WTF?! » Fun Factor » Entertainment Avenue

[53V3N]

This thread is for WTFilm Club members to discuss Gummo.

[3Dradio]

This movie was unique and somewhat enjoyable, and I felt it would be best if I evaluated it based on each individual element. Point of curiosity: Was I supposed to view this movie stoned and/or drunk? I get the distinct impression it caters more specifically to that mindset and would have been much better had I been hammered.

Overall: 3.5/5. The characters and their stories were more realistic than the characters in many other films I've seen, and it gives the movie a mock-umentary feel at times. I didn't quite enjoy the killing cats element, but I'm sure it was simulated.

Continuity: 2.5/5. The mock-umentary feel was at times replaced by a cinematic feel (sometimes within the same scene) and distracted from the continuity. I felt my ADD kicking in hardcore. I did, however, like how the characters' stories were taken in small doses and staggered throughout the film. Just as you were getting tired of watching not entirely unattractive blondes peel tape off of their nipples and feel up the kitty, you got to see Bunny Boy get his ass handed to him by two kids with capguns.

Characters: 4/5. I did like that the characters were so realistic. Unlike most cinematic experiences, there was not a looker in the bunch. In fact, I found most of the characters to be uglier than a sack of assholes, though this didn't detract from the film's overall likeability. I could have done without the retarded chick completely, let alone her shaving her eyebrows off, but I guess it does add to the film's overall grittiness. Also: Did anyone else get the impression that these people fucking hate furniture? It was kind of funny to see shirtless man #36 get his ass handed to him by a muscular midg...I mean little person, but did he have to go all "hulk smash" on the table? Then what was up with wrestling the chair into a chunk of twisted metal? I know I draw this assumption from the short backstory of Tummler, but...damn.

Still on the topic of the characters: What's up with the accents? I thought this was someplace in Ohio they're portraying. Is Xenia located near or right on the Kentucky border or something? Nope, I looked it up on Google maps...it's between Cincinnati and Columbus. Maybe they used the southern accent to make the people sound more impoverished or uneducated...I dunno. Anyone know if people from Xenia talk this way?

Music: 1/5. I'm sure this isn't the most important element to some, but I actually muted the movie during some parts. I'm all about the whole experience, don't get me wrong, but this crap was downright grating.

Plotline: 1/5. Not to be harsh, but there was no overall storyline. I'm sure this was probably engineered by the filmmaker to lend to the film's overall Mock-umentary feel and does so quite well, but it does leave the film without a plot. The characters' stories themselves were short stories and installments of sometimes larger stories, but only slightly so, and still very little cohesion. There was lots of conflict (including the Kevorkian death of an elderly comatose woman ), but no resolution. The movie didn't even end, they just started rolling credits. I'm sure that in the end this was also engineered by the filmmaker to lend to the Mock-umentary feel, but I feel I was left hanging moreso than usual, and much moreso than necessary.

Concept: 4/5. I too grew up around a town which was once basically wiped off the face of the earth by a devastating tornado. I remember that for years afterward and still to this day some are haunted by the memories of the destruction that comes at the hand of a well crafted storm. Our town suffered not nearly as much as this town did (or at least that's the impression I get from watching Gummo), but it was something that hit close to home (no pun intended, knock on wood, etc.)

My personal category, the ADD Meter: 3.75/5. I give it this score because it did challenge the limits of my ADD while also catering to it by frequently switching characters. If it did not constantly switch characters, I'd have been forced to give it a 2 or lower as my mind would have wandered off and got lost...and possibly run over.

Uniqueness: 5/5. I can safely say I've never seen a movie like this one, and it was not an altogether unenjoyable movie. The fact that it's in a class basically all its own contributes to the film's moderately high 3Drating.

Favorite line from the movie: "This my baby...I breast feed him..." uttered by the doll-toting retarded girl, who is, consequently, my least favorite character from the whole film. Introducing her with her neverending musical recitation of the ABC's was the worst possible way to introduce her character.

Favorite character: Bunny Boy. Why? 1.) He never uttered so much as a single syllable and runs around wearing only a pair of shorts and bunny ears, and yet managed to make out with both of the not-completely-hideous blonde girls. 2.) Despite his lack of dialogue, he was one of the most memorable characters (perhaps it's the bunny ears), as well as the first character you meet.

Even though they weren't my favorite or even least favorite characters, I have to acknowledge Solomon and Tummler, and that I did notice that the film seemed to anchor them most of the time while taking tangents from their cat-killing escapades and the occasional glue-sniffing to catch up to the other characters.

[Bathory]

I can't find this movie anywhere for rent and due to excessive xmas shopping, I can't afford to buy it for myself right now. Anyone know where I can stream it?

[Killerbean]

Dislike. I couldn't even finish the movie. Made it just over half way through.


While the characters were being well developed, they grated on my nerves. I grew up with kids similar to those going to the same schools I went to, and I didn't like them then either. Just the way they talked pissed me off.

The flow of the movie was all fucked up. While each scene brought out characters from the same world, there was more relief that the scenes were changing than there was any anxiousness to see the plot moved forward.

I stuck with it for a good 30 minutes after I was determined to abandon watching it hoping that I would see the art behind it, or that some semblance of a storyline I could relate to would surface. No such luck.

Fuck this movie.

[Is Incompletely]

Wait... there's a movie called Gummo? Granted I'm drunk right now, but I'm pretty sure when I wasn't drunk I never heard of a movie called Gummo gracing the silver screen of stardom.

[Draygoon]

The director's intent was to act as if he dropped cameras into the everyday life of a town destroyed by a storm. There's no plot development. 3D's summation was satisfactory on that part.

Basically, it's a movie about nothing. A quick glimpse into the decay of a town. We see how these displaced, directionless people occupy themselves from day to day. A narrative plot would suggest that there's some hope for these people to improve themselves, but that's a silly fantasy. That's not what this movie's about.

As for 3D's confusion as to their accents, Gummo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The film was not shot on location, but in Tennessee.

[Obdurate]

First of all, props to whoever recommended this movie. This is one of the greatest movies ever made. Possibly my favourite, but there are a few that can give it a run.

I think 3Dradio made a really nice first post so I think I'll just talk about that post to start things off.

 Quote: Originally Posted by 3Dradio

This movie was unique and somewhat enjoyable, and I felt it would be best if I evaluated it based on each individual element. Point of curiosity: Was I supposed to view this movie stoned and/or drunk? I get the distinct impression it caters more specifically to that mindset and would have been much better had I been hammered.

The best advice, which was the best advice I was given, is to watch this movie expecting absolutely nothing. The person who told me this told me absolutely nothing about it. Just watch it. Any expectations will change the experience way too much.

Quote:

Overall: 3.5/5. The characters and their stories were more realistic than the characters in many other films I've seen, and it gives the movie a mock-umentary feel at times. I didn't quite enjoy the killing cats element, but I'm sure it was simulated.

That's one thing that made me a little uncomfortable, and not in a good way. The possible animal abuse. As far as I know, the cats were simulated or already dead. Take that as you will. Even so, I can separate the finished product from the methods to some degree, otherwise I wouldn't like Herzog or Jodorowsky, among some others. I would rate the movie a 5/5, though.

Quote:

Continuity: 2.5/5. The mock-umentary feel was at times replaced by a cinematic feel (sometimes within the same scene) and distracted from the continuity. I felt my ADD kicking in hardcore. I did, however, like how the characters' stories were taken in small doses and staggered throughout the film. Just as you were getting tired of watching not entirely unattractive blondes peel tape off of their nipples and feel up the kitty, you got to see Bunny Boy get his ass handed to him by two kids with capguns.

I don't have much to add to this. I mean, I loved it for the same reason you didn't seem to care for it. The movie had no rules. Or it had rules and it disregarded its own rules. As Ebert said, Korine is an untamed director.

Quote:

Characters: 4/5. I did like that the characters were so realistic. Unlike most cinematic experiences, there was not a looker in the bunch. In fact, I found most of the characters to be uglier than a sack of assholes, though this didn't detract from the film's overall likeability. I could have done without the retarded chick completely, let alone her shaving her eyebrows off, but I guess it does add to the film's overall grittiness. Also: Did anyone else get the impression that these people fucking hate furniture? It was kind of funny to see shirtless man #36 get his ass handed to him by a muscular midg...I mean little person, but did he have to go all "hulk smash" on the table? Then what was up with wrestling the chair into a chunk of twisted metal? I know I draw this assumption from the short backstory of Tummler, but...damn.

Haha, I love the chair demolishing. Such a class scene. The movie just isn't entertaining in a traditional sense. One of the many reasons I adore it. The characters were realistic, but exaggerated and completely out there at the same time. There were definite highs and lows.

It also helped that Korine didn't get that many "real" actors for this.

Quote:

Music: 1/5. I'm sure this isn't the most important element to some, but I actually muted the movie during some parts. I'm all about the whole experience, don't get me wrong, but this crap was downright grating.

You didn't like the black metal, punk, various extreme genres mixed with the odd, charming pop music? It defied conventional soundtracks. The part where the two kids (can't remember names... it's been a while since I actually saw it) are biking down the street to the metal pretty much defined the movie for me. It showed villainy in a way that a lot of movies struggle to do.

But I definitely understand how one doesn't like it.

Quote:

Plotline: 1/5. Not to be harsh, but there was no overall storyline. I'm sure this was probably engineered by the filmmaker to lend to the film's overall Mock-umentary feel and does so quite well, but it does leave the film without a plot. The characters' stories themselves were short stories and installments of sometimes larger stories, but only slightly so, and still very little cohesion. There was lots of conflict (including the Kevorkian death of an elderly comatose woman ), but no resolution. The movie didn't even end, they just started rolling credits. I'm sure that in the end this was also engineered by the filmmaker to lend to the Mock-umentary feel, but I feel I was left hanging moreso than usual, and much moreso than necessary.

Draygoon made a good point, but I'll also say this:
Yeah, there's no real straight forward narrative, but Korine would be the first to tell you that he loves images. The things he finds beautiful are things that others would not. There's a reason he ends the movie with the special ed woman singing. Because it's beautiful and tragic. Gummo is like looking at some pictures. It's sometimes beautiful, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes incredibly harsh, sometimes hilarious. This movie says nothing, does nothing, but yet it tackles subjects like suicide, poverty, education, etc more effectively than tons of films. It's life.

Quote:

Uniqueness: 5/5. I can safely say I've never seen a movie like this one, and it was not an altogether unenjoyable movie. The fact that it's in a class basically all its own contributes to the film's moderately high 3Drating.

And there won't ever be a movie like it. I mean, there are similar artists out there that Korine clearly got inspiration from (Herzog), but no movie will be this. Korine doesn't even watch movies while he writes, to free himself from the possible influence of external factors.

[disturbed86]

The cat drowning didn't actually bother me that much, mainly because I could tell with some ease how they faked it. What disturbs me is the one biker kid's hair.

edit: and that blasted song at the beginning of the movie.