As An Acting Contender For An Oscar, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Was easy to overlook.

Especially if you walk a few steps to your Benz, or Bentley; in the shoes of an Academy voter.

This film was directed by someone who came from music video, minus  a self-aggrandizing mouth that some of the other ones have, that came by that same route. His film even looked a bit like a music video, which were the touches that set it above the usual rom-com blather. Paradoxically, that is, while it was being interpreted as lower than formulaic romantic comedies…in that ‘Blink’ decision-making way that powerful Hollywood people may only have time to make. (…To put it nicely.)

I found [500] Days Of Summer unexpectedly fresh, in more than one way.  I thought the style was brand new, looked simplistic; and surprisingly, wound up giving the movie an artistic depth.  The surprise was part of the fun. Deeper fun. The freshness, then, was exponential.

But, it was taken at face value, of the ads. Not seen, or if it was; was misinterpreted as pop, or shallow.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a television actor, prior. He’s gonna have to hit these people over the head, again and again. With his authenticity.

I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that. It’s just gonna take some time.

His acting was so authentic,  that it whacked me over the head when I saw it. Last summer. I’m still wow-ed by what he did with that role.

He is an acting talent.  A natural. A realist.

I don’t give that compliment easily.

Bravo, Joe. You took an acting part that most guys could do just by walking on a set, and being charming. Then, you elevated it to a level that most actors could never do.

I don’t like to compare actors, at all. But I’ll reveal this, only because you didn’t get nominated, as an actor,  and you should have…That movie was written so everyone would look at “The Girl”. She was the love interest, the charisma, the charmer, the object of affection.  And Zooey Deschanel did a fine job, and is charismatic, naturally.

But your quiet, authentic, acting, gave this rom-com emotional truth; seriously elevating it from a simple confection. It made us all become you. Identify, with you.

As an actor, it put all the attention on you. Soul-to-soul.

That’s what emotional truth does, anyway. It gets each and every audience member involved in the story, emotionally.

Thanks for the memories.