Reviews of Beeswax
Displaying all 2 reviews
Jeff Finley
29Nov09
I went to see Beeswax, the new film from Andrew Bujalski. It finally made its way to Cleveland and premiered tonight, and I’d been itching to see it. People have been calling it Bujalski’s breakthrough movie. I could agree with that, but I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.
I gave his previous two films Funny Ha Ha and Mutual Appreciate 5/5 stars and I loved them because they were so refreshing and honest. I hadn’t seen anything like that and it really moved me and turned me on the rest of the “mumblecore” folks like Joe Swanberg, Mark Duplass, Greta Gerwig, etc. 3 years later, I am sitting watching Beeswax in a theatre trying to love Beeswax, but something just wasn’t there. Sure, this film has more “story” than others and the quality is better even though it’s still got his trademark grainy “diy” look to it. Critics are saying its his best feature, and I think they’re right but I didn’t walk away with any sort of warm and fuzzy feelings.
In my opinion, Beeswax has TOO much story in it. It kind of spreads itself thin as it meanders around the various characters who come and go. There are some cute scenes but the story is thinly draped around the girls vintage clothing store business and how her business partner is threatening to leave the company and maybe sue her. In the mountains of great dialogue in this film, nobody really seems to ask or care “why” she might be suing her. They never get into any of those details. It’s more like “awe shucks, I’m kinda screwed.” The characters have conversations, but in typical mumblecore style, they dance around the details and can’t quite grasp their own thoughts let alone speak them. They often seem oddly confused or distracted. I am willing to say that’s the way Bujalski wanted his characters. From what I’ve read it’s about how our generation sort of fails at adulthood. That sums up this film if you ask me. I’m cool with that.
Andrew’s films have a soft spot and have heart. Which I love. Beeswax certainly did – as I’m still a fan of the unhip characters and their awkward relationships. The characters are real and honest – it doesn’t appear to be like Hollywood latching onto a Michael Cera type to be the nerdy underdog hero. For that, I will always appreciate Andrew Bujalski. My wife, who watched it with me couldn’t help being annoyed at the girls’ messed up hair. She said the same thing in Funny Ha Ha. Those are things I dig.
Anyway, I give Beeswax a happy 4/5. I liked it. But I just can’t say I loved it. Although in principle I love it. I love how there’s no soundtrack, no special effects, no tricks. It’s the opposite of NYC Hipster Art films. But I wish that his characters/films had a little more bite and emotion. Just a smidge more. Let it out Andrew! There’s a lot of depth to the characters, I just want to get more of it.
http://www.jefffinley.org/blog-opinion/film-reviews-opinion-commentary/andrew-bujalskis-beeswax/
- Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Lucas Granero
17Jul09
La espontaneidad que se genera en cada uno de las escenas de “Beeswax” es una buena muestra de la capacidad que tiene Bujalski para crear peliculas invisibles, donde no parece haber ningun tipo de representación ni tampoco algo planeado, sino mas bien una sensación de espontaneidad que brinda naturalidad a sus peliculas. Bujalski parece no forzar nada y si su cámara se exhibe mas de lo habitual, este acto no resulta incómodo, sino que termina poniendose del lado de sus personajes a los que mira de cerca, siempre acompañándolos. Es un técnica que fue ajustando de pelicula a pelicula y es en “Beeswax” donde finalmente parece haber encontrado su punto ideal.
Se sabe que en sus peliculas el centro de atención son los personajes que las pueblan. Jóvenes que no quieren ser captados como adultos y adultos que reniegan de su posición con respecto a esa mala palabra llamada “madurez”, se trata de personajes siempre en posiciones incómodas, no en terminos de acciones, sino mas bien de estado. En “Beeswax” es la relación entre dos hermanas lo que le sirve de disparador al director para mostrar una historia tan sencilla, pero a la vez de matices tan complejos, que termina generando una extraña empatia con el espectador, quien siempre está esperando el momento de que algo suceda en torno a esas vidas, pero Bujlaski, que bien sabe de lineas rectas, hace que lo minimo sea lo predominante en su cine y son esas nimiedadas (un dialogo, una mirada, una sesion de fotos en el campo) las que terminan siendo importantes, los pilares de un universo reconocible, cercano, que Bujalski va hilando hasta que una historia se reconoce. Su artesania (su magia, por qué no decirlo) estriba en la forma en la cual gesta su cine: de la nada, esperando los momentos. El cine de Bujlaski es un cine paciente.
“Beeswax” entonces se presenta como su obra maestra, una gema de la cotidianeidad inestable en torno a la cuestión de la madurez, de las relaciones, del amor, de la familia, de la simpatia, del orgullo, de los amigos, de la fidelidad. Muchas cosas para tan pequeña tarea.-
- Currently 4.0/5 Stars.