Mutual Appreciation

source: Mutual Appreciation

Without condemning the whole mumblecore movement, I think I sympathise more with its critics than its fans. The films certainly convey relationships between their characters realistically, and there are some scenes in each mumblecore film I've seen which I could almost recognise for myself, but I'm always overwhelmed by this slightly smug self-awareness that pervades many artists working under the 'indie' banner. It is easy to believe that the makers of these films are very similar to their characters – young, confused, directionless – but the fact that the focus most often falls on the progeny of the last bourgeois generation takes away the integrity of this gritty, frugal filming style. Mutual Appreciation is as much a milestone of indie film-making as it is a victim of its own pretences. The observer paradox seems to pervade much of the dialogue, much of which feels calculatingly awkward – it is easy to distinguish between the improvised lines and premeditated lines. Having said that, I was struck by one scene where Alan is besieged by with women at a 'party' he wasn't certain about going to in the first place, and is eventually convinced to don a dress and make-up. Here it seems the actors were given the most room to ad-lib, and it's a brilliant piece of footage which seems to speak to the majority of young adults and their issues with projecting identity.

Genuinely funny and humane, plus music that rings true as a bonus. It might change what you think is possible from American indies right now. Here's an excerpt from Mahnola Dargis' NY Times review of the film: "It's the sort of unassuming discovery that could get lost in a crowd or suffer from too much big love, and while it won't save or change your life, it may make your heart swell. Its aim is modest and true." And another excerpt from Owen Glieberman's Entertainment Weekly review: "If this is the sound of a new generation, then it may be the first generation cautious enough to embrace friendship as mightier than love."

I saw Mutual Appreciation on the bottom row of a 'new release' section of a movie shop and it caught my eye. I usually am a sucker for movies that are deeper than the average celluloid we are bombarded with. I didn't have a great expectation for the movie, which turned out to be great. The dialog isn't deep. And it isn't meant to be. It's very real to life. The colours and positioning really captured the essence of the movie: bleak and monotonous. I did like it for the fact I felt that I could relate to more than one character, and the characters were realistic and likable. I've read previous remarks, and I suppose the only advice I can give is to watch the movie without expectations and with a open mind. On reflection, try and see if you can relate some of the central themes to your life and you will be pleasantly surprised. As a 16 year old that is trying to find movies that break the conventional mould, I found this refreshing and it made me hopeful for some reason. I will definitely be checking out Funny Ha Ha.

I sincerely hope I am wrong about my conclusion. I would like to be the one who leaves a sliver of a chance that it's not so. However, every time I go back to this film, seen recently, I seem to gravitate inevitably to my initial belief: that those in the know (film critics, et. al.) and I watched completely disparate movies. Which happens to lead me into a postulate I've come to accept as true: never trust critics, especially when the praise for a film, ranging from "under-the-radar" to the most blatant exercise in commercial grandeur, is unanimous in establishing how much of a must-see it is. It's as if they -- the Ones who are responsible for grading these films -- and the director, producer, and/or anyone involved in the making of such a movie decided to promote the crap out of this despite its clear flaws. And that's all right. It happens all the time. Fashion is dictated by such means; it has to be in order for certain styles to be executed. That's why suddenly, for the past year or two, turquoise and coffee brown have shown up in showrooms ranging from designer labels to Pier One Imports and/or even IKEA. Such things don't happen randomly. Such is the case with this movie by Andrew Bujalski. I had read the near perfect praise for it last fall and was impressed by what was being written about it. I decided, maybe this little film is something that I could catch, and I always gravitate towards the unpredictable before succumbing to the latest blockbuster or overblown, Oscar-ready drama. So I take a chance on it, am genuinely impressed by its look, reminiscent of the style of films from the early Sixties -- Eric Rohmer immediately came to mind, then John Cassavetes who in the Seventies did groundbreaking work with little artificiality. The grainy black and white drew me in as well as the natural, "unscripted" dialog. However, the more I saw it, the less I felt I was watching anything that really merited its viewing. The endless talk, the planned cleverness (I could be wrong but this is what I surmised) of every scene... the fact that this seemed to be an imitation of a type of film-making that has been out of style for years now... that did me in. When a story -- or a lack of a story -- becomes so cloying that there is nowhere for it to go but out, something has to be done. I think that this is the type of film that is best appreciated by film students who can take in the concept of cinema for the sake of it -- images just there, unpolished -- and enjoy its bare existence. It's really the only audience whom I can see this being aimed to, although needless to say there are people who will go nuts for this type of film which is really an experiment more than an experience. I just am not that kind of person.

I don't know why people insists on labeling things (films, albums, etc.) like this. Can't we just like or not like a movie? I really enjoyed Mutual Appreciation. If I had to judge it for its allegiance to my generation - which is zero, by the way - then I probably would find it lacking in many respects. but that is not why i rented it. I loved the shooting, the editing & the acting. i thought the acting was great and natural with a touch of arrogance which went with its characters. great job! fun stuff.

Bring a pillow, a receptacle for excrement so you needn't stir, sign your will, and take your nemesis on a dream date. Under acted, entirely improvised on the fly dialog. and mise-en-scene that leaves the camera unattended explores the boring spontaneous utterances of undergrads trying to make a really deep art film by saying a lot of "Like" and "So I go..." or "So I''m like..." . If they'd been black the most common utterance would've been repetitive "y'know what I'm saying ?" Oh... and it's poorly filmed ...B&W. Sound guys did workmanlike work. I hate this pretentious crap and was pleased I could turn it off. If at a cinema I would've assaulted a crippled ticket kiosk on my way out after 30'.

At times, this picture feels like a slimmed down Jean Eustache film or an extremely modest variation of Francois Truffaut's ''Jules et Jim." You're forced to wonder what more money or a bigger vision might have produced. While it's true that the characters here have slim ambitions, you consequently have to wonder -- even while remaining devoted to his uncannily subtle skill with character -- what else Bujalski has up his sleeve. A panning shot, perhaps? ''Mutual Appreciation" is his first New York film (''Funny Ha Ha" was set in Allston), and the world he's captured is true to Alan's hipster dreams and indie-rock goals. The character's emotional dial is set on ''emo," which means he lacks the social constitution to articulate himself. He's passive, aimless, and occasionally narcissistic. See Alan unhook himself from Sara (Seung-Min Lee), a cute radio DJ, without it costing him her brother, who's his temporary drummer. And watch as he carries on a flirtation with Ellie, who's also attracted to him. Her emotional intelligence, however, is superior. The women in ''Mutual Appreciation" are confident and direct. The men can be exasperatingly meek. ''Funny Ha Ha" was about a stalled 20-something and her romantic entanglements. (The woman who played her, Kate Dollenmayer, has a too-small part here.) ''Mutual Appreciation" is the second chapter in what seems like Bujalski's statement about people trying to find the right words as they move toward adulthood and negotiating their fears of commitment of any kind -- to a job, a person, or a complete thought. He could have called this movie ''A Tentative Yes." Of course, that title should do nothing to stop you from making an absolute commitment to see this film. Wesley Morris

This film is total zero (nula, nada...): no story, no (sensible) dialogs (concentrate on dialogs just for a try!), no acting (just ever smiling Alan), no action, no nothing... Some directors can tell an interesting story in the usual 90 minutes, while Andrew Bujalski spends 110 minutes to tell you ... nothing. The film looks as if it was made by a group of high school students after they had got their first movie camera. Get a group of students and let them make shots of their ordinary life – and I am sure that such a film would be better than Mutual Appreciation. Maybe some people like such films – but then these films should be described and labeled as such - this film is NOT a comedy - this film is boredom (or should we call it "boredy"?), so that those who don't like it can avoid it on time. And before declaring this film a masterpiece, let me remind you on the Andersen's story about the emperor's new clothes. I don't like Hollywood's unreal, highly sophisticated, artificial films full of action, shooting, special effects, etc. I see that this film has gone into the totally opposite direction (maybe even as a protest against Hollywood junk) – but it went too far; I suppose the state somewhere in the middle would be just right. In short: unless you are doing a survey on the most boring films - avoid Mutual Appreciation.

I haven't really seen a film like this before. Really raw, somewhat rambling, confusing and wonderful. I have never been so pulled in. God, I hope this is the future of film. Enough already of Pirates and Snakes on a Plane.... This held such power. All in it being understated and real. I don't often come here to write on films I've seen, but when a movie sticks with me for a good five days, that's my signal to get onto the IMDb. I also just watch the movie DIG! about the Brian Joenstown Masacre -- I went out and bought a double best of album....M.A. has great music too So, If you like rough-around-the-edge,s realistic film-making, go. Now. This is the real deal. Bobbi Stig