Winter DVD Release for 'Summer' Movie
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — After years of celebrity for being the backdrop for Blade Runner or the target of aliens, earthquakes, dragons, tornadoes, Downtown Los Angeles got a slight image change this year. The urban heart of the city got a romantic hug from "500 Days of Summer" and was portrayed as a place where people work and live.
Cleveland Scene asked director Marc Webb whether he expects other movies to follow suit in the portrayal.
"I don’t know. I know there are people shooting downtown. While we were there, there was always a New York cab driving by because it’s always doubled as New York. They put a plaque on our bench," replied Webb. "Downtown Los Angeles is becoming a true culture, a true neighborhood. I read all the reviews and someone from Dallas said it was clearly a fake Los Angeles because nobody lives downtown like that. I was like, 'C’mon, what do you know? Give me a break.'"
The film had some critics smitten by the city, but was baffling to others. The San Francisco Chronicle sniffed at the romantic comedy that took place in a "relatively prettified Los Angeles."
Haters.
Then again, maybe so. Webb did manage to make the Civic Center Mall, between the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration and Los Angeles County Courthouse, into the unlikely location for a morning-after dance. Still, no specials effects were really needed, except for a bouncy Hall and Oates tune and animated Bluebirds.
500 Days of Summer is out today on DVD and Blue-Ray, and may be an appropriate stocking stuffer from a Downtowner.
Russell Brown on December 23, 2009, at 01:50AM – #1
Loved the movie. “The film is smartly written, very personal story, scripted as if a best friend was taking you along inside his head. Especially loved how they "got" that downtown is so much about neighborhood and community.
Often said that "Downtown is a small town with really big skyscrapers". Just read the blogs and yahoo lists and the ability to pick up the telephone and listen in to the party line still exists. Only now it is the Internet blogs and comments.
Would love to add this film to our screening series in Pershing Square of free outdoor movies in the spring. Maybe even a contest of who can identify the most downtown locations in the film.
Rent or buy this movie. It was great.
Oscar on December 23, 2009, at 12:36PM – #2
This movie is awesome and really portrays TODAY's downtown!!!
And you know what's even more awesome, the little bar right next to pete's and the OLD dvd bank on Main, the one that is owned by the same(odd and akwardly introverted) couple that owns the nickel dinner has a bartendress working there that looks like a REAL LIFE version of Zoey Deschnel's character - SUMMER -.
LOVE IT!
Natalie on December 27, 2009, at 04:36PM – #3
I can't believe I still haven't seen this movie! Time to sign up for Netflix again.