. Senator, to try and help him get out of the draft. And who in the end, seemingly decides to go after all.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Not impressed
Added 7/13/2009
I have been a huge fan of Elijah since The War. But I find this movie below his usually performance. The story is a good one but they could have developed a bit more the psyche of the characters instead of focusing on only some aspects. Damn difficult to review without giving away too many details. All in all, enjoyable and worth watching but don't expect a future classic. Would have love to see the relations between the three friends if only two had been drafted...
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Day Zero inspires....
Added 1/15/2009
I won't write a description of the movie because I think plenty of people have done that. What I will say is that no matter what your feelings are about the war, this movie inspires you to think. Not only about the obvious-being the war- but about life. How you want to live it, what kind of person you want to be, what you want to leave behind when you are gone. If that isn't a movie that you want to invest in, I'm not sure what is.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
|
One Time Glad
Added 1/2/2009
I put this DVD in my cart from the $4 buget bin @ our local video store. Bryan Gunnar Cole, who has done some editing work in television, directed his first feature. Rob Malkani who wrote the screenplay for "Dot.Kill" also wrote this script. The movie is a character study; so there's not a lot of action. While Cole does a good job with the pacing, the nature of the movie makes it a bit slow going.
Chris Klein plays George Rifkin, a young lawyer whose wife is recovering from cancer. He wants to remain close by her and seeks for ways to get out of the newly implemented draft. Klein was in both "American Pie" films. Here he gives a respectable performance as the young man torn between patriotism and his desire to remain home. His wife is played by Ginnifer Goodwin who played Vivian, the first wife of Johnny Cash, in the film "Walk the Line." Her wide-eyed performance is one of the best in the film.
Elijah Wood from Cedar Rapids, Iowa plays Aaron Feller, a novelist who is estranged from his family and emotionally unstable. Wood came before many screen audiences when he played the teenager who discovers a comet in Deep Impact and his classic role in three films based on "The Lord of the Rings." Ally Sheedy who won best actress acclaim for "High Art" from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association & the National Society of Film Critics plays his therapist Dr. Reynolds who doesn't want to listen to Aaron any longer.
Jon Bernthal plays James Dixon. Of the three friends, he's the guy who supports the war with a short-trigger fuse. His abbreviated fight scenes give the film short infusions of energy. Bernthal played the interviewer in the film The Air I Breathe. Elizabeth Moss who played the president's daughter on TV's "West Wing" and has been on TV's "Mad Men" plays Dixon's young girlfriend. Her performance is also excellent as she learns that the guy she thought she had finally found is heading off to war. After watching the film, I put it in the box for the next garage sale. I was glad to have watched it one time. Enjoy!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
