Mutual Appreciation
Goodbye Cruel Releasing | Release Date: September 1, 2006
6.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
18
Mixed:
0
Negative:
9
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
8
ChadS.Apr 5, 2007
"Mutual Appreciation" never overstays its welcome, not when the writer/director has the uncanny knack of replicating how people really communicate with each other. They talk talk, not movie talk; the seemingly artless banter in "Mutual "Mutual Appreciation" never overstays its welcome, not when the writer/director has the uncanny knack of replicating how people really communicate with each other. They talk talk, not movie talk; the seemingly artless banter in "Mutual Appreciation" makes this no budget-film feel revolutionary, and its author, a maverick. These indie rock-informed post-grads have nothing in common with those nihilisitic tweens from Larry Clarke's "Kids", but both films convince you that the actors aren't reciting dialogue from a carefully worded script. Justin Rice, who plays Alan, the struggling artist(a Jonathan Richman-type informed by, perhaps, The Buzzcocks), and Rachel Clift, who plays Ellie(a plain Jane who grows more pulchritudinous before your very eyes with each passing scene) generate effortless good-will and exude more chemistry than any of those million-dollar actors that the studio-execs throw together in some banal romantic comedy. If Ellie followed her heart, she'd be with Alan, and not with his best friend, Lawrence(Andrew Bujalski, the New York-based writer/director who's more like Richard Linklater than Woody Allen), an equally nice guy with better career prospects, and most importantly, a job. Since "Mutual Appreciation" is about living in the moment, we never learn if Alan's music career will pan out, but if his knock-'em-dead, albeit poorly attended gig is any indication, Ellie should join The Bumblebees as a musician(she's already Alan's manager), and be a Claudia Gonson to his Stephin Merritt. Rice rocks with an indefatigable DIY spirit. "Mutual Appreciation" is a two-fisted, one-finger salute to both, corporate rock and Hollywood.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JayCOct 21, 2006
As the director said, he prepared scenes, but they kind of let the "actors" decide. For a movie that relies so extensively on dialogue, this one seemed to be mostly uncommunicative. Confused, disconnected and pretty boring. Why would we care As the director said, he prepared scenes, but they kind of let the "actors" decide. For a movie that relies so extensively on dialogue, this one seemed to be mostly uncommunicative. Confused, disconnected and pretty boring. Why would we care about these people's lives?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
EstebanI.May 12, 2007
Cringe-worthy and cute even if its superfluous. The main enjoyment I got out of it was Justin Rice's performance which is reminiscent of Henry Fonda in 'The Lady Eve'.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
JackJOct 24, 2006
This movie was terrible. None of the characters are interesting, and the film is basically a bunch of awkward conversations with nervous people. I suppose reviewers are calling this the future of film because it's honest and tries to be This movie was terrible. None of the characters are interesting, and the film is basically a bunch of awkward conversations with nervous people. I suppose reviewers are calling this the future of film because it's honest and tries to be realistic. But how is this film daring? There have been many films about twenty-somethings who feel lost and aren't sure where they're going in life, or why they're dating who they're dating, and so on and so forth, but often they're funnier, have wittier dialogue (which would be more realistic anyways if you're trying to capture twenty-something hipsters), and manage to have more highs and lows. This movie left me completely under whelmed. Basically, if I grabbed a camera and filmed my friends conversing and figuring out life, I'd have a much funnier, wittier, and touching movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
MarcH.Sep 1, 2006
The filmmakers took a risk and again it proves that only when you take risks as a filmmaker you can create something outstanding.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
GregMorabitoSep 14, 2006
Like watching a hipster faucet drip for nearly two hours. Tedious.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
LukeJ.Sep 16, 2006
Very fresh, very funny, one of the best of the year. It's the sort of experience you just inhale and then it stays with you afterward. The music is good, the acting is fine, but it's really the dialogue and story that stick. Great Very fresh, very funny, one of the best of the year. It's the sort of experience you just inhale and then it stays with you afterward. The music is good, the acting is fine, but it's really the dialogue and story that stick. Great storytelling, one of the realest feeling films I've ever seen. Bujalski is a rising star, and it's clear the critics agree.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
MattD.Feb 20, 2007
I guess I was kind of underwhelmed by this. I admit I was interested in it primarily because Justin Rice is in it and I really like his band Bishop Allen. So the highlight for me was the performance of "Quarter to Three". The movie is filled I guess I was kind of underwhelmed by this. I admit I was interested in it primarily because Justin Rice is in it and I really like his band Bishop Allen. So the highlight for me was the performance of "Quarter to Three". The movie is filled with conversations that are important to the people involved but kind of mundane to everyone else (or at least to me). I enjoyed watching it, but it didn't leave much of an impression.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
TedMOct 17, 2006
Greg is an angry boy. NO talent so all he can do is be critical of those who take a risk.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
2
MarkyMarkOct 18, 2006
Boring. Characters uninteresting, and story dull. I just couldn't get myself to care about the characters or the movie. Kind of pretentious, like the movie thinks it is more interesting than it actually is, and so has tricked other Boring. Characters uninteresting, and story dull. I just couldn't get myself to care about the characters or the movie. Kind of pretentious, like the movie thinks it is more interesting than it actually is, and so has tricked other people into thinking that too...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
PhilipD.Nov 21, 2006
This is a brilliant film.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
RogerB.Dec 17, 2006
In one scene Ellie pulls down Lawrence's pant so Alan can see the mole on his ass that they are all discussing. When they showed a close up of his ass and Ellies face it look like boy and girl twins, both with warts. The most annoying In one scene Ellie pulls down Lawrence's pant so Alan can see the mole on his ass that they are all discussing. When they showed a close up of his ass and Ellies face it look like boy and girl twins, both with warts. The most annoying movie I've ever seen. No redeming qualities.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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