Marc Webb’s 2009 film (500) Days of Summer tells the story of Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), someone who genuinely believes in true love and his time with Summer (Zooey Deschanel), someone who doubts its existence. Webb frequently uses codes and conventions develop Tom and Summer’s characters and background, throughout the musical scene, mise en scene, acting and audio are all heavily utilized.
Mise en scene is used to establish Tom and Summer’s characters and showcase their feelings. This is evident in the beginning of the scene when Tom’s bathroom and bedroom is shown to consist of warm, neutral colours and lighting as well as a lack of products beyond two toothbrushes and toothpaste, this shows that Tom’s environment suits him and is unlike Summer’s it also shows that while he lives a simple life, he still tries to impress Summer by preparing an additional toothbrush for her. The following morning, Tom looks into a car window and sees his reflection as Han Solo (Harrison Ford in Star Wars), showing that he feels confident after the preceding night’s events, he then walks past a fountain that goes off as he walks past showing that he is in sync with his surroundings and everything is perfect from his point of view. From this point on, all characters besides Tom are wearing blue, as Summer always does throughout the film, this shows that Tom is in sync with, thinking of and in Summer’s world despite him not fitting in. Once Tom steps into the elevator, he is shown 268 days later in the same elevator with messy hair, a crooked tie and zip up jacket showing that he is no longer as happy, confident or energized. These uses of mise en scene show that Tom and Summer’s lives do not align while also showing Tom’s feelings regarding Summer and his relationship with her.
Use of audio showcases Tom’s feelings throughout the musical scene. While still in Tom’s apartment, Hall and Oates’ ‘You Make My Dreams Come True’ starts playing, this continues as Tom leaves his apartment and walks to work the following morning, this song is known for being upbeat and happy and when accompanied by Tom moving and dancing to the song along with everyone wearing blue it is evident that he is feeling happy, optimistic and confident. Audio is also utilized when Tom swings a baseball bat and a collision sound and applause are heard indicating that he feels accomplished and ‘made a home run’. Use of audio throughout this scene show Tom’s positive feelings in a clear and direct way.
Acting is used to display Tom’s situation and feelings. In the opening of the scene, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in his apartment bathroom, he is talking to his reflection in a quiet tone with raised eyebrows, telling himself reassuring words regarding Summer, this makes it clear to the audience that Tom is nervous about the state of his relationship with Summer and what is to follow. Gordon-Levitt is then shown walking down the street the next morning, he is smiling, maintaining good posture and swaying to the music, he also exchanges cheerful smiles with passing people, all of these things show that Tom is optimistic, confident and ready to have a good day. As he passes the fountain Gordon-Levitt is widely swinging his arms and dancing slightly to the music, he then takes a turn onto a walkway where he is surrounded by other dancing people he happily greets, they then begin a synchronised dance and a marching band joins in playing along to the music before he eventually parts ways, this sequence shows Tom’s abundant happiness and that he is in his own world and Summer is on his mind. Shortly after, he arrives at his workplace, still smiling and standing straight in the elevator, a skip in time is then indicated and Tom is shown in the elevator again with a dishevelled look, loose posture and a blank, tired expression, showing that something bad happened in the time between these events.
Webb’s use of mise en scene, audio, and acting allows the audience to further understand Tom and Summer as well as their feelings and stories. Costume design, music usage, and acting are all cleverly utilized to create an interesting and important scene that seamlessly fits into (500) Days of Summer.
