MovieChat Forums > Kissing on the Mouth (2005) Discussion > another waste of time

another waste of time

posted 16 years ago by gsspecialist
8 replies | jump to latest

I watched "Hannah Takes the Stairs" and didn't find much there. But seeing this at the video store I figured I'd give Swanberg and company another try, figuring, it certainly couldn't be worse. Well, it wasn't worse. It was pretty much the same film with different characters. The same gratuitious sex, the same maundering aimless talk-talk, the same lack of plot structure, flow, or follow through. Again, I was given no reason to care about these characters and consequently...didn't. I doubt I'll waste any more time on this particular director. He makes it plain that his audience doesn't deserve a story, Maybe his grant money will run out and we won't be subjected to any more of these. Maybe someone with some real ideas about plot and character development will get the money. I like experimentation...but I like it to actually do something.

[–] berlin_alexanderplatz 16 years ago

The whole problem with everyone's criticism of Swanberg, and all the mumblecore film makers in general, is that they weren't "given" anything. People want something handed to them on a silver plater and that is NOT the case with these movies. That is also why they're so great. You have to be an active participant in them. You have to bring something to the table. If not, you're not going to get anything from them and you might as well be watching Hancock or Juno anyway.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] spamcity 15 years ago

But without a story... Even a very thin or simple one, you can't be a participant.
You can only be an observer, just the same as if you were watching and listening to people in a bus station.

And BTW, what's wrong with Juno?

Can't you read? It says SPOILERS!

[–] JasonRawks2010 15 years ago

Ellen Page

[–] aicfan85 13 years ago

no.. I'm sorry.. This is just BAD film making.. or at least amateurish. There are several scenes that could and should be cut from his movies.. and only about 25 minutes of usable footage usually. Its unstructured, undisciplined, and generally uninteresting. Sometimes he can get some nice natural moments with his actors and a real scene can peek through his mess's but most of time I feel like I am watching boring home video's recorded on someone's cellphone camera. Swanberg needs not to be encouraged. These are not real movies.

The Duplass Bros have a similar aesthetic but they have genuine talent and are much better editors, far better actors-directors, and slightly better camera men. so with them I still feel like i am getting a real movie with an actual story. That's why they are making it in Hollywood, and most of their mumblecore contemporaries aren't.

"some movie quote"

[–] Drumwaster 11 years ago

With the rare exceptions of films like the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it is impossible to be an "active participant" at a movie, and even at those exceptions the live cast - if one exists - is interacting more with the audience than with the movie being displayed behind them, and if not it is merely rote repetition of amusing responses. What kind of active participation are you expecting for the shower masturbation scene? The hair grooming? The inept dialogue?

[–] BBogus 14 years ago

Oh boy, all the pseudo-intellectual nonsense people spew.
This is total crap.
Really, really bad.

[–] polysicsarebest 14 years ago

really interesting film, I gave it a 7.

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pre·ten·tious: characterized by assumption of dignity or importance.