Gummo (1997)

Simply Perfect

Admirable film.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Harmony Korine has hung onto some kind of entirely constructed "hipster" status since the 1990's, based on his claim that while skateboarding he met someone big in film and pitched an edgy, youth- oriented story idea, and secondly through verbally offered association with art film directors and appearing in advertising/youth culture handout's like VICE magazine.Harmony Korine's film "Gummo" is: a non-narrative black comedy about poverty and alienation in a very small town in Ohio, destroyed by freak weather incidents. The film is, also, neither funny or emotionally moving. Occasionally models or other *hipsters* (if that's still a valid term) name drop his films among better quality releases, as if his solidarity with poverty and American suffering is somehow valid. The truth is that Harmony Korine is a social conservative: his films all play off of the same riffs and themes that the Youth of Today are mislead, transgressive, shocking, out of control, unloved etc. He might as well be making films for a conservative family values center.Films are valid if the emotional and dramatic reward is there for an audience, not because of the directors posturing and this film is particularly slight in it's construction, and somewhat forgettable.

If you are looking for structure or a true story line don't watch this film. That however doesn't mean it's a bad film. If you are an independent buff you will love this work. If not .. then it would leave you saying WTF was this person thinking LOL It is bizarre, disgusting and horrifying, yet you have to see what's coming next. Because you in no way know .. It is an interesting work, and a film I own and pull out and watch every now and again. It changes scenes revolving around a small group of characters that are sure to surprise/offend. Probably the thing I found interesting and it's not something you catch when you first watch it, is that there pretty much is no parental supervision throughout the film.

Gummo is by far one of my favorite movies ever. Not following standard cinematic techniques and ideas, gummo is more of an experimental/art house film. It follows a small, hurricane stricken community in Xenia, Ohio and the daily struggles with their depressing and nihilistic Life. Nihilism, Religion, Poverty,Drug-use, and mental health are among the numerous issues and subjects explored by Harmony over the course of this film. The film is made up of a number of clips, centred around the people who live in the town. On the surface, this film is pure trash, but the more you delve into the disgusting and filthy masterpiece that is, Gummo, the more tragically beautiful the movie becomes. After watching gummo for the first time, I felt that I needed to have a shower. The movie leaves you feeling disgusting and sickened. And let me warn you, watching gummo is kind of like consuming a Harmony Korine "drug". By this, I mean that you cannot stop thinking about the movie for about 12 hours. Gummo is something that everyone should experience. An art-house cult classic. "Life is great. Without it, you'd be dead."

In my opinion it is an important movie. It's an aberrant creation, but I love it. The director try to show everything for you how can be gruesome the life. The actors is incredible and the direct too. I wonder what Korine was thinking while direct this movie. He sure can an interesting guy. I meet with he with pleasure.Other his creatures are awesome too - all movie are an interesting experience. I think people can understand to essence so much, however it is very important in my opinion.It's an masterpiece for everyone. You must not be an artist that you feel it.This is an underground recorded for some people who can understand what say it. Must everyone see it!