no lifeguard on duty. read at own risk.

hmm, what to say about (500) days of summer. i saw it yesterday. it was well done. it was kind of depressing and thought provoking in the moment. in fact, i was more depressed coming out of this one than revolutionary road. SPOILER. even tho the latter's ending is much more somber than the optimistic ending of the former.

so here's my guess as to why:
in 500 days, we're given the view of the one who was unsatisfied with the outcome. i think it is easy to relate to this character and his perspective. this situation is the situation that is more memorable. loving and losing is more poingant that loving and leaving. loss is just a big deal. versus rev road, which is more exagerated. the drama is so monumental, so tragic. its painful to watch, but spectating is maybe less threatening than participating. 500 days does a great job of pulling you into the side of loss. rev road does a great job of painting tragedy.

today, 500 days feels less depressing. i think thats because its a little clearer how the movie was only one perspective. i thought summer was a little cruel/cold, (and at times she was), but we dont get to see the potential emotional turmoil she is in. we dont see what makes her unhappy about the couple, they ways they didnt click. yeah, i think its a lot less painful for her, and yeah i think she was tricking herself, and yeah shes not always fair to tom, but we only see toms reaction and the select parts that he highlights.

all that being said, i still think tom is justified in his greif.

today it is also less depressing because (like his sister suggests) he has a selective memory. and he wants to embrace the parts that fit to his pain. hes not lying to himself, just sort of looking through a microscope. he sees the parts that fit the equation (all true parts), but maybe not seeing the ways that he wasnt into her, the ways she wasnt the 'one' - because he wants her to be the 'one'. i think tom was definately into her, he's just elevated her maybe above where she is.

anyway, its just more optimistic if you consider that his perspective in grief is very true, just a little too magnified. and optimistic to think that this leaves room for someone else to be a better fit. even this accounted for, i think 500 days is more depressing that rev road.

the end.

p.s.rev road is awesome.