Day Zero

[mole_caz]

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.

Comments

[ladysnaps]

ironically, i watched the movie just last night. of the three, aaron's character really needed some background for the reasons you mentioned. that obviously would have made a longer movie, but with budgets being tight, that may have been the reason. still, it needed to be explored.

pam was in the party scene, and i don't know who the little girl is, but she's good.

[mole_caz]

The party scene - right, not where I expected then. How did I miss her or was it because Chris and John diverted my attention? I even struggled to spot Elijah at first!

Ironically, i watched the movie just last night.
Great minds think alike!

[ladysnaps]

dixon kinda did wreck the party for spotting people. ;-)

[yeuxdebleu]

How did I miss her or was it because Chris and John diverted my attention?

Yes, I'm sure that's why you missed her. There is a shot of guests looking shocked at the way Dixon is arguing and insulting some of the guests. Pam is in the middle of that shot of the shocked guests looking on.

[mole_caz]

Yes, the younger brother scenario is a good portrayal of how Aaron came across. One scene I found odd was where Dixon came to Feller's aid in teaching the pimp a lesson. Why offer the help, and surely he knew the guy was pimp, and then blow at Feller for making him do this. Why drive off leaving the poor guy alone and scared. Not a friendly thing to do or am I missing the obvious here?

[ladysnaps]

i got that sense too. twice dixon was being called on for help like a big brother.

[ourdramaqueen]

Yes, I pretty much agree with what you're saying here.

The girl is Sofia Vassilieva, and she plays the oldest daughter on Medium. :)

[mole_caz]

Thanks for that. I don't know this film so perhaps I've seen her elsewhere.

[mole_caz]

Sorry is it a film or a TV series? Shows how little I watch the box if it is!

[ourdramaqueen]

It's a TV series with Patricia Arquette in the lead. :)

[primula_baggins]

The director said that the guys had a friendship because they had gone to a private high school together and had become friends. That seems reasonable to me. I just don't get why that hangs people up so much

[mole_caz]

The friendship doesn't really work for me I'm afraid. I can see that Dixon and Rifkin may have made friends at high school but I still can't see why Aaron was one of the trio. He just doesn't fit in and they have little time for him. He just seems to be hanging out with them like a shadow. I suppose though that this is not really important when the theme of the film is taken into account. The writer was trying to show how three different personalties reacted to and came to terms with the moral issues of fighting and possible death.

I know that if I was in Aaron's shoes, I couldn't point a gun in someone's face and pull the trigger in cold blood.

[primula_baggins]

Yeah, me neither.

It seems that the writer of the story was trying to portray 3 "everymen" and the various viewpoints they might have. There's the "wimp" who just doesn't have it in him to fight (Aaron), the "patroit" who thinks it's his duty and doesn't question it beyond that (Dixon), and the "OMG this is going to ruin my career and I'm too important to fight in a war!" (Rifkin, is it?). Of course, having a view doesn't mean the view can't change once reality begins to set in.

I've enjoyed this conversation, Mole. So,thanks!

[mole_caz]

You're welcome Prim. I'm so glad I have been able to have it at all and thanks to Yeux it has been possible.

[frolijah_fan_54]

I'm so glad you got to see it!! I agree it is a movie deserving of a much wider viewing.

The relationship between Aaron and the others (and the lack of that backstory) bothered me the first time I saw it - but not as much the second time. Aaron strikes me as the kind of person who may have helped them with their schoolwork when they were students together and maybe that's how they became friends. I would have liked to have seen that explained, but that became less of an issue for me the 2nd time I saw it.

I think Elijah did an excellent job with the character - it's so frustrating that he gives such good performances in movies that are hardly seen so he gets no recognition for it. And the rumors that he has done nothing since LOTR perpetuate.

I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and review - thanks, Moley!!