Baghead

Baghead

Mumblecore,” a modestly named movement in new American indies, is not an earthquake like the French New Wave; it’s more of a tremor in the bushes. The Duplass brothers’ “Baghead” is one such film. Mumblecore films are ultra low budget, shot on video with an affinity for handheld Queasy Cam effects and, more often than not, set in the woods where locations and extras aren’t an issue.

Peter Debruge, whose Variety article was definitive in defining mumblecore, claims “The Blair Witch Project” wasn’t really a mumblecore movie but was an early example of a Do It Yourself In The Woods genre that doesn’t particularly need any more titles. However, Jim Emerson editor of rogerebert.com tells me that a mumblecore shot in the woods is a bonus: “Actually they’re more likely to be shot in the filmmakers’ apartments.”

If you get up after 10 or 15 minutes, you will have seen the best parts of the film. “Baghead” begins at an underground film festival where after his premiere director of $1,000 epic (“We Came Naked”) fields questions. Knowledgeable festival veterans smile at such questions as: “What’s your budget?” and “Did you use improvisation?” I am puzzled by why budget should be so much concern but those who ask that obligatory question always nod gratefully for answer.

Anyway our heroes attend screening and try crash invitation less after party. Walking past security guard while having animated cell-phone conversation seems to work but not when you lack cell phone and try fake it with wallet. At their own after-after-party four protagonists decide aw heck we’ll make our own movie.

Matt (Ross Partridge) leader of pack; his long-time on-again off-again girlfriend Catherine (Elise Muller); buddy Chad (Steve Zissis) and Chad date Michelle (Greta Gerwig), who seems more attracted to Matt than Chad generate what can generously be described as sexual tension in the woods although not by me.

Their location is cabin 11 miles up country road (this distance later becomes important). They settle down to write screenplay about four people in cabin who are threatened by guy with bag over his head. I guess it’s guy Girls aren’t that stupid During creativity session one of them indeed gets scared by guy with bag over head and apparently couldn’t have been one other three This baghead keeps reappearing at perfectly timed intervals suggesting he must have copy of unwritten screenplay.

Here’s where I have my problem A total uninformed outsider how is he going happen to be 11 miles out in woods with bag over head just happen stumble upon these four people who happen writing exactly such story? I weary yes I weary He is obviously simply device make movie long enough qualify feature denouement will stunning underwhelmingness.

In the dialogue, there are way too many “Matt!” and “Catherine!” and “Chad!” and “Michelle!” and “Matt! Where are you, Matt?” And other such statements. You can find better movies than this one. Thousands of them. Their budget was low. Yes, I think I sensed that they relied on improvisation. The movie had its world premiere at Sundance 2008 where I assume they all got invited to the after party, so I hope someone slipped in making a cell call on his wallet.

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