By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Aaron Katz
Starring: Cris Lankenau | Erin Fisher | Sarah Hellman
Country: united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 78
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914382/
Michael says: “Since it didn’t win the John Cassavetes Award at the Indie Spirits, but I did get to see director Aaron Katz, who I got to chat with, on TV, I thought I should review the film QUIET CITY which opened up this season’s Sunday Eye Opener last week. I thought I was over the Mumblecore movement after my dislike for HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS, but QUIET CITY proved to me that Mumblecore isn’t really a description of a category of films, it’s a tag created by the press to lump a very wide variety of films that happen to share a few characteristics together. Sure QUIET CITY is a low-budget, dialogue-heavy, plot-light film that stars friends of the director, and uses locations that are accessible (like friends’ apartments) but I don’t think that’s enough to categorize a film. QUIET CITY also has moments of unexpected beauty, some beautiful cinematography, an unexpectedly effective pair of improvised performances, and stronger similarities to the strangers meeting and forming a bond genre found in such films as LOST IN TRANSLATION, LAST NIGHT and ONCE than in other Mumblecore films.
“Jamie is arrives in New York City from Atlanta to meet her friend for a little vacation. When her friend doesn’t show, she asks the apparently harmless looking Charlie for some help. They end up spending the weekend together and maybe start to fall in love a little in a way that is honest and refreshing. Katz plotted the film and the two charming and talented actors, Erin Fisher and Cris Lankenau (neither professional actors) improvised the dialogue. Interspersed among their scenes together, Katz and his cinematographer Andrew Reed add some gorgeous shots of the city (underlining the film’s title) in a way that somehow deepens the films artistry. QUIET CITY was just released on DVD with Katz’ first feature, DANCE PARTY U.S.A. and I highly recommend it. 4 ½ cats.”