runamokprods
Intelligent, very low key mumble-core comedy/ drama that I liked better on reflection than while I was first watching it. While I was viewing, the lack of plot and forward motion seemed frustrating. But looking back I found all the little honest moments of human weirdness that Bujalski captured with his (apparently) semi-improvised style gave me more of a real look into the lives of these late 20 somethings than I would have gotten from a more plot driven narrative. And there IS a plot – about careers, about commitments, and about friendship. The tension over whether two friends who co-own a shop are actually going to sue each other over how the store is run is palpable, if not heart pounding. It's just the focus is more on details than on the big picture -- which is actually a lovely change from most films out there. Kudos too for having a lead character in a wheelchair and a) not making that the most important thing about her, and b) allowing her to be sexy, sexual, funny, angry, grumpy – all the things people with challenged lives rarely are in movies.
Greg W. Locke
By the time the movie Chop Shop ended I wanted to move to New York and befriend writer/director Ramin Bahrani, simply because his movie was so good and made me feel so much. I thought that would be a one-of-a-kind reaction, but the moment writer/director Andrew Bujalski's third feature, Beeswax, ended, I was looking around online, trying to find his contact info.I gave up on that quickly, instead opting to start the movie over from the beginning. If you've seen Bujalski's other works, you know what to expect: artfully told - and small - stories that feel very authentic. Beeswax, even more than his other films, feels very, very real. And while the story is simple, there's so much nuance in the performances and production style that you feel as if you've seen some grand tale unfold.So, the story. Two twin twenty-something sisters living in the city of Austin, Texas work their way through two very different struggles. Jeannie (played by Tilly Hatcher) is an overachieving boutique clothing/thrift store owner who is worried that her business partner, Corinne (Katy O'Connor), is planning to sue her; all along she spends time with Merrill (Alex Karpovsky), her on-again love who attempts at every turn to help her through her legal woes. Jeannie's sister, Lauren (Maggie Hatcher), is kinda/sorta looking for work and, more or less, just sort of breezing through life - hanging out, getting high and just being all around socially pleasant and fun. We get the impression that Lauren's only real concern (aside from maybe money) is her need to be around for her sister, who, in addition to having problems at work, is a paraplegic young woman with much stress in her life. Both sisters are incredibly kind and soulful people who I came to love through the movie - especially Jeannie. (Also, both of the sisters are absolute knockouts who resemble Juliette Binoche, which can only be a good thing.)I won't say too much more about the story, aside from mentioning that, at most times, you simply feel like you're hanging out with the sisters and Merrill, who, despite tense times, seem to almost always be enjoying themselves - joking and teasing each other in loving ways. The dialogue never feels too much like a movie and the story just sort of falls into place - less a framework than it is a reason to talk. All that said, Bujalski's script is wonderful, and brought to life very well by the solid, very natural cast.I kept thinking that, at some point, I'd feel the wear of Bujalski's style-over-substance approach, as this was my experience with his other two movies (which are both worth checking out). Didn't happen. Not even close. I was very into the story of the two sisters at every moment, not so much caring about where the story was going as I was excited to see what I'd learn next about these girls and their world.And then there's the end. Ohhhhhhh what an ending. I won't say a peep, other than that it was the very rare conclusion that had me simultaneously screaming, shouting, howling and smiling. It was, in a word, perfect. Major, major kudos to Bujalski, his crew and the Hatcher sisters. Great, great work all around; okay, time for a third viewing!
jeffreydotfong
I have never been so awkward for 100 odd minutes in my life. The dialog was pointless, there was no story and the characters were not interesting at all.Most scenes I was pressing up against the cinema chairs so hard in an awkward squirm I think I may have bent them.The film revolves around flighty no-hopers that you can only feel sorry for. Otherwise, they were so annoying and agonising, I just felt like clawing my eyeballs out with a spoon.I understand this was an alternative film. And I guess a pointless, boring and frustrating film is alternative. But it was by no means enjoyable.Best quote I heard after the film "Eh? I don't get it", "Come on I'll explain on the ferry, hurry up I don't want to miss it. This night has been enough of a disaster already".Thanks to the NZ international film festival for wasting 2 hours of my life. Pretty disappointing.
eli ward
I cannot believe i watched the whole film (actually i didn't, normally i would pause when making a cuppa, but i just let it run because it is clear that i was not missing any thing)- what on earth is the point of this film?? There is so much, "Oh MY Gaaawd", americanisations and up turning cadences in sentences, when i shut my eyes, i thought i was watching South Park - (no disrespect to South Park!).It is a fly on the wall film type and i give it a two because the actors do that quite well. Not much story or plot and i am sure there should be a beginning, middle and an end! Skip or excuse yourself should this ever be offered to you to watch! Sorry Sisters!
