Mutual Appreciation

2006

Mutual Appreciation

Critics Consensus

Director Bujalski continues to give cinematic voice to awkward, literate twentysomethings with noteworthy smarts and tenderness.

85%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 55

72%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,403
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Mutual Appreciation Photos

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Movie Info

Alan's (Justin Rice) band, the Bumblebees, has recently broken up after releasing an EP that got some attention. Alan has moved to Brooklyn, where he is trying to get solo gigs, and spending a lot of time with his old friend Lawrence (Andrew Bujalski, the film's writer/director) and Lawrence's girlfriend, Ellie (Rachel Clift). Alan quickly books a gig at hip Brooklyn club Northsix, and does a radio interview with Sara (Seung-Min Lee), during which he mentions that he doesn't even have a drummer. As luck would have it, Sara's brother, Dennis (Kevin Micka), is a drummer. Sara also makes it clear that she's attracted to Alan, which creates a problem when he decides he doesn't want to get involved with her. On the night of his gig, a friend of Alan's father with purported record-industry connections shows up, and invites Alan, Sara, and Dennis to his well-appointed apartment. Afterward, Alan drunkenly goes to a party where he was supposed to meet Lawrence and Ellie. As it turned out, they didn't make it, but a trio of women there (including one played by Kate Dollenmayer, who starred in Bujalski's debut feature, Funny Ha Ha), also drunk, have their own plans for him. Eventually, the unspoken attraction between Alan and Ellie comes to the fore. Mutual Appreciation was shot in black-and-white, and was a hit on the festival circuit before its theatrical release in September of 2006. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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Cast

Justin Rice
as Alan
Rachel Clift
as Ellie
Andrew Bujalski
as Lawrence
Seung-Min Lee
as Sara
Pamela Corkey
as Patricia
Kevin Micka
as Dennis
Ralph Tyler
as Jerry
Peter Pentz
as Scotty
Bill Morrison (II)
as Walter
Tamara Luzeckyj
as Esther
Mary Varn
as Rebecca
Kate Dollenmayer
as Hildy
Keith Gessen
as Julian
Salvatore Botti
as Ron
Ted Bergman
as Radio Chatter
Dr. Gary Alter
as Background Action
Anshul Amar
as Background Action
Alex Cho
as Background Action
Kelli Cho
as Background Action
Su Ciampa
as Background Action
Chris Clinton
as Background Action
Jason Feuerstein
as Background Action
Ben Gauthier
as Background Action
Charlie Grundy
as Background Action
Elizabeth Hart
as Background Action
Andrea Havis
as Background Action
Damian Hess
as Background Action
Dave Kobin
as Background Action
Rita Liefhebber
as Background Action
Adam Mansbach
as Background Action
Jed McCaleb
as Background Action
Anisha Narasimhan
as Background Action
James Ratner
as Background Action
Sand Reardon
as Background Action
Chris Regan
as Background Action
Jack Woodhull
as Background Action
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News & Interviews for Mutual Appreciation

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Critic Reviews for Mutual Appreciation

All Critics (55) | Top Critics (26)

  • You'll either be bored or fascinated by the Cassavetes-like reality of it all.

    May 4, 2007 | Rating: 2/5

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • Bujalski perfectly skewers what you might call the "sort-of" generation: educated, mid-20s white Americans hemmed in by their own non-committal uncertainty.

    May 4, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Steve Rose

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • The painful honesty and geeky cool draws you in, but the film's sweet-natured humour seals the deal.

    May 4, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Bujalski is a shrewd comic observer, and astute enough a director to get the most of his engaging actors.

    May 4, 2007 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Dawson

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • Despite their lackadaisical impression, the pictures are quite tightly structured: each scene covers emotional and narrative distance. Funny, forgiving, credible and deft, they offer much to appreciate.

    May 3, 2007 | Full Review…

    Ben Walters

    Time Out
    Top Critic

  • Just because it's like real life doesn't mean it's inherently interesting.

    Dec 8, 2006 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Ted Fry

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (55)

Audience Reviews for Mutual Appreciation

  • Dec 21, 2007
    Painfully film school project about narcissistic artists dong nothing in particular.
    Gordon A Super Reviewer
  • Oct 22, 2007
    [font=Century Gothic]In "Mutual Appreciation," Alan(Justin Rice) has just moved to New York from Boston after the breakup of his band, the Bumblebees. Once there, he looks up an old friend, Lawrence(Andrew Bujalski, who also wrote, directed and edited), who lives with his girlfriend, Ellie(Rachel Clift). Needing a guitarist for an upcoming gig, Alan finds one through a frisky DJ, Sara(Seung-Min Lee).[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Mutual Appreciation" is about the awkwardness of youth where anything is possible and full responsibility has not yet kicked in. The movie is slightly agreeable before falling into a familiar trap late. And while I encourage low budget independent filmmaking, there should still be a certain level of storytelling skills and convincing performances which are not the case here.[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Sep 13, 2007
    very low key black and white indie from america, looking at a struggling musician in newyork going about his life, trying to get noticed,hanging around with a couple, he knows while along the way getting involved with a lady, which hes not to sure about, is there someone else in his life. i like the look to this, very naturalistic. reminds me of other low budgets like clerks, where script is everything, great dialogue and a great central performance from justine rice, very naturalistic, the relationships seen here are well developed, and watching them act is a joy, a great look at life for strugglin musicians, a great film to watch and inspire budding directors, as this was very cheap to shoot, another great look at newyork on film, love low budget stuff coming out of america
    scott g Super Reviewer
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