Different Take ‘Day Zero’ on Iraq
January 1st, 2008 in Drama, Movie News, Movies, The Movie Biz
“Day Zero” stars Elijah Wood, Jon Bernthal, Chris Klein, and Ginnifer Goodwin. “Day Zero” is a timely political and personal story of three young men as the military draft is reinstated. Three best friends, George (Chris Klein) a successful lawyer, Dixon (Jon Bernthal) a tough-as-nails cab driver, and Feller (Elijah Wood) a writer with a host of insecurities.
It’s hard for me to see three young men so diverse be best friends. Perhaps, the movie justifies it; but today, I don’t see that much diversity in the world. People are friends with their class, very cliquish.
Anyway, these young men are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they’re forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor.
Based on the trailer, it doesn’t appear to be very uplifting.
The film opens January 18, 2008 and the DVDs go on sale February 26, 2008. Looks like a very limited release in the theaters. “Day Zero” made the Official Selection of the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.
Some tidbits Ally Sheedy and Elisabeth Moss are in the film as well.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I caught this film at Tribeca and will definitely go see it again in new york when it opens. You say it doesn’t look uplifting from the trailer. What I can tell you without spoiling it is that the movie is definitely heavy, but really thought provoking. That’s why I’m going back.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
That’s great to hear it thought provoking, and that you are going to see it again. Awesome.
How was it thought provoking?
January 4th, 2008 at 6:09 am
You ask how it was thought provoking.
Unlike some movies which try to answer all the questions for you and sometimes leaving you with a feeling it’s preaching, Day Zero does not.
It leaves things open for you to think and talk about. The writers aren’t trying to shove solutions down your throat, but leaves it up to the viewer to come to their own resolutions, hence, what would YOU do?
Also, you can’t see how these three men are friends. If you know NYC, it’s a very diverse area. If I remember correctly from what the producer said, the men attended the same high school together and remained friends. The movie doesn’t explain how they became friends, but more importantly, the differences between them justifies the distinctive experiences they have to the draft.
I’ll be seeing it again as well, and I hope it goes on to a wider distribution.
January 4th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Wendy,
Thanks for clarifying what you meant by “thought provoking.” I I can see your point. The draft is a touchy area and perhaps it is something we should look at as citizens.
I am not from NYC, but still it is hard for me to see such different people: attitudes, money class and lifestyles still be friends. I am sure the film explains it clearly.
January 6th, 2008 at 11:33 am
As Wendy says, the film doesn’t try to appear smarter than you by telling you what or how to think. They put ideas out there and let you chew on them, come to your own conclusions about things. But most importantly, as Wendy says, to try to get you to decide what YOU would do.
I am from nyc and can tell you without hesitation that people of different backgrounds - money, attitudes, lifestyle, etc. - regularly interact and yes, even become friends.