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Day Zero
First Look Studios


7.0

based on 5 reviews
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How did we calculate this?

based on 3 votes
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MPAA 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)

GENRE(S):	Drama
WRITTEN BY:	Robert Malkani
DIRECTED BY:	Bryan Gunnar Cole
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 26, 2008 Theatrical: January 18, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	92 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

What's good about the idea is that it triggers the kind of debate we would be having over Iraq if there was a draft. What's bad about it is that the three main characters in Robert Malkani's script - anti-war lawyer George (Chris Klein), gung-ho cab driver Dixon (Jon Bernthal) and sissy novelist Aaron (Elijah Wood) - are not interesting, either as individuals or as three amigos.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The actors -- especially Klein and Bernthal -- deliver startlingly powerful performances.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Its view of the near future may be vaguely plausible and its performances persuasive, but its formulaic construction, internal inconsistencies and fuzzy ending undermine its integrity. It has nothing to say about the big issues -- manhood, war and friendship -- that hasn’t been explored with more depth and honesty in a hundred other movies.

New York Post Kyle Smith

A lukewarm film about what might happen to three New York City friends if the draft were reinstated, proves that even the most controversial of topics can be the basis for the dullest indie films.

Village Voice Ed Gonzalez

With ludicrous gravity and a narrow-minded view of courage and conviction, the film's what-if scenario is presented as a reality check to every ostensibly unimaginative male who's come of age in the draftless years since Vietnam.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 3 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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!

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Day Zero First Look Studios

Day Zero
First Look Studios