We Need to Talk... Comprehensive Mumblecore

By: Blasphe​mer

Imagine high school kids watching the films of Whit Stillman, Noah Baumbach and Richard Linklater, perhaps even John Cassavetes, Ingmar Bergman and Eric Rohmer, who then go home and attempt to make films like these on their own, with their friends, in their basements and in their showers. The result: “Mumblecore.” The kids: Andrew Bujalski, (the often nauseating) Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz, Lynn Shelton, Joe Swanberg, Greta Gerwig (who seems equally comfortable acting in the nude or fully-clothed, I’ll give her that) and others… These films are interesting in that their focus is often on the subtle interactions between people in uncomfortable situations, where body language, facial expression, furtive glances and secret smiles, etc. reveal much more than what is said or not said. But what is lacking in most of these films is an emotional depth, a richness of story and characters that better actors, writers and directors can bring to a film. It’s not easy, there are not many filmmakers like Cassavetes or Bergman running around today. In the end, the films of the American “Mumblecore” movement feel like an immature homage, high school kids mimicking their heroes, sincere yet amateur. Perhaps this is wherein their charm lies. Like watching a high school play, glimpses of insight occasionally break through, engendered by the sheer innocence and enthusiasm of youth, even though the richness and texture of the masters is missing, ultimately rendering the films somewhat sparse and unsatisfying… The most polished “Mumblecore” films to date are probably Bujalski’s ‘Beeswax’ and the Duplass brothers’ ‘Cyrus’. You might want to start with one of these films if you’re new to “Mumblecore.”

(p.s. Even though they are German, I include a couple of Maren Ade films for good measure…)

• 01
  Slacker
  Richard Linklater
• 02
  Funny Ha Ha
  Andrew Bujalski
• 03
  Kissing on the Mouth
  Joe Swanberg
• 04
  The Puffy Chair
  Jay Duplass
• 05
  Mutual Appreciation
  Andrew Bujalski
• 06
  LOL
  Joe Swanberg
• 07
  Dance Party, USA
  Aaron Katz
• 08
  Hannah Takes the Stairs
  Joe Swanberg
• 09
  Quiet City
  Aaron Katz
• 10
  In Search of a Midnight Kiss
  Alex Holdridge
• 11
  Team Picture
  Kentucker Audley
• 12
  Baghead
  Jay Duplass
• 13
  Nights and Weekends
  Greta Gerwig
• 14
  Medicine for Melancholy
  Barry Jenkins
• 15
  Alexander the Last
  Joe Swanberg
• 16
  Humpday
  Lynn Shelton
• 17
  Beeswax
  Andrew Bujalski
• 18
  Daddy Longlegs
  Ben Safdie
• 19
  You Wont Miss Me
  Ry Russo-Young
• 20
  Cold Weather
  Aaron Katz
• 21
  Bass Ackwards
  Linas Phillips
• 22
  Cyrus
  Jay Duplass
• 23
  Yeast
  Mary Bronstein
• 24
  Frownland
  Ronald Bronstein
• 25
  Tiny Furniture
  Lena Dunham
• 26
  The Pleasure of Being Robbed
  Joshua Safdie
• 27
  Damsels in Distress
  Whit Stillman
• 28
  Jeff, Who Lives at Home
  Jay Duplass
• 29
  Your Sister's Sister
  Lynn Shelton
• 30
  Safety Not Guaranteed
  Colin Trevorrow
• 31
  The GoodTimesKid
  Azazel Jacobs
• 32
  Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench
  Damien Chazelle
• 33
  Luke and Brie Are on a First Date
  Chad Hartigan
• 34
  Registered Sex Offender
  Bob Byington
• 35
  Silver Bullets
  Joe Swanberg
• 36
  Harmony and Me
  Bob Byington
• 37
  My Effortless Brilliance
  Lynn Shelton
• 38
  Uncle Kent
  Joe Swanberg
• 39
  Wah Do Dem
  Sam Fleischner
• 40
  Lovers of Hate
  Bryan Poyser
• 41
  Everyone Else
  Maren Ade
• 42
  The Forest for the Trees
  Maren Ade
• 43
  The Freebie
  Katie Aselton
• 44
  The Color Wheel
  Alex Ross Perry