Directors: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair)
Writers: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass
Producers: Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, John E. Bryant
Starring: Ross Partridge, Steve Zissis, Greta Gerwig, Elise Muller, Jett Garner
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 84 min

Like Dogme 95, Mumblecore is a term that only entered my vernacular last year. The idea of seeing a film shot on digital cameras with non-professional actors and dealing with the personal relationships of individuals who think they’ve got issues when, in fact, they’re just whiny twenty somethings with nothing better to do, made me want to run the other way. And with titles like Puffy Chair, LOL (for real?) and Frownland (you’ve got to be pulling my leg), I was really not interested at all.

A few weeks back Vancouver was home to the ten film exhibit “The New Talkies: Generation D.I.Y.” and though I had intentions of checking out one or two of the films, partly to see what all the fuss was about but also to confirm whether my initial reaction was warranted, but the exhibit came and went before I could put my shoes on.

Though I’d heard a few grumblings about the movement, I had yet to hear anyone say “You have to watch this film” and maybe it was for that reason, along with all the other apparent detractors, that pushed me away. But then something happened. Earlier this year folks had talked rather fondly of a little film which premiered at Sundance. Baghead sounded just as strange as the rest. Dumb-ass new millennium title, odd poster complete with, you guessed it, a guy with a paper bag on his head. I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to see it but when Sony Pictures Classics released the film wide enough that it opened in town, I jumped on the opportunity to see it.

Directed by the Duplass brothers, Baghead begins like I expect a number of these films open, with a clear indication that this is not high-quality video and that there are going to be a whole lot of quick zooms and close ups. It begins innocently enough with four individuals, one couple which has recently broken up after an 11 year relationship and the other are newly dating though there is some confusion as to what sort of relationship is growing. The foursome is at a film festival watching the last few minutes of a low budget indie film. The lights come up, the director comes down to answer a few questions and then leaves. In these short opening minutes something struck me: I’ve seen this before. Not on a screen but in life and if you’ve been to enough festivals, you’ve likely seen it too. No one is all that excited about the film but they pretend, asking a few questions to seem interested all the while wondering how much longer the torture is going to last. It was this moment, with the realization that perhaps I had been unfair to judge the entire movement on ideas alone, that loosened me up for what followed.

After seeing the awful film, the foursome decides that they can do better so they plan a weekend getaway to a cabin where they’ll write a film, starring themselves, which they’ll shoot, submit to festivals and, they expect, their careers will take off. Once at the cabin, things start to develop as you’d come to expect from the description of the mumblecore movement; it’s all about the interaction and the dynamics of the relationships which, I might add, are excellent, but when one individual is confronted by someone wearing a paper bag, the film shifts from drama to thriller and an effective one at that.

There are no Oscar winning performances here but the small casts works well together and off of each other. Between the acting and camera work, there’s a natural and intimate feeling, like you’re one of the crew, that draws the viewer into the story. The hand held camera, complete with shaky bits, quick pans and zooms, were a nice addition and helped set the mood and rather than detract from my enjoyment of the film, it seemed to add a sense of intimacy and urgency to the already “small” story.

I can’t compare Baghead to any of the other films in the movement because it’s the only one I’ve seen so far and frankly, I’m not convinced that any of the films that have come prior are this good. This particular story is a near perfect fit for this style of film making and though I expected nothing more than people sitting around, drinking and talking about their problems, I was impressed when the film met and then exceeded my expectations, surprising me at nearly every turn. The film works so effectively as a thriller because the Duplass Brothers and the actors create characters the audience can connect with and when the film takes the turn into thriller territory, we’re genuinely concerned for the well being of the foursome.

Baghead is a surprisingly fun treat, complete with indie cred.

Links:
IMDb profile
Official Site
Flixster Profile for Baghead