Plot: What’s it about?
There isn’t a lot to do in Xenia, Ohio, but the residents there somehow find ways to pass the time. Most of the time, this includes listening to heavy metal music, sniffing glue, riding bikes, and just meeting up with other townsfolk to converse. And in Xenia, that is no problem in the least, as the town is filled with quirky and strange people. Perhaps the most bored people in town are Tummler (Nick Sutton) and Solomon (Jacob Reynolds), who make their cash by killing alley cats and selling their corpses. This proves to be a worthwhile profession, but for the past few weeks it seems like some competition has surfaced. But they still try to earn their keep, so they can purchase glue to sniff and sex with a mentally ill woman, whose husband rents her out for pleasure. Also in Xenia are three sisters who practice their dance moves, work on their nipples, and play with their kitty, Foot Foot. But these people are just a small part of Xenia and the more you explore, the more unusual folks you’ll come across.
This film is a disjointed union of all sorts of characters, images, and ideas, but it never forms a solid picture in the end. Gummo has been both panned and praised by critics and viewers alike, which means this is one instance where you can’t trust any review. So this one rambles along with no real point or message, but it has a special unique energy to it, which I feel makes it well worth a look. Is this the inventive marvel some claim it to be? I don’t think this is a revelation in cinema by any means, but it does offer a nice alternative to mainstream movies. I think this picture works best as a sad comedy, as I find myself laughing more and more each time I see Gummo. I suppose you could view this as a drama, but I don’t really understand why, as you just have to laugh here sometimes. This film also contains some nudity, a lot of adult language, and some subject matter that could disturb easily offended viewers, so if that’s you, then stick with something a little lighter. If you’re a fan of offbeat cinema though, then Gummo is a release I recommend you look into.
This film was written & directed by Harmony Korine, who seems to have a knack for creating memorable and unusual characters. I don’t think Korine does much aside from that however, as there’s no real storyline here and not much in terms of breakthrough direction. His visual sense is solid, but very basic and in truth, I think he should focus on the writing aspect and allow someone to direct his work. But I do like the characters he creates, even if he seems to be limited to a certain brand of people and development. Korine also wrote and directed Julien Donkey-Boy, as well writing the screenplay for the film Kids. The cast here includes Chloe Sevigny, Jacob Reynolds, Carisa Glucksman, Nick Sutton, and even Korine makes a brief appearance here.
Video: How does it look?
It’s hard to believe a low budget film from the late 90’s is now on 4K courtesy of Criterion, but…here we are. I can say that this is a massive improvement over previous editions, with a cleaner source print and a very sharp overall image. This film uses some still photos, video footage, and other visual means, so those don’t look as good as the filmed image, but they do look as good as you could ask for. The image looks very solid and reflects the intended visual style, which means some muted colors at times, so don’t be concerned there. This might seem a little off in certain places, but rest assured, that is how the film is supposed to appear. Criterion’s 1.85:1 HEVC 4K image has really breathed new life into the film.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 surround track, which seems to be adequate in all respects. I do think the music would sound fuller in a new 5.1 mix, but in the end, the included track handles all the elements with no real problems. The music sounds good when given the limits of 2.0 surround, while the sound effects are well presented also. The main element here is dialogue, which comes across clean and crisp here, with no problems in terms of volume.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- New interview with Korine – A pretty straightforward interview with the acclaimed filmmaker as his roots growing up in Tennessee are reflected upon as well as his inagural work here.
- Conversation from 1997 between Korine and filmmaker Werner Herzog – Herzog, a supporter of the film, gives us his input on the movie circa the 1997 Telluride Film Festival.
- Split Screen: Projections episode from 2000 featuring Korine in conversation with host John Pierson – An episode of the series Split Screen is shown which ran in 2000. The host, John Pierson speaks with Harmony Korine about the film.
- Theatrical Trailer
- Illustrated Booklet – An essay by film critic Carlos Aguilar is included as are some production stills.
The Bottom Line
Simply put, Gummo isn’t an easy movie to watch. If you’re a fan of the 90’s independent cinema films like this and Larry Clark’s Kids, then you’ll be right at home. I have to tip my hat to Criterion on this, though. It’s never looked better and the supplements aren’t half bad either.
