Day Zero – DVD Review

It was something that everyone talked about after the attacks on September 11. People were running all over the place to try and figure out what was going on, but at the same time they were worrying about other things too. Was war coming to our country? Would there be tanks and huge weapons lining the streets on which we drive and walk to work everyday? There’s no way that the country has enough troops right now to cover all the necessary bases in order to keep the people of America safe. Well, there could be a resolution if the lack of troops ever became a huge problem. Reinstating the draft.

Terrorism is at all new levels and is threatening the mere way of life in the United States. Our troops just don’t have the manpower or energy to continue fighting each and every day to keep the battles off American soil. With no other choice, the United States government has brought back the draft and will start handing out war cards for men and women to report. Included with all those receiving the cards are three friends that must make a very serious choice about their futures.

George, James, and Aaron are three good friends that were lucky, or unlucky enough, to receive their draft report cards. George is a senator’s son that is a successful lawyer and has a family. He is strongly against the war and wanted no part of it whatsoever. James is a take it as it comes cab driver that is willing to do whatever it takes to defend his country. He has an attitude and cockiness about him though that could end up being his downfall. Last we have Aaron who is a writer and just has no idea what to think about all of this. He is nervous, scared, and just confused as to what exactly is going on in his life now. The three friends now have thirty days to report and must make some choices by looking deep inside themselves and figure out what is right for them.

Day Zero is one of those films that you can look at from two perspectives. First, you can take it from a negative view and say to yourself that the draft will never come back so it’s pointless. Those that take that view though will soon start finding reasons why they couldn’t be drafted. Oh my knees are bad or my eyesight is poor so they wouldn’t take me. The second view is that you can look at it and place yourself in the shoes of James, George, or Aaron. If you were given a report card and told you had to be in the service in thirty days, what would you do? Would you spend all your time with your loved ones? Would you do all the things you always wanted to do in case you don’t come back? Would you find a way out of it and go hide in another country? So many questions that may never be answered.

Day Zero does a good job of instilling the fear and confusion that could come to America if the draft was reinstated. Each one of the friends has their own reasons for going and their own reasons for staying, but it’s just trying to determine between the two which would be the better choice. Still, the film never gives me a sense of fear or even really the chills and goose bumps that United 93 or World Trade Center did. Even The Journalist And The Jihadi: The Murder Of Daniel Pearl made me have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that made it all so real to me. Day Zero just fails to make me look at it as anymore then a film and not something that could truly happen. Perhaps it’s not being able to ever take Chris Klein seriously in anything he ever does.

The film is shown in 1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen format and just looks awful most of the time. It is obviously intentional considering the mood of the film and the filmmakers wanting to capture that mood in the way it is presented, but the graininess and color leakage makes it look like it was edited on Windows Media Player.

The film is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and heard quite well throughout the duration. All dialogue comes through clearly and what little emphasis there is on music is fine too.

Theatrical Trailer

Trailers – King Of California, The Amateurs, Sex And Breakfast, The Contract, Broken, Guy X, Strays, and Paris Je’Taime

Elijah Wood is probably the best thing you’re going to find in Day Zero, and it is because his acting ability is leaps and bounds above all others involved. He actually made me feel like he was going to head out to the frontlines and have to go from holding a pen to holding a rifle. The rest of the cast just makes their characters and the whole storyline unbelievable and even annoying at times. The plot is an excellent one because it begs to ask the question, “What would someone do if the draft really did come back into effect?” It’s just a shame that it was showcased in a film plagued with half-act actors and a director that could never quite get his view across. Maybe in his mind it worked, but on screen it didn’t. A handful of trailers and the theatrical trailer are all the special features given, although I would have enjoyed an interview or behind the scenes segment having the cast give their thoughts on how they’d deal with the situations in real life. Nope, we get nada. Maybe make a rental of it one day, but even that isn’t really recommended.

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First Look Studios presents Day Zero. Directed by: Bryan Gunnar Cole. Starring: Elijah Wood, Jon Bernthal, Chris Klein, Ginnifer Goodwin. Written by: Robert Malkani. Running time: 93 minutes. Rating: R. Released on DVD: February 26, 2008. Available at Amazon.com