Gummo

Rating:
Summary: the first true american cinematic opus
Review: i had always known i had wanted to make films, i remember back to when i was in 7th grade writing little skits and scenes. i came upon this film on a whim in the video store and defered my eyes not for one second as it whirred in my VCR. I was astounded someone else in this world understood and saw the things i saw and could replicate them visually. Finally my visions are now a genre or style. this is without a doubt the greatest film i have ever scene, american or otherwise. if you havent seen this film then do yourself a favor and view it, make your own determinations. i know many will detest it, others will make it their bible of film. i know i have.

Rating:
Summary: total crap, ps total crap
Review: This movie made me throw up on myself, and will make you do the same. But it is a must see at least once. You will never see anything like this in your entire life. this movie will make the worldest greatest manic depressive relize how good he/she has it. Please watch gummo. If you actually think the movie is good though you should kill yourself, immediately.

Rating:
Summary: Harmony Korine's classic directorial debut
Review: It has been said that this films detractors simply do not understand the movie. This is a trifle unfair, as it has to be said that the deconstructed narrative and surreal imagery are not to everyone's taste. Personally, however, I found Gummo to be one of the most startling cinematic experiences of the 90s. Like many other fans of this film, I am frankly bored with the conventional narratives of mainstream cinema, and it is refreshing to see a film such as this that ditches plot and linear narrative for one simple reason - THIS FILM DOES NOT NEED A CONVENTIONAL PLOT. Gummo is a slice of life; a study of low life American white trash existence. The two main characters, Tummler and Solomon, are clearly bored with life in post-hurricane Xenia, Ohio: why else would they spend their time killing cats to sell to their local restaurant, in order to fund a glue sniffing habit? We are all aware of kids just like these two - ok, I don't know kids who kill cats to feed their fixes - but we all know kids who are just as desperate. The seemingly unconnected vignettes provide the backdrop to the life that they lead - wrestling skinhead twin brothers, child abusers, arm wrestling drunkard redneck families...what sort of lives would your kids lead if they grew up in such an environment. Korine is a true artist, a visual poet and a filmmaker who, in his own words, wants to find new ways of telling stories. If you are looking for a genuinely unconventional and entrancing movie, you really should see this film, and Korine's follow up - julien donkey boy, which even eclipses this films greatness.

Rating:
Summary: I'm reviewing it a SECOND time.
Review: I just want to say that those who bash "Gummo" don't understand it. I am not saying it's a really deep, super-thoughtful film, but it's got more meaning and feeling to it than say, "Erin Brockovich". I'd rather watch a girl shave her eyebrows off, rednecks fighting with chairs, and a boy wearing bunny ears play accordian in a filthy bathroom than sit through most of the movies that Hollywood churns out.

Rating:
Summary: worse then gummo on your shoe
Review: Kids was such a great movie, one had to be looking forward to seeing the Harmony Korine"s first feature film. Well, I don't think many will be looking forward to the next one. No plot, no story, no redeeming value. The is movie based around the theme of torturing cats and not much else. Not much else to say either.

Rating:
Summary: "GUMMO" STRANGE,WEIRD, ADDICTIVE AND BIZZARE"
Review: NOT FOR EVERYONE, THIS MOVIE GIVES WEIRD A NEW MEANING, YOU'LL SEE TWO TEEN-AGE BOYS KILLING CATS AND SELLING THEM TO THE LOCAL BUTCHER. YOU'LL SEE A MAN WRESTLE A KITCHEN CHAIR AND HE ALMOST LOSES. YOU'LL SEE BUNNY BOY PLAY THE ACCORDIAN WHILE SITTING ON THE TOILET. YOU'LL SEE A TEEN-AGE BOY TRY TO SEDUCE A BLACK,MALE MIDGET. WATCH TWO COWBOYS GUN DOWN BUNNY BOY IN A JUNKYARD IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. THIS DVD IS WORTH SEEING IF ONLY TO WATCH BUNNY BOY ON A SKATE BOARD. EXCELLENT ACTING AND ONCE YOU VISIT THIS TWILIGHT ZONE TOWN, YOU'LL NEVER FORGET IT!!!

Rating:
Summary: Those who can, do.
Review: It's hard to define which is worse: The reviewer admitting that the midwest is "full of white trash idiots." or the fact that people would take the time to degrade this film. Harmony Korine is unique in his outlook at film and his path to completion. I agree with him when he states that film should evolve, but hasn't. It has become a process that has drained all bits of originality,creativity and emotion and replaced those with formulaic scripts and type-cast actors. I admire Korine for his homage to Lars Trier, because Trier is the best thing to surface in a long time. And yet, Korine doesn't follow too closely behind Trier. There is a safe distance that allows for Korine to be himself and give himself a voice. Gummo wasn't meant to be a good film. Nor was it meant to be a Shock-Film. It was meant to be an honest attempt at capturing life, however distrubing and revolting we may find it. As in his Julien Donkey Boy, Korine has presented a startling realization that everything isn't as pretty and easy to control as we may be led to believe.

Rating:
Summary: Hey, I really like this movie
Review: OK, so this movie doesn't really get into your psychological realm like 'HurlyBurly', it doesn't smack you in the face like 'Requiem For a Dream' does, and it's not the brilliant fun of 'The Wizard of Oz.' First off, the cover of the movie alone is something to admire. That boy has the most creepiest face I've ever seen in my life, and I'm not saying this to be cruel. Is there a point in this movie? I think there is, and I think that point is that it's time for America and people in general to stop being so materialistic. Even people who claim to not care about their hair or teeth or shoes are lying. We have countless opportunities to make ourselves feel better about who we are. It could be a new shade or eyeshadow, a new cd, a new tie, whatever. Some people don't have that opportunity, they don't know what it's like to be able to get in the car and drive around for a few hours or for a few days. The people in 'Gummo' are trash because that's all they know how to be. There's no museum or park or health club or pizza place nearby. If we lived like that, maybe we'd be trying to figure out ways to alter our nipples, too. You never know.

Rating:
Summary: Jerry Springer is more entertaining
Review: For the people who keep grumbling about those of us that hate this film cant handle reality or would rather watch some Hollywood swill, please, you know little. If you are convinced that this film is making some profound statement on contemporary society and is a misunderstood artistic masterpiece for you I would like to quote Johnny Rotten when he said "Have you ever had the feeling you've been cheated?" The answer is, you have. Put on Jerry Springer, its far more entertaining and you get to see these same types of people for free and furthermore you can change the channel and its only an hour long. Gummo stinks. It is a tedious, boring, pretensious, and most of all pointless movie. After the first 10 minutes or so his point has been made that middle america is full of banal, pointless behavior, perpetrated by idiots, wow!! big suprise there!! (As I said watch Springer, it says the same thing and is more entertaining,) and then after the 10 minutes is up it goes on and on making the same point over and over. Then it just becomes exhausting. This is not art, it is simply a guy with a lack of ideas. Looking for a great film about the pointlessness of modern life try Todd Haynes Safe, a far superior piece of work. I am not a republican and love the unconventional and disturbing. Try Cronenbergs Crash even, another more interestting and well conceived film on modern exsistence, but please stop saying this movie is good, its not. And furthermore do you think its even fair for Korine to say every single person in Middle America or from a rural place is an idiot or mentally disturbed, please thats just plain snobbery and immaturity. Grow up!! The person that gave this dope a budget to make this movie should be fired, think of all the struggling filmmakers who could have something good, but they gave it to Korine, why because of Kids, which he did not direct and thank god for that, because it saves the film. THIS MOVIE IS VERY BAD!!!

Rating:
Summary: Note to a friend upon finishing this film:
Review: Have just finished watching gummo and can't begin to explain my feelings. Do you think anyone who wasn't brought up in a community similar to that portrayed can appreciate it? I can see two camps - those who hate it and those who love the "white-trash" novelty. I wasn't shocked - and nothing struck me as particularly funny - I feel like I didn't move for an hour and a half - can't remember the last time I felt so fully involved in a film and came away feeling so connected, so much love for the characters. We never lived like that, but nothing was alien about the film - can't really say what was right about it because I've never seen something that touched me right inside not just for a moment but on and on. There were certain records I listened to growing up that I loved so much I actually got frightened when the perfect song was passing because I forgot for a second that I could just play it again. Something you love so much you memorize not only the music, but the typeface on the liner notes. Kept feeling the same way during this movie. Wanted to telephone a friend and tell them to come now, but was afraid someone else would ruin it and now feel afraid to show it to someone else. I want to play it again, but feel like I should wait. Have read simply terrible things about this movie and guess most people want too much or too little or just don't have that gene they need. I doubt it's in the water of the Ohio River, but it may be something stuck around 1974. I never knew most of these people, never knew I loved them until someone showed me.