Mutual Appreciation (2005)

Alan is a musician who leaves a busted-up band for New York, and a new musical voyage. He tries to stay focused and fends off all manner of distractions, including the attraction to his good friend's girlfriend.

Director:

Andrew Bujalski

Writer:

Andrew Bujalski

Stars:

Justin Rice, Rachel Clift, Andrew Bujalski

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Justin Rice	...	Alan
Rachel Clift	...	Ellie
Andrew Bujalski	...	Lawrence
Seung-Min Lee	...	Sara
Pamela Corkey	...	Patricia
Kevin Micka	...	Dennis
Ralph Tyler	...	Jerry
Peter Pentz	...	Scotty
Bill Morrison	...	Walter
Tamara Luzeckyj	...	Esther
Mary Varn	...	Rebecca
Kate Dollenmayer	...	Hildy
Keith Gessen	...	Julian
Salvatore Botti	...	Ron

Storyline

Adults in their 20s circle each other, their bodies in motion, with occasional attractions and lots of talk. Alan is a musician, just down to New York from Boston, hanging out with his friend Lawrence and Lawrence's girlfriend Ellie. Alan and Ellie are on a bed talking: is this prelude or possibility? Sara, who has interviewed Alan for the radio, seems attracted to Alan, but Alan may not be so sure. They, too, sit on the edge of a bed. He has a gig; it goes well. How should he handle Sara? Has the moment with Ellie passed? Do things play out or does time merely pass as bodies move through space?

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Plot Keywords:

musician | new york | mumblecore | guitarist | friendship | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Admiração Mútua

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$103,574, 8 March 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutual Appreciation LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Spin-off Peoples House (2007)

User Reviews

Mutual Appreciation

At times, this picture feels like a slimmed down Jean Eustache film or an extremely modest variation of Francois Truffaut's ''Jules et Jim." You're forced to wonder what more money or a bigger vision might have produced. While it's true that the characters here have slim ambitions, you consequently have to wonder -- even while remaining devoted to his uncannily subtle skill with character -- what else Bujalski has up his sleeve. A panning shot, perhaps? ''Mutual Appreciation" is his first New York film (''Funny Ha Ha" was set in Allston), and the world he's captured is true to Alan's hipster dreams and indie-rock goals. The character's emotional dial is set on ''emo," which means he lacks the social constitution to articulate himself. He's passive, aimless, and occasionally narcissistic. See Alan unhook himself from Sara (Seung-Min Lee), a cute radio DJ, without it costing him her brother, who's his temporary drummer. And watch as he carries on a flirtation with Ellie, who's also attracted to him. Her emotional intelligence, however, is superior. The women in ''Mutual Appreciation" are confident and direct. The men can be exasperatingly meek.

''Funny Ha Ha" was about a stalled 20-something and her romantic entanglements. (The woman who played her, Kate Dollenmayer, has a too-small part here.) ''Mutual Appreciation" is the second chapter in what seems like Bujalski's statement about people trying to find the right words as they move toward adulthood and negotiating their fears of commitment of any kind -- to a job, a person, or a complete thought. He could have called this movie ''A Tentative Yes." Of course, that title should do nothing to stop you from making an absolute commitment to see this film.

Wesley Morris