The Mumblecore Thread: Swanberg, Bujalski, Duplass, Katz, etc.
#1
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The Mumblecore Thread: Swanberg, Bujalski, Duplass, Katz, etc.
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Article: "A Generation Finds Its Mumble"
From Wikipedia: "Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose in the mid-2000's. It is primarily characterized by ultra-low budget production (often employing digital video cameras), focus on personal relationships between twenty-somethings, improvised scripts, and non-professional actors. Filmmakers in this genre include Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz and Joe Swanberg."
Relevant titles: IMDB Links
Hannah Takes the Stairs
Quiet City
Funny Ha Ha
LOL
The Puffy Chair
I've also heard it used to describe movies like Me and You and Everyone We Know, Reign Over Me, and even Cloverfield.
I write this because this weekend I saw Quiet City which is basically Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise done on a micro-budget and in New York City. It is, at times, irritatingly "indie" slow (like, say, Gerry or Brown Bunny). I say this not because I found it irritating, but I could see how others find it irritating. (Quiet City comes out on a "highly recommended" DVD in a couple of weeks.
So, has anyone seen any of the other movies? What do you make of all this?
*(Pic not relevant)
Article: "A Generation Finds Its Mumble"
From Wikipedia: "Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose in the mid-2000's. It is primarily characterized by ultra-low budget production (often employing digital video cameras), focus on personal relationships between twenty-somethings, improvised scripts, and non-professional actors. Filmmakers in this genre include Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz and Joe Swanberg."
Relevant titles: IMDB Links
Hannah Takes the Stairs
Quiet City
Funny Ha Ha
LOL
The Puffy Chair
I've also heard it used to describe movies like Me and You and Everyone We Know, Reign Over Me, and even Cloverfield.
I write this because this weekend I saw Quiet City which is basically Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise done on a micro-budget and in New York City. It is, at times, irritatingly "indie" slow (like, say, Gerry or Brown Bunny). I say this not because I found it irritating, but I could see how others find it irritating. (Quiet City comes out on a "highly recommended" DVD in a couple of weeks.
So, has anyone seen any of the other movies? What do you make of all this?
*(Pic not relevant)
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The Bus, thanks for pointing out that article which I hadn't previously read. I found it interesting, but I don't much hold with the notion that there's a "mumblecore" movement afoot, or at least not in any meaningful way beyond a shorthand marketing tool (I hope). I've seen most of the films that could be shoehorned into this category (I also wrote the review of Quiet City you referenced) and I can say that the good ones should be remembered long after this term "mumblecore" is passe. The real threat is that a lot of bad imitations will arise and the whole lot, good and bad, will be written off as a dead-end fad. This would be unfortunate because I think the good films here have appeal well beyond some narrow hipster target market. In any event, "mumblecore" will not be entering my film lexicon.
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Originally Posted by Yakuza Bengoshi
The Bus, thanks for pointing out that article which I hadn't previously read. I found it interesting, but I don't much hold with the notion that there's a "mumblecore" movement afoot, or at least not in any meaningful way beyond a shorthand marketing tool (I hope). I've seen most of the films that could be shoehorned into this category (I also wrote the review of Quiet City you referenced) and I can say that the good ones should be remembered long after this term "mumblecore" is passe. The real threat is that a lot of bad imitations will arise and the whole lot, good and bad, will be written off as a dead-end fad. This would be unfortunate because I think the good films here have appeal well beyond some narrow hipster target market. In any event, "mumblecore" will not be entering my film lexicon.
Have you seen Hannah?
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Originally Posted by The Bus
Have you seen Hannah?
#5
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Originally Posted by The Bus
Have you seen Hannah?
I now also get why Cloverfield was called "mumblecore"... I've said it before and I'll repeat it now: even if the monster never showed up, I would've still liked the movie.