Alright, so I'm contemplating whether or not to see this film when I am able to, but I would like to know...
From an artistic standpoint, is this movie as good or is it a waste of time? I can't trust the star ratings on IMDB, so I'd like to hear the opinion of someone with actual intelligence. Yes or no?
From an artistic standpoint I think the film is brilliant but judging by the way you asked your question I would say don't waste your time. The film is not for you.
"judging by the way you asked your question" --- So you have to ask questions a certain way to be able to appreciate this movie? How pretentious can you get?
shareI'll admit I was being a bit snarky but it was in response to the snarky tone of his question. I honestly don't think the film is for him. Maybe I should have said that I wasn't sure whether or not it was good from "an artistic point of view" because I'm not totally sure how one defines that. What I do know is that watching the film was a powerfully engaging experience that actually called into question all the conventional ideas about what a film can or should be.
share[deleted]
This film has no artistic value whatsoever.
There is no narrative. That would be fine if the film had some sort of depth, be it some interesting imagery, dialogue, music or just stuff that makes you think. It has none of that. It isn't 'shocking' as it seems to think it is, it's just plain bad. It fails as a film and it fails as a piece of art. Don't waste your time.
Really? Worst film you ever saw? Well, my next one will be better. Hello? Hello?share
Well, your comment and "one-liner" (do only losers put that quote at the end), show you couldn't see artistic through a fart. I haven't seen the film, I probably won't - Harmony Korus Line is the most (angry, fighting in a paper bag) Bourgeois, boring film maker I can think of... I came here to decide whether I will see it or 'Life During Wartime' again with the girl (who ain't seen it)... HOWEVER, this god cannot stand pseudo NON intellectuals discussing the "artistic merits", and it's a particular crime and nonsensical contradiction to project and expect a CERTAIN NARRATIVE from ART! nuff said. NO, I am the least arrogant, super intellectual, wait, no I am not, but I am VERY generous with ideas, and the stupidity here can't be left alone... Hmmmmm, art history - I would say, to mess around with narrative is about number one on an artist's palette. At least since (and get the 'Aquarius' song from Hair)... since... the dawn of (post?) Modernity!
From, Mo Ali da mente, (Mohammed Ali of the mind:)
Is it sunny on your planet?
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm2339870/
Too true! Now if only everyone as brave and forthright as you were as smart :)
shareyeah, you definitely should have said that instead.
shareWorldisadonut GOT IT MADE. He/she be a dreamer, someone with individuality and can GUESS VERY WELL. It was a perfect answer to the world's worst question. You are REALLY wrong, arsemail. Asssssmail is so blind and hypocritical, SO full of them self and their own pretension! Without doubt, arsemail is a kind of fascist with little or no imagination. If I were donut, I would say NO IMAGINATION and take your insecurities back to yo mumma - could this arsssssemail be any worse!
shareWhile I was watching the film the only think I could think about was "what the *beep* did I just pay to see??" but at the end I actually liked it. Made me think about the values of society and "right and wrong". It's an abstract film in my opinion, you define it the way you see it.
shareIf you are wondering if Trash Humpers has artistic merit in the same way that Gummo did, I would say no. Gummo makes me feel a lot of things while Trash Humpers to me feels more like a statement on films in general. It has no "real characters" so you have no one to feel anything for - to me it was just mockery of trash art in itself, taking trash art a step further by not even TRYING to have a linear plot, narrative, or POINT at all. It's almost just like the movie is TRYING to make you hate it. That's the only artistic value it has in my opinion, but I liked it for that...
sharethere's a narrative structure, and themes beyond the obvious
good
I saw this movie last night at The Nuart Theater in Los Angeles.
I had no idea about the film, what it was about, it's name nothing. I was at dinner with some friends and they said, "We're going to see a movie, it's by the same guy who did Kids and Gummo."
I enjoyed both films very much so I agreed to go.
When we got there I saw the Title on the marquee, "Trash Humpers."
I asked my friend once we sat down in the theater, "So what's this movie about anyways?" She Replied "I think it's about old people, who hump trash."
I was perplexed, and when the opening scene began, I could tell she was on point.
The movie was extremely hard to get through. All I could think was "What the *beep* is the point?"
About 6 people walked out of the movie. It would be a lie if I said I didn't think about it myself.
But I'm glad i didn't. By the very end of the movie, a rough overarching point started to develop. It was still unclear what it was exactly bur Korine gives you just enough for you to feel something.
After the movie, I was most definitely stirred by it. I started reading about Korine, and watched old interviews of his from the time he was 19 when Kids was a huge success, to today.
What I've gathered from what I've read and watched is that this movie is a reflection of Kornie's sense of Humor. In one interview he says "I think so much is funny, and can't figure out why no one else is laughing." I get that. There is a comedic nature to everything in life. But we're too often taking ourselves way too seriously to see it. Korine takes nothing seriously. And gives us a sense of that with Trash Humpers.
Is it difficult? Yes
Does it have a plot? Not Really...
Does it convey a message? Yes
Is it worth seeing? Only if you're willing to think WAY outside the box.
I completely agree. I saw this at the Manchester Deaf Institute, it was shown in the gig hall so there was no seating. Everyone was sat on the wood floor. At the end Harmony Korine got up and bowed, I was pretty shocked that he showed up to sit on a wood floor touching knees with every one. The film was very interesting and certainly gives you a lot to talk about on the way home. All in all, a very good experience but I only suggest going to watch it out with friends rather than on your own on DVD.
shareI agree with just about everything you say, but remember - you, I and he almost certainly share similar, socio-economic benefit, (we are all in the top 30% of the world AT LEAST, no - I sit in the 28th percentile :)
I think people should be aware of Korine's "co-narrative" (that is my term, maybe it already exists, I've never heard it before). There is only one thing I have ever felt from any moment of his films that I have seen: "I am privileged, almost as much as is possible, and I will destroy that, PUBLICLY, (mostly with other people's money and resources), etc. etc." And so his narratives seem to become freer (lazier), and you know he did that thing where he pisses people off until they beat him up, on video...
I push more intellectual boundaries, and have been beaten up by people for it, lots, and without volunteering! - (For reasons as simple as sticking up for someone with minority race, sexuality, etc.) So, his apolitical indulgence doesn't appeal to me. And, in reality, this is NOT about being outside the box... maybe if he were truly poor, and/or from terrible poverty... He is simply the MOST firmly in that stinking, Bourgeois paper bag (instead of box), and tearing the paper to pieces as though he were a rebel... could go on forever :)
There is only one thing I have ever felt from any moment of his films that I have seen: "I am privileged, almost as much as is possible, and I will destroy that, PUBLICLY, (mostly with other people's money and resources), etc. etc." And so his narratives seem to become freer (lazier), and you know he did that thing where he pisses people off until they beat him up, on video...
any movie you see can be considered art, this movie is just crap, boring and felt longer than the godfather part 2
shareDepends - I felt it was a pretty narrowly focused movie, in the sense that many people would feel as if they walked into a pretty insular group, which they do not understand, which does not understand them, and with neither party really having either the motivation or capacity to redress this situation. In other words, the 'language' in the movie is not a universal one, so the experience could end up being frustrating for many people without either the writer/director or the given member of the audience being at fault.
Second, even if one does understand the 'language' used and the aesthetic experience that it is used to generate, different people will disagree over how satisfying/fulfilling/worthwhile said experience actually is. This is not helped by what I believe to be Korine's pervasive tendency to overindulge in shock for shock's sake. Antagonism, disgust, and stupefaction are some of the simplest feelings to evoke in others, so their overuse cheapens the final product.
Of course, the above caveat refers only to overuse, whereas Trash Humpers mostly uses them appropriately, the mild over-indulgence aside. That having been said, the aesthetics evoked by the film are of a whopping *beep* you!" to life as most know it - an attempt at a total release from the frustrations of strictures and complexities, but one that ends up being only partially successful. Is feeling this something that one would enjoy? The answer is an individual one...
In the end, IMDB's star rating for this film is actually quite informative, especially if you look at the voting breakdown - some people will love it, some will hate it, and many would see it as a decent attempt without enough cohesion. In any case, it certainly is not a universally-appreciable masterpiece.
this.
______________________________________________
don't watch me with those eyes.
Harmony Korine's movies are now more interesting for the types of characters and comments they generate in the forums at IMDB than they are as films themselves.
Yes this film is a very creative amalgamation of media styles of the last 2 decades, it has artist merit. It's amazing you can get such an ambitious artistic film made here in the US
shareDoes Duchamp's "The Fountain" have any artistic merit in your opinion? If so, the movie is probably "for" you. If not it probably isn't. See it either way though, what have you got to lose?
share
I just saw the documentary Beautiful Losers, and Harmony Korine is profiled in it for a good 10 or 15 minutes. I enjoyed watching him talk to the camera about his movies and what's driven him to make them. I still can't say I like Trash Humpers (as bad as I want to, considering my girlfriend is BEYOND disgusted with it), but I must agree with Sonofin; I have a new-found appreciation for the ability for Korine to successfully release this movie. I think Gummo may be Korine's best work (or the movie I appreciate the most) but I hope he keeps releasing movies, regardless- even if I'm forced to pretend to love them when I really don't, just to make my gf incredibly uncomfortable for 2 hours. Apparently Todd Solandz is putting out a "Happiness 2", so maybe it's not totally unreasonable for me to cross my fingers and hope for a "Gummo 2" (or something along those lines).
I watched a clip of it, and it seemed exactly like the imdb synopsis suggests... a documentary that follows elderly sociopaths.
Unfortunately, psychopathy doesn't lend itself well to a contained and interesting narrative.