Finally

This is an old post that got lost in the shuffle. So here it is. I think it's as relevant as it was when I wrote it...

Mona and I finally received the Four Eyed Monsters DVD in the mail yesterday.

It took over 2 months for us to get it but seeing how they are basically a two person operation, we let it slide. Up to this point I've been watching their podcasts and following the life of this film. Arin and Susan, who are the writers and directors of this film, have done an amazing job marketing and promoting this film. I was fearing it was gonna suck huge. With so much sub-standard crap being thrown at us these days it's impossible to wade through the hype.

We really wanted to like this film but expected it to be a piece of crap.

We put the disc in our DVD player and braced ourselves for a pretentious, stilted, overly earnest look at NYC scenester life. After the first ten minutes Mona and I looked at each other and said - so far it's pretty good. This feeling only intensified as the movie went on. When it finally ended we both agreed that this movie was FUCKING AMAZING.

It is a deft look at relationships. The main characters, who are just romanticized versions of Arin and Susan, don't want to slide into the same shitty behavioral patterns they have in the past. These two don't want to become the same old Four Eyed Monsters (couples) you see at cafes, movies and park benches. It is funny too. I wasn't expecting it to be as droll as it was, you don't really get that from the podcasts they made to accompany this film. There are some great pseudo-doc moments that are on par with Christopher Guest's best stuff.

The editing, visual aesthetic and pacing are all first rate without being too slick.

So, yes this is a great addition to an already strong American idie scene that's been building over the last few years. I don't quite think this counts as being Mumblecore but it's just as good as any of those filmmakers entries.

you can see the whole film on youtube until Aug 15th.