I am Not a Hipster2012
What makes this film worth watching?
"...the kind of lovingly crafted, deeply affecting drama that gives small indie films a good name." - Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times
4 members like this review
The hipster aesthetic is kind of annoying. Nothing is taken as seriously as the next band nobody else has heard about and the vintage technology that should stay buried (cassettes, VHS tapes, bad clothing). This idea of a scene in which nothing serious, where kitsch is good (like the art exhibit or the music of Space Face being examples in the film) is really smothering to Brook, a emotional, singer-songwriter that feels the pressure of early success in a scene that worships him. He turns into an asshole about it because he knows that there is an emptiness in everyone around him, yet everyone around him is so accepting of his damage and his outrage and his ability to cause chaos. This film is glaring in the way that it presents Brook, as someone irrational and angry and stubborn, but the viewer wants to know why he acts like this, that by the end the film will prove that there are real reasons, that there is something to be revealed. Some sort of satisfying conclusion should happen in a film like this, and fortunately,this conclusion is good enough.
Starring
- Kevin Barnes - Home Brewer
- Justin Bauer - Velodrome Hipster
- Kelly Bennett - Violinist
- Dominic Bogart - Brook
- Kevin Bradel - Velodrome Fan
- David Bru - Kid in Classroom #1
- Josh Van Bruggen
- Lauren Coleman - Spring
- Casey Deidrick - Steve
- Kandis Erickson - Merrily
- Clarke Forrest
- Trevor Gore - Brook
- Michael Harding - Dad
- Darla Hawn - Casbah Band Member #1
- Brad William Henke - Bradley Haines
- Brad Kester
- Lindsay Lewis - Spring
- Justin Lynch - Kid in Classroom #2
- Eva Mah - Taylor
- John Meeks - Guitarist and Singer
- Tammy Minoff - Joy
- Lisa Ogdie - Mom
- Alvaro Orlando - Clarke
- Adam Shapiro - Dennis
- Adam Shapiro - Spaceface
- Paris Smith - Joy
- Jon Titterington - Pianist
- Tania Verafield - Kells
- Douglas Welcome - Bassist
- Joel P. West - Casbah Band Member #2
- Faith Williams - Merrily
Directed By
Executive Produced By
Produced By
Cinematography
Poster & Images
Member Reviews (8)
The hipster aesthetic is kind of annoying. Nothing is taken as seriously as the next band nobody else has heard about and the vintage technology that should stay buried (cassettes, VHS tapes, bad clothing). This idea of a scene in which nothing serious, where kitsch is good (like the art exhibit or the music of Space Face being examples in the film) is really smothering to Brook, a emotional, singer-songwriter that feels the pressure of early success in a scene that worships him. He turns into an asshole about it because he knows that there is an emptiness in everyone around him, yet everyone around him is so accepting of his damage and his outrage and his ability to cause chaos. This film is glaring in the way that it presents Brook, as someone irrational and angry and stubborn, but the viewer wants to know why he acts like this, that by the end the film will prove that there are real reasons, that there is something to be revealed. Some sort of satisfying conclusion should happen in a film like this, and fortunately,this conclusion is good enough.
This is a very intense movie. It was almost too hard to watch. I guess I'm too old to even know what a hipster is so I can't really comment on the relevance of the title. I felt really sorry for the protagonist. Apparently, he was emotionally damaged by the early death of his mother but exactly how it affected his creativity was not made clear. It really made me angry how he pushed away everyone who loved him. What is that about? The story almost connected when it showed the action of the tsunami but instead of this opening him up to the hard facts of life, it drove him deeper into his self-pity. His sisters were really great and he was really lucky to have such loving people in his life. A movie about them would really be interesting. Their acting was very real and I believed that they were his sisters. I also didn't understand the antagonism with his father. He seemed like a great guy. He loved his wife as much as, if not more than, Brooke so why was Brooke so angry? Because he didn't have the courage to go to the funeral? Is that what all the terrible behavior is about? Does he hate himself because of his weakness? I guess I'm being overly harsh on Brooke but I didn't understand why anyone liked him. Was it just because he wrote good songs? The only time I could bear his attitude was when he was teaching the little children. I could see, buried under all that cloying self-pity, a sweet caring guy. I think the movie would have worked better if it showed more of that side.
Brook is a asshole & i don't really care_he's just tedious and annoying_yeah it all makes sense at the end but so what_he's still an asshole & i don't like his music either_gee he's so special_really?_hum hum well maybe but i don't see it_so glad his sisters showed up and he sang for the kids in school_that was the best part of the film for me
So much heart in this movie, so sincere!
The tender side of hipsters....but really, it was a beautiful, sweet, well done film. Enjoyed it!
It was a realistic and emotional depiction.
depressing!
Beautifully done, and not overdone. Emotionally relevant and contemporary. Well written story with beautiful execution.