Five Star Day

A movie that gently brushes against the concept of astrology and how it impacts lives, Five Star Day from 2010, directed by Danny Buday, features Cam Gigandet, Guy Herbert, and Will Yun Lee in significant roles. Starring Gigandet as Jake Gibson, this film is a delightful exploration of character-based narratives and a subtle examination of the coincidences that shape our lives. With a runtime of approximately 97 minutes, and shot across locations in Berkeley, California and Illinois, the film showcases an enjoyable intersection of drama and romance.

The story finds its very core in the simple yet intriguing belief in astrology. Gigandet's character is an individual who is absorbed by the idea that our lives are influenced by celestial activities. As Jake Gibson, a man finishing his last semester at Berkeley, he wakes up on what his horoscope forecasts to be a 'five star day', only to have everything go wrong. From losing his job to finding his longtime girlfriend in bed with another man, Jake's so-called 'lucky day' is anything but lucky. Ironically, though he doesn't believe in Astrology, he finds his life tinged with the promises and pitfalls that the study promises.

Hungry for his findings to prove the theory wrong, the disillusioned Jake embarks on an impromptu journey to find three other individuals - Sarah Reynolds (Brooklyn Sudano), a struggling singer-songwriter, Yvette Montgomery (Jena Malone), a bartender, and Wesley Henderson (Max Hartman), a pastor in Chicago - who share his birthday and, therefore, the same 'five star day'. With a heartwarming mingling of drama, humor, and romance, the spark in the narrative occurs when these strangers cross paths in the most serendipitous of ways.

Acting fronting the narrative, Cam Gigandet's performance as Jake Gibson is outstanding. With a combination of charisma and intensity, he convincingly portrays a man seeking to debunk beliefs about astrology while simultaneously exploring what makes each individual unique. His encounters with Yvette, Sarah, and Wesley force Jake to contemplate and cast doubts on his own perceptions of himself and the world around him.

Will Yun Lee as Dr. Young adds a certain academia to the film, playing the professor who advises Jake on his journey. Sarah (Sudano), Yvette (Malone), and Wesley (Hartman) add depth and a good dose of dynamism to the storyline, with their lives reflecting diverse perspectives of the human existence.

Five Star Day stands strong in the department of cinematography as well. It captures exquisite landscapes across the USA in the most creative and appealing ways. The nuanced storytelling combined with picturesque visuals delivers an impactful movie-watching experience.

But Five Star Day isn't all about astrology or romance; it is about more than that. The movie encourages audiences to ask what guides our lives. Is it celestial bodies or our choices? It also doubles down on accepting that life doesn't always go as planned, making one wonder if life is a matter of destiny or if it’s just a series of random, unrelated events. In portraying the intermingling lives of four strangers bound by a birthday, Buday invites the viewers into an exploration towards a better understanding of fate, identity, and the human condition.

The musical score, laden with emotional and evocative tones, heightens the dramatic tension and perfectly complements different sequences of the film, while the editing effectively navigates attention between the parallel subplots without losing coherence.

In conclusion, Five Star Day is a well-crafted movie that deftly explores an age-old debate on astrology in a fresh context. It is a heartfelt story of four strangers whose paths cross under intriguing circumstances. Through the lens of astrology, the movie presents a compelling narrative, taking us on a journey into the unpredictable, where life unfolds with radiant surprises and unanticipated developments. A star-studded cast, scintillating script, and expert direction make Five Star Day a movie worth adding to your must-watch list.