| DAY ZERO |
 2007 - USADirector: Bryan Gunner Cole
- Reviewed by Jennifer
Aaron (Elijah Wood) is a young writer working to finish his first novel. He's the shy type who lives alone, keeps to himself, and pays frequent visits to his psychiatrist (Ally Sheedy). The thought of joining the military puts him into an immediate tailspin. He's short and slight, and looking in the mirror, he observes that he's both skinny and fat. Physically he's in no condition to go into combat, and he wonders if the other soldiers will even like him. If they don't, will they let him die first? George (Chris Klein) has just made partner at his law firm, and his wife (Ginnifer Goodwin) has just reached the five year milestone after a bout with cancer. Without the draft notice, the life they've worked for and dreamed about lays right in front of them. How can this be happening? Only James (Jon Bernthal), a single taxi driver, seems inclined to answer his call to duty without putting up a fuss. It is, after all, the right thing to do, and what could be more honorable than fighting for one's country? Despite his gallant attitude, he begins to have second thoughts when he falls in love with a young woman named Patricia (Elisabeth Moss). Suddenly it seems that there's an awful lot to stay home for. The movie takes place over the 30 days between the receipt of the draft notices and reporting for duty. During that time, these young men and their loved ones experience a wide range of emotions, and each struggles to come to terms with the blow they've been dealt. Aaron makes a list of things he wants to do before he dies. George entertains various excuses—cutting off his fingers, fabricating a gay lifestyle, and pulling favors with a family friend. And for the most part, James roils in private. All three men are of the mind that they would most certainly step up and fight if their homes or their country were in immediate danger. However, invading a foreign country to impart democracy doesn't quite inspire the same feelings of self-protection and patriotism. And if the citizens of a country don't feel compelled to participate in a war, is it really a war worth having? Is anything crucial really at stake, or are we just throwing our young people to the wolves? The film raises plenty of important questions as we wait to see what will become of our three protagonists. The conclusion is appropriately wrenching and shocking, and illustrates the real-life impact of the draft. It's not much fun as entertainment, but for a generation that has never seriously had to weigh these issues, it does serve as something of a wake-up call. |
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Anyone under the age of 35 has no idea what it was like to live in a time when the draft was alive and well, but these are exactly the people who would be affected if the draft were reinstated. Imagine pausing in your daily routine to pick up the mail and finding that your number is up. Suddenly whatever you were doing and whatever you planned to do is irrelevant. You've got 30 days to report for duty or face serious consequences—what do you do? This is exactly the question posed by Day Zero when three young men unexpectedly get their notices.
