| 
| 
Is it worth $10? No
The premise of “One Day” is a gimmicky idea that apparently works as a book but never stood a chance as a movie. Fundamentally, movies operate in what’s called “screen time,” which allows us to be shown only what we need to see and eliminates the minutiae of everyday life. We then bridge the obvious continuity gaps in our mind and all is plausible.
For example, if we see a character at home and then cut to him at the store, our minds automatically presume (and therefore do not need to see) the character walk out of the house, get into the car, drive to the store, etc.
“One Day” – which catches up with the lives of two friends on the same day of the year for 20 years – has huge jumps that never allow us to fill continuity gaps ourselves because too much happens during the year-long gaps. As a result it leaves you constantly playing catch up, then when you do catch up the film moves on again.
It’s a shame, too, because Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dex (Jim Sturgess) are sympathetic people worth caring about. They meet the night of their college graduation and spend the night together, but do not “sleep” together. A platonic friendship blooms. Subsequently, director Lone Scherfig, working from David Nicholls’ novel, checks in on their lives every July 15th for 20 years. Sometimes they see one another, sometimes they don’t, but they’re always, we’re led to believe, in the other’s thoughts.
It’s a fascinating process to see someone’s life evolve in bits and pieces, but we like Emma and Dex so much that we can’t help but want more of them. We feel bad for Emma when she’s stuck working at a Mexican restaurant, and later in a loveless relationship with Ian (Rafe Spall). Heck, we even feel bad for her when she sports shaggy hair and nerdy glasses and looks all frumpy and sad, even though we always know she’s so sweet. Dex is less likeable as a distant son to his dying mother (Patricia Clarkson) and cad, but because we know there’s good in him we always remain on his side.
“One Day” does deserve credit for one thing: It never feels like a glossy rom-com in which you know the ending before you walk into the theater. Rather, Scherfig gives the film a gritty, earthy feel that at most points echoes what the characters are feeling. Symbolically, this is right on point.
Unfortunately, the story never allows us to get on point.
Did you know?
The "One Day" novel was published in 2009; it’s been published in 31 languages and was a #1 best seller in the U.K., Italy and Sweden.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
