As someone who lives in NY, I liked it. Mutual Appreciation does not have a strong plot but the film is enjoyable as a presentation of a series of awkward situations. I liked its low-key aspects: the simple ‘sets’, acting that borders on non-acting and the dialogue that does not try to be profound or dramatic. I am not sure how far this ‘genre’ can be pushed before it becomes tiresome but I enjoyed this particular film. Fans of Henry Jaglom and La Maman at la Putain would also appreciate it…
I enjoyed it as well. I caught “Funny Ha Ha” on television and figured I’d give it a minute before my disgust made me bounce out. I had only heard about “Mumble this” and “Mumble that”, so I was reluctant, to say the least. I stayed through to the end. Later, “Mutual Appreciation” was another pleasant surprise. Bujalski catches his characters at a specific point in their lives, and he lets them go. They make u-turns, backups and awkward attempts to parallel park beside an equally unsure partner. It’s like they’re stilling learning the rules of the road. I’m not twenty-seven, so I can’t speak to how this does or doesn’t reflect your generation. I’ll leave it to you others who are to work that out.
As a identifying trend, I can’t say anything about “mumblecore” as I’ve only seen Bujalski’s two and Ronny Bronstein’s “Frownland”, which I recommend. Anyone names a film after a Captain Beefheart song- I’m so there. I’ve been hearing good things about the Safdie brothers upcoming “Go Get Some Rosemary”, so that may be something else to see.
I also want to say that I applaud Bujalski (and Brownstein) for their 16mm aesthetic. With digital chamber dramas abounding, they’re standing tough.
Willi Patton
I know there are other threads, but it seemed to be full of people just hating “mumblecore.” I think that term is unfortunate and though I’ve only seen one of the films in question, I can already see it’s a catch-all and a cynical one at that. I mean it is kind of funny. They did certainly have trouble spitting anything out in Mutual Appreciation. There are not many people I know that aren’t pre-disposed to dislike something as silly as the term "mumblecore’ seems to suggest. I found it a relief that most of the filmmakers reject the term. Anyway, I digress…
I decided to watch some of these films after I read David Denby’s article in The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/cinema/2009/03/16/090316crci_cinema_denby
Mutual Appreciation is the first one I got around to.
First of all let me say that I am 27 years old, I live in Brooklyn, I went to film school and aspire to make films, and I work a boring job that is only slightly related to what I studied and want to do and it frustrates me. In other words, from reading many of the reviews and descriptions of this film, I’m supposed to see myself and my peers in it. Well, I don’t. It really didn’t appeal to me at all, and I say that while having respect for it and the filmmaker. I’m glad it exist. It’s impressive on many levels, but I just wasn’t pulled into it. Also, I suspect that the “mumbling” and difficulty to communicate that the film seems to take on as its subject is more a consequence of the production than a style. Meaning, I think they were a little camera shy.
I’m curious to hear what people have to say about it. I have seen comparisons to Stranger Than Paradise, which is one of my favorites as well as Woody Allen and Rohmer. What do you guys think?