Quiet City (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Aaron Katz

Writers:

Erin Fisher (writer)
Aaron Katz (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Jamie is 21. She's from Atlanta. She's come to Brooklyn to visit her friend Samantha, but she can't find her. Jamie meets a stranger named Charlie on the subway and spends 24 hours hanging out with him.

Plot Keywords:

Mumblecore

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Erin Fisher	...	Jamie
Cris Lankenau	...	Charlie
Sarah Hellman	...	Robin
Joe Swanberg	...	Adam
Tucker Stone	...	Kyle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Liz Bender	...	Liz
Karrie Crouse	...	Karrie
Keegan DeWitt	...	Keegan
Daryl Nuhn	...	Daryl
Michael Tully	...	Michael
C. Mason Wells	...	Chris

Runtime:

USA:78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Quotes:

Jamie: Are you fast?
Charlie: Probably.

Putrid

Just because you expose something that is true to a post-20th century, post-collegian culture that can be generalized by saying, "true to life" does not make it particularly interesting, even if it happens to be a western majority.

The film maker isn't exposing these cloy, vapid characters in a sardonic way which could suggest maybe Katz finds these people ridiculous, but rather he overtly loves the consciously 'awkward-cute' characters. His empathy and kindred spirit is very clear in every direction and edit.

Never has such a display of personalities made me want to banish myself from western civilization.

I can't understand how anyone can watch the scene of Joe Swanberg's(another ridiculous mumble core filmmaker) cameo appearance with any ounce of admiration. How is it possible to sit placidly through the lobotomy which is that scene/performance? Mr. Katz is not channeling Cassavetes. Cassavetes did not intentionally trail blaze such a lack of perception. He did not condone whatever it is which is the material result of "quiet city". Maybe he encouraged the whole guerrilla film-making approach; inspired the improvisation. But mind you, Cassavetes was faithful to his screenplays. His writing, directing and of course his actors were so transgressive, talented and true that it came off as improvisation...yeah, THAT worked.

The Puffy Chair works too. This doesn't. Hey, minimalism doesn't always work. I don't even consider The Duplass Brothers mumble core.

I hate to think that one day, in the future, "mumble core" films (proclaimed and self-proclaimed as the indisputable voice of its generation) will be brought to my attention as if it were some artistically profound milestone in cinema, defining my own personal inclinations toward music, love and anti-establishment. Screw mumble core.