Day Zero (2007)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Bryan Gunnar Cole

Writers:

Robert Malkani (writer)
Tom Touchet (writer: radio news)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Drafted... 30 Days to Report For Duty. What would you do?

Plot:

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In...

Plot Keywords:

Military Draft | Friendship | Gay Bar | Suicide | Anti War

Cast

Elijah Wood	...	Aaron Feller
Chris Klein	...	George Rifkin
Jon Bernthal	...	James Dixon
Ginnifer Goodwin	...	Molly Rifkin
Elisabeth Moss	...	Patricia
Ally Sheedy	...	Dr. Reynolds
Sofia Vassilieva	...	Mara
John Rothman	...	Rifkin's Father
Daniel Oreskes	...	Gus (as Daniel Orskes)
Tinashe Kajese	...	Rifkin's Secretary
Robert Hogan	...	Senior Partner (as Bob Hogan)
Adam LeFevre	...	Client (as Adam Le Fevre)
Amir Arison	...	Lawyer
Ian Kahn	...	Liberal Man at Party
Jordin Ruderman	...	Liberal Woman at Party (as Jordan Ruderman)

Also Known As:

Día cero (Argentina) (cable TV title) [es]
Mehri tin teleftaia mera (Greece) [el]

MPAA:

Rated R for language, sexual content, some violence and drug use.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Indalo Productions

Movie Connections:

References Joanna's Angels (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

When Johnny Comes Marching Home

Worth Watching

I was left speechless after watching Day Zero, and may have to watch it again to fully grasp the full range of lunacy it presents. The film took me through every emotion I believe I am capable of feeling, from fear and laughter to that sneaking sort of anti-nationalism felt by most Americans today: I love my country, but I hate when its government pulls such ridiculous stunts.

Day Zero poses a very valid question: Is it right for a democratic nation to draft its citizens to fight a war for quote-unquote freedom? The film leaves the question open-ended, but definitely casts its vote in favor of yes. Day Zero reminds us that freedom has never been free, and the time may come again that men and women will have to fight for, in the words of Dixon, "Choice... our way of life." I will now admit my bias toward Elijah Wood. I rented this movie solely to see what my beloved Frodo has been up to. I was horrified that Wood was not only regularly sized, but also indulging in mad fantasies of prostitutes and shaven heads. My disturbedness aside, I must say that his performance was really very excellent. However, I must add that the conclusion of his character's story was less than satisfying, despite the fact that it was logical.

Day Zero is an interesting study of three somewhat bland and normal people caught up in modern political mayhem. It would have been more appropriate in, say, 2003 or 4, while the Bush era was at its height, as were fears of the draft returning. History has now rendered the film largely obsolete. However, mediocre script writing rendered the film obsolete almost immediately. It is worth a watch, definitely, but I firmly believe this film will not have real value until we use it to teach the next generation about this time in our nation.

Day Zero is worth watching precisely because it so accurately captures the spirit of fear and independence present in our nation today. It is not the best movie ever made, but it will do.