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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: First Look Pictures
Salesrank: 36614
Released: February 26, 2008 |
| Our Price: $8.10 |
| Used Price: $0.99 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Three best friends George (Chris Klein) a successful lawyer Dixon (Jon Bernthal) a tough-as-nails cab driver and Feller (Elijah Wood) a writer with a host of insecurities are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage duty love friendship and honor.System Requirements:Running Time: 95 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA/MILITARY & WAR Rating: NR UPC: 687797121691 Manufacturer No: FLP-12169
Day Zero Reviews:
I enjoyed it 
2008-09-15 - I'm no critic, I just go on what I like. I enjoyed watching this. I'm a fan of independent films because they often have more substance to them than blockbuster, hollywood films. This one was enjoyable to watch and still had me thinking about it afterwards.
Ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country
2008-07-07 - Day Zero takes an honest look at what would likely happen if the draft were reinstituted today. With insight from three social tiers, the creators do a good job of displaying how military service - and in large part the world - is viewed by people of different means. Without being too preachy or political, the movie nonetheless delves into a very touchy subject that is sure to spark debate in today's polarized political climate.
Three friends, George Rifkin (Chris Klein) a lawyer; Aaron Feller (Elijah Wood) an author; and James Dixon (Jon Bernthal) a cab driver, are all given their draft notice in the mail on the same day. Each must come to terms with their obligation to serve, as their daily lives, thoughts, and decisions are exposed.
George is from a wealthy family and he has done well for himself. He is obviously opposed to the draft, the war, and whatever takes him away from his oh-so-important life. It's painfully obvious that George feels that the draft is for the less-rich people, and his character is dispicably unlikable from his first utterance. Aaron, the nervous, weakling writer, is nervous from the start, shivering and whimpering like a cold, wet chihuahua. He senses he has no choice, and begins to look into how his dormant lifestyle has ill-prepared him for his future military service. Finally, James is a cab driver, and as a blue-collar worker, he is predictably gung-ho about the potential of future military service. There really is a clear indication of the feeling of entitlement and individuality that accompanies wealth, and a sense of purpose within groups that the poor often gravitate towards.
In 50+ years since WWII, it often times seems the United States has morphed from a country where many associated with JFK's aforementioned famous words, to a land faced with moral, ethical, and social decay. Whereas previous generations raised together through the same hardships engendered a shared feeling of responsibility, some may even say forming a national "family", the absence of that bond has created an odd anti-jingoism. Some of this feeling may be in response to actions perceived as actual jingoism, and some is Hollywood-influenced self-loathing, where it's cool to be anti-establishment and/or aligned with those who have grown to view patriotism as a secondary interest. It's no surprise that many revere previous generations, yet refer to current generations with epithets like "precious snowflakes". It's an indictment of the individualism of this country, where young people are more concerned with self versus the greater, national interests, and the concept of selfless devotion required in something like a victory garden would be met with derision from the apathetic, morbidly obese.
This movie does a good job of raising the questions and concerns related to a reinstated draft. Given the fact that I'm a former soldier, and that I've seen the first-hand usage of conscription in another country - with success and pride, I might add - there is no doubt that I would proudly serve again if called upon, and the questions brought up by this movie only strengthen my resolve to do so.
"DAY ZERO" MOVIE REVIEW BY MICHAEL ELLIANO
2008-03-26 - Though provoking movie on how each of three men respond to a modern day draft. All are friends and have 30 days to report with each having new or different reasons not to want to go and some looking for a way out. This is a tough movie because as a Vet I have little sympathy for dodging a draft. None tried to do that but one thinks of it. Although this movie is very political it stays away from the actual war in Iraq, our government, and the protestors and allows each man to come to his own internal terms with being drafted. You will have something to think about after watching this. Enjoy the movie.
An honest movie 
2008-03-13 - Day zero is a great movie. It is a complex, emotional and yet still honest look at a diverse group of friends and their nuanced reactions to the (hopefully unlikely) consequence of the reinstatement of the draft.
There have been a number of "911 films" made in the last couple of years and, for the most part, they either played the "conspiracy theory" card or the "our brave heros" card. This movie looks at ordinary people, doesn't take a particular political stance, and helped me imagine what it would be like to go through the experience.
I would strongly recommend this movie to just about anyone, with the very minor caveat that it is not a feel-good movie - it is a real look at a very charged situation, so watch it when you are ready to do so, but definately watch it.
Day Zero - Excellent Thought-provoking Film That Deserves A Wide Audience
2008-03-03 - Day Zero
CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!
Despite anything you may have read in any
review..watch this film for yourself. It's worth it.
Day Zero
First off it's beautifully filmed. You would never guess it had such a
low budget. Well thought out shots and camera angles. Excellent use of
close ups of everyone. Their faces tell the story.
It's not entirely about war but about unprepared young men being
blind-sided by being drafted unexpectedly into a war they are unsure
of. Even Jon Bernthal's seemingly gung ho character isn't as sure of
what he wants as he first appears. He has too much heart and love for
other people. He's a genuinely good guy. What will fighting in a real
war and seeing it's horrifying atrocities do to his kind soul? He might
fight and survive but he won't come back the same man. He may have a
load of guilt that he will never be able to shake. Ideals shattered.
Nobility in shreds. His is the most clearly exposed character and has
the most screen time. He's very good. A new DiNero.
Chris Kline also was good and understated but you can see everything he
feels and how torn he his. To leave his cancer survivor wife that he
loves dearly. To abandon his career as a successful lawyer. To fight in
a war he does not believe is right. Or submit to a draft he believes
deprives people of their civil rights and due process of law. A solid
quiet and painful l portrayal.
Then of course Aaron..Elijah. Poor sad outcast Aaron. A person who
cannot even be his own friend. A person self-isolated and despite some
interesting life-experiences (the post grad trip to Malaysia) sadly
naive. He is locked within his own self-destructive psyche. If he
doesn't love and respect himself how can anyone else? Still he has
strong bonds with Bernthal and Kline. They get him. They might tease
him but they understand him and they are his friends and the only ones
who care about him. Elijah is very good. He shows Aaron's pathetic
shock at having his fragile life invaded by that draft notice. He is
completely unprepared for any kind of combat. Why he never considers
getting a psych discharge is surprising. He would have easily gotten
one. I knew a guy almost just like him back during Vietnam who was so
emotionally wrecked that although he braved two weeks of boot camp he
disintegrated so badly the army gladly sent him right home. The army
would have done the same for Aaron, I'm sure! But the poor thing never
sees this. Making us wonder if he truly sees himself clearly at all. He
does have talent as a writer. Something perfectly suited for his loner
psychological make-up. He was NOT a fraud as he thought. He took a folk
tale and enlarged on it for his book. Last time I looked that wasn't a
crime. Authors take such things as inspiration all the time. It was not
fraud. Aaron never sees his strengths. He just loathes himself and then
when it seems Dixon is disgusted with him after that mis-adventure with
the pimp, he really starts to come apart.
The head-shaving is a brilliant dissolving into psychosis scene. His
hair really was buzzed off and he still stayed 100% in character. That
is enormous credit to his professionalism.
When he calls his sister and she just blows him off it is the final
break for him. He can't see that his friends care. That they would help
him if he would let them. He is lost within his own madness. He cannot
see beyond it. His final decision is so sad because he feels he is
vindicating himself and freeing himself. That last smile of his, his
only real smile in the movie, is chilling. And for anyone who has ever
been there and felt anything like that it resonates deeply.
I love how he found this character and made him different from anyone
else he has played. His Depp-titude is becoming more and more apparent.
The little nervous tick of his cheek. The not-quite smiles. His
ineptness around women. ( Best line..."Maybe later." ) His descent into
madness. Elijah has talent in spades.
The supporting cast is all very good too. I love the young blonde
girl,Sofia Vassilieva, who loves Dixon. She just breaks my heart. An
actress to watch, I'm sure we'll see lots more of her. His older
girlfriend,Elisabeth Moss, is good, too. Ginnifer Goodwin is pretty
good but perhaps not quite the best.
All this comes down to why this wonderful, intelligent film got the
cold shoulder. Well of course it's never been PC to even appear
anti-war. But the thing is that's not really what this movie is about.
It's about how war effects different types of people and how they deal
with it. It doesn't tell you what to do it just makes you think what
you MIGHT do in the same situation.
What one thought did I take away primarily? War demolishes lives. Rich, poor, here, there.... it touches everyone to the core and no one remains the same.
It's a good film that deserves a wide audience. I hope very much it picks up on DVD and TV the interest it should have.
