Day Zero

Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Robert Malkani

Directed by: Bryan Gunnar Cole

Release Date:
Theatrical: January 18, 2008
DVD: February 26, 2008

Running Time: 92 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for language, sexual content, some violence and drug use

Starring Chris Klein, Jon Bernthal, Elijah Wood, Ginnifer Goodwin, Elisabeth Moss, Ally Sheedy, Sofia Vassilieva, and Zoe Lister Jones

Day Zero is a timely political and personal story of three young men as the military draft is reinstated. Three best friends, George a successful lawyer, Dixon a tough-as-nails cab driver, and Feller 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. (First Look Studios)

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What The Critics Said

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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 6.6 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Whitney B. gave it a10:
I loved this film, but it is a slow-moving, psychological drama. If you're looking for a quick thriller, this isn't for you. All three of the main characters are portrayed exceedingly well, with the outcomes seeming the only sensible ones for the developing story. I loved the camerawork, the relationships, and Elijah Wood was amazing.

Stephen H. gave it a2:
This script plays like a made for cable TV drama with gutless screen writing that uses vainly formulaic gears to tweak the viewers emotions. it's like a swiss clock constructed by an apprentice who's only got 1 year in the shop. It doesn't work. Character development is so weak that it leads to boredom from the first minute. Another Indie film that dares to dream but delivers an wholly amateurish experience. Avoid this one and avoid a bad rental.

Chad S. gave it a7:
Stop me if you've heard this one before. A lawyer, a writer, and a cab driver walk into a bar to booze and bandy about the ongoing war. They're out-of-touch old friends who get-in-touch after all three men receive their draft notices. It won't be the last time they meet like this; lubricated, and in each other's grill, mano-a-mano, sparring about patriotism from a perspective determined by money and experience. Chances are, you haven't heard this one before. War is something our fathers, or our fathers' fathers partaked in. My generation had the choice to sit war out. My generation got a free ride is the prevailing message being telegraphed in "Day Zero", a nifty piece of alternative history that reimagines 9/11 as only the prelude to our war on terror. There's a second levelling, Los Angeles, and in reimagined America, rich men and poor men alike, as old as 35(yikes!), are called upon to fight against their will and better judgement. To be fair, each man regardless of his profile, are equally scared, equally flawed; no man is portrayed as John Wayne in "The Green Berets"; no man is burning to be relegated to bunkers and foxholes. But some people may find the movie's somewhat misguided agenda to canonize George(Chris Klein), a lawyer, of all people, a hero; while Feller(Elijah Wood), a writer, is saddled with the ignonimity of being a coward(not a conscientious objector, mind you, but a balls out-coward). Meanwhile, Dixon(Jon Bernthal), a cab driver, an everyman, who is neither a breadwinner nor an artist, acts as our eyes and ears, our judge and jury, as he performs the job of cornering the market on fair play. But George's awakening is of his own making. All of a sudden, he wants to be Ron Kovacs. In this sense, "Day Zero" is like the breech baby version of "Born on the Fourth of July".

Jay H. gave it a5:
A very promising film idea is given a very disappointing treatment. The filmmakers only scratch the surface of the characters and they are poorly developed. The acting isn't bad though and it has some good production values.

Chad C. gave it a9:
The "professional" reviews of this film are a travesty. No it's not a perfect film but what is? Don't tell the audience I saw this film with that it's anything other than amazing. Great performances, very thought provoking, timely, and highly recommended!