AS Mark Twain didn’t say, reports of the death of mumblecore are greatly exaggerated. As proof, I offer Andrew Bujalski’s wise and wondrous “Beeswax.”
Bujalski has been called the godfather of mumblecore, being that his “Funny Ha Ha” (2002) launched the movement. (He also directed “Mutual Appreciation,” in 2006.)
“Beeswax” revolves around twin 20-something sisters in Austin, Texas. Jeannie, who lives a full life despite being confined to a wheelchair, co-owns a vintage-clothing boutique. Sister Lauren is between jobs and boyfriends, and is considering moving to Africa to teach English.
Jeannie is going through problems with the boutique’s co-owner, Amanda (Anne Dodge).
Afraid she might be sued, Jeannie seeks advice from Merrill (Alex Karpovsky), an ex-lover who has just graduated from law school. They almost immediately tumble into bed, and the next morning can’t agree if their coupling qualified as “hot sex.”
This being mumblecore, there isn’t much more of a plot. But that hardly matters, thanks to a believable cast and dialogue and assured direction.
One reason the indie feels so real (as opposed to “reel”) is that the characters aren’t much different from the actors who play them.
The twins are portrayed by real-life ones, Tilly Hatcher (Jeannie) and Maggie Hatcher (Lauren), and Tilly is really wheelchair-bound, the result of a spinal-cord tumor.
“Beeswax” ranks as one of the most mature mumblecore exercises yet, a sure sign that the movement will live on despite its misguided detractors.
vam@nypost.com
BEESWAX Bee-movie. Running time: 100 minutes. Not rated (sexuality). At Film Forum, Houston Street, west of Sixth Avenue.