Going indie: My two favorite mumblecore films

In not so many words, mumblecore is a subgenre of films, films that are mostly produced by independent (or indie) studios with meager budgets, organic acting, and mostly improvised dialogue.  Mumblecore films also focus more on characters than plot.  Over the past three decades, this subgenre of the film has gotten more traction what with a slew of indie directors following in the footsteps of guys like Woody Allen and Richard Linklater. 

Here are our two favorite mumblecore films.

Image source: hanoigrapevine.com

 Before Sunrise (1995)

Richard Linklater came out with 'Before Sunrise' in 1995 before the mumblecore movement became a full-blown hit.  The film focuses on two strangers played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, who meet on a train and decide to spend an after, then later on an evening, exploring Vienna.  The dialogue was just so natural that it was extremely easy to get into the feel of things.  Linklater later came out with two sequels to this exemplary drama.

Image source: escapepod.org

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A lot more recent, we have a film by Colin Trevorrow, starring Mark Duplass and Aubrey Plaza.  Mark Duplass plays Kenneth, an eccentric and rather private person who puts an ad seeking out someone to go back in time with.  Aubrey Plaza plays an intern at a publication who is sent to investigate the ad and possibly write an article about it.  They meet and find out they have a lot in common.  It’s heartwarming and funny, and incredibly worth your time. 


Jeff Mohlman is a college student, writer, and art and movie enthusiast who studies at the University of Ohio. For more on Jeff and his interests, check out this page.