Gummo
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Movie Reviews of Gummo
Movie Review: Disturbing and Brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
Arguably the most disturbing film since Salo, Harmony Korine's hateful opus is meandering, plotless, documentary-style piece of fictional celluloid about the citizens of Xenia, Ohio--a typical white trash community. There's really no plot to summarize in an attempt to ruin the movie for those who've yet to see it, so I won't bother. In lieu of a summary, I should just illustrate a few of the more arresting scenes: Children riding their bicycles while music from Burzum and EYEHATEGOD supplies the soundtrack; a teenage boy being given a bath in a filthy tub by his mother (a piece of bacon, taped to the bathroom wall, is cleary visible throughout the scene); actress Chloe Sevigny appearing as a mindless redneck with "feathered", parted-down-the-middle hair; and a couple of typical meth-lab proprietors mercilessly abusing a chair. The point of such disturbing scenery escapes me, but if there's anything to be learned, maybe it's that director Korine actually grew up with such people and wanted to make an over-the-top autobiographical film of sorts. I think he's probably the very antithesis of the privileged morons who attend film school at NYU or USC, and he's proven it here. If nothing else, this film deserves recognition for that alone. And--I'm sure of it--his best work is yet to come.Movie Review: Why Some People Hate "Gummo"?
Summary: 5 Stars
Intrigued by some very negative almost hateful "Gummo" comments, I overcame my initial lack of interest in seeing this weirdly titled and as such perceived film. And good thing I did, because it shines a tiny ray of hope for film enthusiasts like me, feed up with mindless, unadulterated film manure abundantly and persistently served to the mainstream audience.
Having sad that, its no wonder some of the "Gummo" comments are so extreme. It's a symptom of a cultural idiotism from "brain-washing" by too many "Miss Congenialities", "Giglis" and such, as well as the untamed outbreak of reality shows.
"Gummo" fortunately is out of this league. It is one of the most inspired and original American movies I have seen in the last decade. It is gruesome and funny at the same time, as much repulsive as beautiful, where poetic absurdity blends with painful realism. It's so rare for one film can carry such divergent emotions.
By no means "Gummo" is a masterpiece in a traditional sense. You won't find it among the greatest films of all-time. But I would not hesitate to put Corine's directorial debiut next to "Citizen Kane" for its conceptual, visual and narrative brilliance, personified by some of the most haunting moments (such a the infamous bathtub scene) in history of moving image.
Movie Review: Way better than "Kids"
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a series of vignettes of people in pain. They're numbed by their harsh, post-disaster, poverty-stricken surroundings. However, even in such a bleak landscape, there are moments of profound beauty... stunning moments punctuated by extreme violence.Some people dismiss the subjects of the film as "white trash" or shock value. It's noteworthy that most people in this film aren't even actors, and that it hardly follows a script. The people here are (mostly) real; if their presence scares people, it's probably because class is America's dirty little secret.
People are offended by the physical and emotional violence of this film. This movie is not easily digested. The characters are not here to make you happy. They present scenarios that are less than perfect. Kind of sounds like life, huh?
On a musical note, this film gives new life to Roy Orbison's "Crying" and Madonna's "Like A Prayer", as well as hyper-aggro metal from the likes of Eyehategod and Scandinavian legend Burzum. Also noteworthy are references to 60s outsider folk group the Shaggs, whose song "My Pal Foot-Foot" is name-checked on a missing cat flyer.
This movie devastated me for months. It still lingers years later. Probably the best film I've seen in my short life.
Movie Review: Strange, sick, mesmerizing, surreal
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just seen this movie, and I must say it is ambivalent. Very sick passages and ideas (wacko-kids from rural areas living out bizarre passions and experiencing strange situations), but the film has indeed very funny moments as well (e.g. the chair-squashing). There is no plot, nor is a plot intended. The surreal camera work, the "main" story being interrupted by rural persons talking about themselves (which is largely silly), the soundtrack containing grotesque songs at times (Death Metal, sick children choirs etc.) - all this reminds me a bit of Jim Jarmusch's "Permanent Vacation" (1982), an equally surreal film (if you liked Gummo, you should watch this!). The point I want to make here is: this is actually a MOVIE. Other reviewers have complained about a wrong picture concerning beautiful Ohio and about the film having no impact on them (funny then, why do they write reviews?). A cynical and surreal movie as Gummo is not a report - it is a point of view (or have you ever seen Terminators walking around in New York City?). This point of view may not be pleasing, nor elevating, nor relaxing - it forces one to think (even by being disgusting at times). And everything that makes one think, every such thorn in the flesh - is true art.Movie Review: You WILL be impacted.
Summary: 5 Stars
First off, forgive me if this review appears a bit jumbled. I guess I feel that if the movie doesn't have to make sense, its review doesn't either. ;)This movie is a black hole of hopelessness. Everything is so drawn out and there seems to be no real point to anything...which is the way life seems at times. No solid plot, unexplained characters and events(?), dirty, dingy surroundings..
I would say that Gummo is an important film because it answers no questions but raises many... Are there really people who live this way? Has anyone ever escaped this town/fate? Do I ever come across that way? Is it ok to be like that? What do I think about people like this, and does that make me a bad person? In other words, it forces you to examine yourself and the way you view others.
Also, on the grander side, it asks what qualifies as a legitimate film? When does a movie become something other than art?
Gummo is definately more than art, because it captures very difficult sensations from real life and unapologetically subjects the viewer to them.
In conclusion, I would not recommend this movie to those who have a problem with unflinching ugliness, disorienting situations, and sincere self-examination.