Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

Not much to say really, but this is Rob Bender's second review for The Popcorn Bucket. So, let's all sit down, put our hands in our laps and listen quietly.

Ben

I saw this on the same day as (500) Days of Summer, and there are a few similarities. Hopefully I have let enough time pass in order to judge this by its own merits.

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008)

Does anyone remember watching Roswell? I was quite a big fan, and have watched the three series a few times. In the third season there is an episode that centres around the search for an elusive New Years' Eve party, by following very obscure clues. It was one of the worst episodes of the whole programme. This is relevant, because this ‘search for a party’ plotline is the driving force of Nick & Norah. Nick O’Leary (Michael Cera) and Norah Silverberg (Kat Dennings) do not know each other, but are both huge fans of a band called ‘Where’s Fluffy?’, a band who occasionally play incredibly elusive gigs, leaving clues for their fans to find (vaguely reminiscent of the days of Guerrilla Gigging of the early 2000s (see: The Libertines). Nick is recently dumped by Tris (Alexis Dziena), a girl who goes to the same private school as Norah. Nick and Norah meet by chance at a gig in which Nick’s band is playing, and momentarily pose as a couple. Nick’s bandmates decide that she is ‘the one’ for him, and set them off to find ‘Where’s Fluffy?’ together, whilst they look after Norah’s drunk friend. Even though Nick is pining for his ex. The film takes place over the course of an evening, with Nick and Norah's search for the band sometimes crossing with their friends, and ex-partners.

“Also that mix CD... uh that I left on your doorstep was the last one that I'll be making for you. More or less...”

A danger with this type of film is that the supporting characters are relegated to making occasional quips, rarely emerging from the background. In Nick & Norah, most of the friends (and exes) have quite a bit of screentime, and the film is better for it. The film has been praised for its portrayal of gay characters (both Nick’s bandmates are gay), as they don’t fit the generally accepted stereotype. Being as the film is set over one night, and does sometimes seem to move at quite a quick pace, it is an achievement that all the characters get something to do.

“You don't have to yell. It's not a train station. We're in a tiny car.”

There are also quite a few side storylines, most of which are quite funny. The ‘chewing gum’ plot whilst generally disgusting (and in one instance, vomit-inducing), is quite funny, as is the awful yellow car that Nick drives. These do add more to the overall story, showing that it is not just about Nick and Norah and as previously mentioned, giving other characters screentime. However, I feel it really could have done without the ‘orgasm’ sideline, which seems rather pointless, and doesn’t add anything at all to the story. Equally, I’m not entirely sure why it is an ‘Infinite Playlist’. Aside from the elusive ‘Fluffy?’, there is not too much made of music.

“Well, you're two penises short of a Shania Twain reimagination band!”

This leads me to my biggest gripe with the whole movie. Michael Cera. Before watching this, I had no feelings on him either way, and I think sums up my problem. I really like Juno, and he suited the role in that. The same for Superbad, he acted well as the straight man to the comedy of Jonah Hill. In those films, he wasn’t the main character, and reacted to the comedic situation around him, like Martin Freeman in The Office, or Mathew Horne in Gavin and Stacey (which I love) and anything with Catherine Tate. Cera is a very similar character (wet and incredibly awkward) in Nick & Norah, and it isn’t enough to carry the whole film. His proclamations of love for his ex sound wimpy, and his claim to be the biggest fan of ‘Fluffy?’ are irritating, and sound like the ‘I liked this band first’ nerdy whingeing of a playground. Having said that, the other characters are well acted, and Dennings carries off the fact that the character is meant to be rich, and is used to it without being incredibly stuck up. Nick’s bandmates are also very good characters.

“You look gorgeous. And let me tell you something, Nicky is definitely worth the underwire. He just needs a little push, that's all.”

Nick & Norah is quite a nice film, although perhaps lacking in the emotional investment of other examples. The main plot is fairly generic, although I do like (most of) the side plotlines, which do make it a better film. The supporting characters are well written and well acted, yet the whole idea of ‘Where’s Fluffy?’ isn’t as well executed as the ‘chewing gum’ plot; there is never really much excitement evoked from the viewer for the elusive band. A nice, gentle film, yet perhaps not as hip and indie (hipindie?) as it maybe thinks it is.

RB

(500) Days of Summer

In a Popcorn Bucket first, we have a new reviewer to watch and review all the films I can't be arsed to. It's like having my own personal film errand boy... So, a big welcome to Rob (RB) who will take it from here.

Ben

I have been looking forward to this film ever since I saw a trailer for it in April, so was pretty pleased when I got to see it on the week of release. The reason that this is so late is because I have had a dissertation to write and jobs to apply for, and I am hoping that this is sufficient enough of a preamble to stick to the customs of the ‘Bucket’.

(500) Days of Summer (2009)

“This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.”

(500) Days of Summer, as states at the beginning of the film itself, is not the traditional type of ‘Bridget Weddings Actually and a Notting Hill Funeral ‘, with the Hurried Race To Get The Girl At The Climax Of The Film. Rather, it is a story about love; the excitement and confusion of the first days of a new relationship, and the torment that come with it. In its 95 minutes, the film manages to cover more emotions than many other ‘rom-coms’, and far more realistic. They meet at work, rather than by some quirky ‘accident’, which is something that most can relate to. In fact the film is very clever at being able to relate to the audience, and it is refreshing to see a ‘story of boy meets girl’ from the point of view of a guy. Admittedly there are several other romantic comedies from a guy’s perspective, such as Made of Honour, which was good until the last part of the film. Most of the other such films feature Hugh Grant, and who can relate to him?

“Darling. I don't know how to tell you this, but there's a Chinese family in our bathroom”

The film centres on Tom Hanson (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his affections for Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). It begins with him methodically smashing plates (which does look rather fun) and shifts non-chronologically around different episodes of their relationship, ensuring that the quirky moments of the film sit neatly alongside the sadder ones. There is a huge dance number in the middle, and yet this does not seem at all out of place, or unrealistic (even the animated bird!). Equally, it is highly unlikely that people who watch this film will be able to go to IKEA in the same way again. A few jokes are laugh-out-loud funny, but the film isn’t played for big laughs, and is funnier for it. Music is central to the film, they bond over The Smiths in a lift, and then at karaoke bar. The soundtrack is brilliant, and always fits the scene well. In this way, it is reminiscent of ‘High Fidelity’, and that is no bad thing.

“Literally?” “Well, no, not literally. That's disgusting.”

There are a few grumbles though, the final joke you can see coming a mile off, and whilst this doesn’t at all spoil the film, it is the only joke that isn’t as subtle as the rest of the humour. Equally Tom’s friends could have received a bit more attention, and given the fact that the film is not a rom-com, I could have done without the ‘wise younger sibling’ cliche (despite the fact that the character is very well acted by Chloë Moretz), it just doesn’t sit with the rest of the film.

“People don't realize this, but loneliness is underrated”

These are minor gripes though, and I really loved the film. The shifting chronology works well with the narrative, and I like the rollercoaster of emotions that the film manages to take the viewer through. The film is well shot, and has very obvious influences, such as Amelie, although as with the dance scene, it never seems out of place. The two leads play the characters brilliantly, and they are both very likable (Tom more so, but then it is from his point of view). This is one of my favourite films that I have seen this year, and definitely a welcome change to the genre of romantic film.

RB

P.S. A quick aside. There is a reference in the film to ‘Sid and Nancy’. Levitt and Deschanel have then played out these characters as part of Microsoft Zune’s "Cinemash" series, which is on YouTube, and very funny! I do hope that this will be included on the DVD release.