MUTUAL APPRECIATION (4 STARS)

Alan moves to New York to plug himself into the music scene. He only knows a guy from somewhere else and the guy's girlfriend. He meets new people and gets a gig. He's awkward around people until he gets a little drunk then he's okay.

This film has all the right ideas. It's the closest thing to my ideal movie subject matter. It's filmed on a grainy stock and in black and white. It looks old, but sounds new. It's about a musician trying to make it in a new city. A lot of girls are currently interested in him because he's this new mysterious rocker guy.

I thought the concert in the movie was perfectly done. It was exactly realistic. The right amount of people, and they were doing and standing exactly like they would if not being filmed.

I really like the main guy Alan (played by Justin Rice). I was comfortable watching him even in the uncomfortable parts (which was most parts). The character he resembled was dead accurate...even if he is that person, it's still impressive. He's a none actor. Really... all of them are none actors.

It's an extremely independent film. It's in a style that is sometimes called "MUMBLE CORE"...because of they way everyone just mumbles everything...portraying somewhat how kids speak in real life. The director of this film Andrew Bujalski also plays the one friend he knows. HE is a really awkward and uncomfortable actor/guy. I think he's actually a good actor...just a terribly awkward dorky guy that i would hate to be around... and hate to watch him be around other people on screen. He also directed Funny Ha Ha which was really awkward and i don't remember if he's in it. And then he was in the new film Hannah takes the stairs ... awkward.

I like this movie.. but i really had big hopes for this story. Black and white, New York, new kid in town, musician. It's all the things i'd be into seeing in a movie, but this ended up being more about awkwardness, difficulty communicating, and that struggle to get by after college while still doing what you want to do.

Only watch this if you like extremely independent and new waved movies.

MUTUAL APPRECIATION


Then HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS


Then FUNNY HA HA