Two things before I begin: this does not actually have anything to do with (500) Days of Summer, and feel free to skip the first 20 seconds or so.
Being somewhat of a Joseph Gordon-Levitt fan, I came across this video a while ago and immediately fell in love with it. I was initially drawn to the simplistic, yet well-made and stylistic (I was kind-of reminded of the original Ocean's 11 with Frank Sinatra) portrayal of a bank robber who has his heart softened. I watched it a few more times, however, and realized that this story can be much more personal. As an easily distracted and imaginative person, my mind often wanders and I find myself daydreaming. In a matter of a few seconds, I can construct fantasies that I know will never happen. I found myself connecting with Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character, who I believe experiences the dance sequence in his mind. This was interesting to me, as it provided a new depth to the character. The first time I saw this video, I threw the character into a stereotype in my mind, only to realize later that he had the ability to daydream just like me. Maybe I'm not so different from somebody who would rob a bank after all.
I think that this character trait (one which the story is ultimately about) becomes more evident because of the digital medium. During the dance sequence, there are cuts that give the story a more fantastical feeling, similar to thoughts in a human mind. How often do your fantasies go in perfect chronological order and make perfect sense? Mine almost never do. This tone would not be as achievable if it weren’t for the film medium. I think this video is a wonderful invitation to embrace one’s daydreams. These imaginations of ours are what make the world interesting to everyone, especially when we share it with others. Imagination can make a dull life feel worthwhile.
(Please forgive me if this post seems to be written by a person half asleep. My head is filled with snot and I made the unforgivable mistake of taking the drowsy kind of decongestant before attempting to complete this assignment. My sincerest apologies.)
Stunning post! Likewise, I loved that. It was spontaneous and wonderful. Our minds function impulsively and non-linear as you said. I connected this to film-making and how we create stories. Personally, my idea for my entry film (for the program) came from old buildings and a vending machine. Then some kids. Then some thinking. If we just let our minds wander, if we imagine, we can come up with great things. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of these two, also. Since I was such a fan of (500) Days of Summer, I also really liked this too. It was just simple and fun. I think that was the point too. Too often nowadays we are too serious and worrying too much about only superficial concerns, like money. Instead of being so worried about making money off the robbery, JGL gets his true treasure from being able to dance with Zooey. And with good reason, that lucky man. The point of this film, I think, is to point out that being fun and dancing can overpower greed and monetary needs. These are the things that will actually bring us happiness. That's my interpretation, I'd say.
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