New Releases for February 16th

Here are the new releases for Tuesday the 16th.

Feb. 16
Hunger (Criterion)
Amreeka
Piotr Anderszewski Unquiet Traveller
Law Abiding Citizen
Lola Montes (Criterion)
Import Export
Da Doo Ron Ron: Story of Phil Spector
Halo
Virgen Negra
George Melies Encore
Coco Before Chanel
Revanche (Criterion Collection)
Disappeared
The Box

Last weeks newsletter was loaded with DVD recommendations so to change things up a bit I thought I’d give you the low down on a fairly new genre of film called…Mumblecore.

The term unofficially references is a belief in character driven storytelling with an extremely basic aesthetic. The films often rely on handheld camera-work but never veer into nausea inducing shaky cam style. To be honest (and simplistic), this is filmmaking for the lit crit crowd.

In large part, Mumblecore seems to be focused on the analysis of communication. Ten years ago this may have been well tread ground but today we have cell phones, text messages, emails, and the Web. Combine the net-cloud with cheap, lightweight cameras, add the exuberance of youth and you have Mumblecorp. Thankfully, even if other aspects of these productions are rough (intentional or not), the filmmakers recognize and respect that we need to have clear sound, and I thank all the filmmakers for acknowledging that.

Mumblecore’s heritage includes Yasujiro Ozu, John Cassavetes, Richard Linklater, and probably even Larry David — those who have focused on the personal rather than the firecracker gunfights of standard cinema. Ozu invited us to the table as a family member, literally placing the camera at eye level to those seated at the table. Cassavetes gave us the family drama that cuts deep into the day-to-day of our personal lives. Linklater yanked the camera off the tripod and focused on the conversations of a new, youthful generation, and Larry David drove this sensibility further with a loose story structure that finds its humor in the improv sequences that make up the meat of his TV show. After that, then, what new ground did this new brigade of filmmakers have to explore? - What is Mumblecore? A primer for those interested in an indie phenomenon. Cole Drumb, May 14, 2008.

Mumblecore at Bird Dog Video:

Funny Ha Ha (2002)
The Puffy Chair (2005)
Dance Party USA (2006)
Mutual Appreciation (2006)
LOL (2006)
Hannah Takes the Stairs (2007)
Quiet City (2007)
Orphans (2007)
Team Picture (2007)
Baghead (2008)
The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2008)
Nights and Weekends (2008)
Humpday (2009)

Mumblecore coming soon…

Alexander the Last (2009)
Medicine for Melancholy (2009)