comment #1

The Hey says ...

A twitchy, mannered, off-tempo performance and actually passes for semi-normal?

You mean besides playing Cobra Commander in GI Joe?

comment #2

The InSneider says ...

Not a JGL fan, Jeff? Shame... he's one of the best of his generation. Still waiting on the perfect role to get Oscar's attention but I have no doubt it will come. 500 Days has its own awards hopes in the Best Original Screenplay category too. I'm exploring this topic, and other summer awards hopefuls, in my next Examiner column posting at the end of the week. Shameless plug, forgive me. Meanwhile, love The Temper Trap song Sweet Disposition that was in 500 Days' first trailer.

comment #3

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

JGL is alright. To be fair to him, he came off a sitcom as a child and teen movies to become a well-respected actor. A lot of actors do overly serious stuff when they're trying to change the public perception of them. Look at Ryan Gosling - from singing alongside N'Sync in the Disney Club to Half Nelson and The Believer.

Ten Things I Hate About You is ace.

comment #4

Krazy Eyes says ...

No problems with JGL from these parts. I've pretty much liked him in everything I've seen him in -- even 3rd Rock, where I thought he showed early promise.

comment #5

EdHavens says ...

The one thing that has kept me from seeing this film is Zooey Deschanel. I'm tired of her one character.

comment #6

Webster says ...

Saw this at Sundance. Definitely a sleeper hit in the making. JGL hits all the right notes, and Zooey--my God, she was beguiling. Career boosts for both coming out of this.

comment #7

actionman says ...

Loved Zooey in All the Real Girls but haven't been really impressed with her since. She was horrific in The Happening, but granted, everyone was in that POS, even the extras.

Not sure about this one...as long as it doesn't come off like a Once-wannabe then it might be a sweet little diversion.

comment #8

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

How do you pronounce Zooey? I always just say "Zoe" to avoid looking a twat, but I've always wondered how Salinger intended it to be pronounced. And why it was a boy's nickname in his stories.

comment #9

erniesouchak says ...

He should have been nominated for "Mysterious Skin."

comment #10

btwnproductions says ...

I'll second that nomination; he was searing in SKIN.

comment #11

Chase Kahn says ...

I don't think I'll be able to give Zooey Deschanel a second chance after "The Happening" -- it was like she stumbled onto the wrong set, just awful.

I missed "500 Days of Summer", though, I'll definitely have to check it out next month.

comment #12

BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey says ...

He was good in Stop-Loss last year. That was an underrated movie. Everyone gave a good performance.

comment #13

actionman says ...

yup-yup, Bosh. stop-loss was a strong film. got unfairly criticized by critics and ignored by sheepish audiences.

comment #14

ZayTonday says ...

Stop-Loss and The Lookout both say hello.

comment #15

lipranzer says ...

Not to mention BRICK. I know that's a film that inspires both love and hate, but he was terrific in that movie, I thought.

comment #16

/3rtfu11 says ...

Hilarious his Shadowboxer co-star and on screen love interest Mo'Nique will likely beat him to an Oscar nomination.

comment #17

jesse says ...

Mannered and actorish? Ryan Gosling what? Joseph Gordon-Levitt is terrific in Brick, Mysterious Skin, Stop-Loss, The Lookout... pretty much everything. And he's pretty different from role to role (his voice and physicality in Mysterious Skin, in particular, resemble very little from his other parts).