Day Zero
Thanks to the lovely Yeux, I have at last been able to watch Day Zero! She kindly sent me a copy which after a minor glitch [no sound so had to download a missing file] I was able to sit back and see for myself this much talked about film. So - what did I think? Answers below the cut in case some of my flist still haven’t been able see the film.
My overall thoughts were that this was an underrated film that should have had a wider audience. Not an Oscar contender but very well acted and thought provoking. It seemed somewhat shallow to begin with and this made me uneasy as the action was moving too fast with no proper links but then suddenly the emotions started to flow as the raw magnitude of what was ahead of these three young men really hit home.
John and Chris both turned in forceful, emotional performances and I could identify with both. I could see where Dixon and Rifkin were coming from and understood what was going through their minds and informing their actions. The little girl was very good too - who is she as her face is familiar?
Elijah was excellent as this poor, lost soul caught up in an emotional roller-coaster but he lacked back story so I found it harder to see what was his driving force. He was able to show Aaron’s complete ineptitude at coping with certain issues in life and for most of the time he seemed caught up in a web from which there was no escape. Aaron was there with the others but not there. He seemed always one step behind the conversation and out of his depth. I felt so sorry for him. No one had any time for him perhaps because basically, he wasn’t a very interesting person.
The one weakness in the storyline [and this has been said by others] is the friendship issue between these guys. Essentially they are from three different walks of life with nothing really in common with each other. Dixon and Rifkin didn’t seem bosom buddies to me and why either should be in the least bit interested in Aaron, beats me! I also have issue with Aaron having the background and experience to be able to write novels, even plagiarized ones.
Also the film was shorter than I expected and could have been longer. Various relationships needed enriching and more time given to them would have helped make certain decisions even more understood. For instance, just why did Aaron need a shrink? Yes he was a pathetic young man but what had happened to set him on this course of therapy? Why did Dixon fail to tell his new g/f that he had been drafted?
Overall rating - 3/5. The colour and lighting was just right. John gave a standout performance and I really liked Dixon. Chris was very good too but I didn't like Rifkin much at all. Elijah was perfectly cast and Aaron will stay with me and haunt me. The look on his face as he finally came to terms with his impending death brought tears to my eyes. I kept thinking, ‘what a terrible waste of life!’
Oh and Elijah looked very sexy indeed! I do like him in sweat pants!!!!
Finally, I noted Pam's name in the credits. Missed her, was she in the demo scene at the end?
My overall thoughts were that this was an underrated film that should have had a wider audience. Not an Oscar contender but very well acted and thought provoking. It seemed somewhat shallow to begin with and this made me uneasy as the action was moving too fast with no proper links but then suddenly the emotions started to flow as the raw magnitude of what was ahead of these three young men really hit home.
John and Chris both turned in forceful, emotional performances and I could identify with both. I could see where Dixon and Rifkin were coming from and understood what was going through their minds and informing their actions. The little girl was very good too - who is she as her face is familiar?
Elijah was excellent as this poor, lost soul caught up in an emotional roller-coaster but he lacked back story so I found it harder to see what was his driving force. He was able to show Aaron’s complete ineptitude at coping with certain issues in life and for most of the time he seemed caught up in a web from which there was no escape. Aaron was there with the others but not there. He seemed always one step behind the conversation and out of his depth. I felt so sorry for him. No one had any time for him perhaps because basically, he wasn’t a very interesting person.
The one weakness in the storyline [and this has been said by others] is the friendship issue between these guys. Essentially they are from three different walks of life with nothing really in common with each other. Dixon and Rifkin didn’t seem bosom buddies to me and why either should be in the least bit interested in Aaron, beats me! I also have issue with Aaron having the background and experience to be able to write novels, even plagiarized ones.
Also the film was shorter than I expected and could have been longer. Various relationships needed enriching and more time given to them would have helped make certain decisions even more understood. For instance, just why did Aaron need a shrink? Yes he was a pathetic young man but what had happened to set him on this course of therapy? Why did Dixon fail to tell his new g/f that he had been drafted?
Overall rating - 3/5. The colour and lighting was just right. John gave a standout performance and I really liked Dixon. Chris was very good too but I didn't like Rifkin much at all. Elijah was perfectly cast and Aaron will stay with me and haunt me. The look on his face as he finally came to terms with his impending death brought tears to my eyes. I kept thinking, ‘what a terrible waste of life!’
Oh and Elijah looked very sexy indeed! I do like him in sweat pants!!!!
Finally, I noted Pam's name in the credits. Missed her, was she in the demo scene at the end?