« Hulking Out | Main | "It's mine you hear? Mine ALL MINE Get back in there. Down Down Down! Go Go Go! MINE MINE MINE!!!" »
April 23, 2007
A New Film Movement?
When is it time to demarcate a filmmaking “movement”? What if the filmmakers in this movement don’t want to be grouped into any kind of movement at all? And what if the films in this movement revolve around the crisis of self-definition? Could it get any worse for one of its members than to have to talk about feeling self-conscious about being in a movement?
It has been called, by some of its members, critics and fans, “mumblecore.” Amy Taubin, writing in Film Comment, attached this group to the “neo-slacker generation,” citing Richard Linklater and Kevin Smith as elder statesmen. Ray Pride has anointed them “Slackavettes.” South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) director Matt Dentler has passed on the term “bedhead cinema.”
And as much as my response to the initial question is to suggest that the movement comes mostly from the bowels, I think my real answer to when it becomes "a movement" is when these films get some traction outside of the circle of friends, which includes Filmmaker, who continue to hype this group of talented, modestly promising DViestes.
What most concerns me about trying to spin this into a movement is that I have seen nothing in these films that is either groundbreaking or really memorable in any real way. The interest of The Hipsters in their own reflection is what it is. And perhaps, like Warhol, there will be perspective on this work that evolves in time. (aka I could be wrong.)
There can be great art in work as sloppy as this, no doubt. But since seeing and being surprised by Manito six years ago, I haven't really seen any surprising or really thrilling steps forward. When one of these ambitious young filmmakers delivers something as impactful as some of the work by similarly young and ambitious Russian filmmakers, for instance, I'll be in the other room napping.
Posted by poland at April 23, 2007 10:58 AM
Comments
DP-
I'd be willing to bet cash you've never seen a Swanberg/Katz/Poyser movie. Cold hard cash.
The "mumblecore" "movement" is something indie film critics are trying to perpetuate. Those guys are just making movies with their friends. And they're making good movies as well.
Don't get down on the filmmakers and their work for doing their thing, I assure you they aren't trying to "start a movement." Maybe if you'd take 90 mins at a film fest to see one of their films and write about them, they'd start to get some traction outside of their circle.
Posted by: PetalumaFilms ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 23, 2007 11:59 AM
You would be coughing up the cash, Pet.
I've seen two of the Swanbergs, Katz' DVD didn't work in my Mac (unfortunately), and saw Dear Pillow.
I am more than happy to support young filmmakers and I don't blame them for the hype. But as I wrote, I haven't seen the magic. I've seen the first steps of filmmakers looking for a voice. Nothing wrong with that. But I haven't even seen a Mike White in these films, much less a Casavettes.
Posted by: David Poland at April 23, 2007 12:17 PM
Dah!! I owe ya $5.
I think the thing you have to remember is, these guys (particularly Swanberg and Katz) aren't even 25 yet...or maybe they're like, 26. Each film they do gets better and better.
Admittedly, I'm close with Swanberg and am friends with Katz BUT...I've always watched their films casting aside that friendship and looking at them for what they are. I like the films and although they aren't perfect, I admire the way they shoot and I love the naturalistic acting style.
Kat'z QUIET CITY is one of my faves so far this year.
Posted by: PetalumaFilms at April 23, 2007 01:31 PM
eh, the filmmakers could care less, the movement label is just a critic construction to make the critics job easier. Once you've encapsulated a huge swath of films into a soundbite you've permanently reduced the need to think critically about the films within that swath. Then its just the plug and chug madlibs review game.
Posted by: movielocke at April 23, 2007 01:35 PM
would you count Coppola, Scorsese, and their peers as this type of movement in the 70's and if so could it be that they seem to abandon their "vision" for safer material as they get older? So these movements happen plodd along for awhile and either disapear or get replaced by the next "thing".
Posted by: teambanzai at April 23, 2007 01:47 PM
Yeah, I can just see Coppola or Scorsese using the auto features on consumer cameras because they're admittedly not good cinematographers...
Posted by: mutinyco at April 23, 2007 05:39 PM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)