`Humpday’ explores intimacy of male friendship

[WillParkinson]

`Humpday’ explores intimacy of male friendship

(Los Angeles) The mumblecore genre goes adult in more ways than one with “Humpday,” a comedy about a couple of longtime buddies - both straight men - who decide to make a gay porn film together.

Writer-director Lynn Shelton has said she’d prefer not to have her third feature classified as part of the mumblecore movement, indies known mostly for featuring twentysomethings who sit around and talk about themselves. Nevertheless, many of the trademarks are undeniably there: the low-budget aesthetic, the naturalism of the dialogue and the unabashed solipsism. These are people who are interested in themselves and others like them, and if you’re interested in them too, that’s cool. But if not, no worries.

Regardless of labels, “Humpday” marks a maturation of this style: For one thing, the characters are in their early 30s and one of them has a steady job, a house and a wife with whom he’s trying to start a family. (He happens to be played by actor-filmmaker Mark Duplass, who was behind such mumblecore staples as “The Puffy Chair” and “Baghead” with his brother, Jay.) Also, there’s a discernible plot with actual tension. “Humpday” has a lot of intentionally awkward laughs but it also has some quiet, intimate moments that will make you hold your breath, wondering how they might play out.

Ben (Duplass) and Andrew (Joshua Leonard) are old college pals who haven’t seen each other in a decade. When world-traveler Andrew shows up on Ben’s suburban doorstep in the middle of the night, they easily return to a teasing, brotherly banter. Then at a booze-and-drug-fueled party the next night, they wind up daring each other to have sex on camera - supposedly in the name of art for an amateur film contest.

http://www.365gay.com/news/humpday-explores-intimacy-of-male-friendship/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMr_LQDlYH8

Apparently the film won an award at Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize.

[Richard Steele]

1. OK, as much as I hate to admit that I'm old and out of touch....

...I just have to ask what "mumblecore" is.

:shrug:

[WillParkinson]

2. I'm glad you asked, because I wasn't sure either. This is what Wiki says:

Mumblecore is an American independent film movement that arose in the early 2000s.<1><2> It is primarily characterized by ultra-low budget production (often employing digital video cameras), focus on personal relationships between twenty-somethings, improvised scripts, and non-professional actors. Filmmakers in this genre include Lynn Shelton, Andrew Bujalski, Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Aaron Katz, Joe Swanberg, Todd Rohal and Ry Russo-Young.<1><3>

The term "mumblecore" was coined by Eric Masunaga, a sound editor who has worked with Bujalski. Masunaga coined the term one night at a bar during the 2005 South by Southwest Film Festival, but it was Bujalski who first used it in an interview with indieWIRE.<2> The directors of the films are sometimes referred to collectively as "mumblecorps," as in press corps. Film journalists have also used the terms "bedhead cinema" and "Slackavetes," a reference to independent film director John Cassavetes.<2>

[Richard Steele]

4. So, it's basically just the latest hip term for "Indie" film.

Got it. :thumbsup:

[xchrom]

3. it sounds interesting -- some of the comments were interesting as well.

are we as narrow minded as some straight people about who can enjoy same gender sex?

and if some straight 'stumbles' on same gender sex -- does it HAVE to be 'life changing'?

as a young guy most of my early sexual encounters were with straight men.

and so i'm surprised that the same does not seem to be true for so many younger gay people.

i am from a different generation i need to add.