Confusions of an Unmarried Couple

Confusions of an Unmarried Couple is a poignant relationship comedy that sees the Butler Brothers further developing their own unique voice. Self-deprecating slob Dan (Brett Butler) leaves his girlfriend Lisa (Naomi Johnson) after he catches her in bed with another woman—just days after she accepts his marriage proposal. His clumsy attempts at reconciliation—-interspersed with the couple's revealing video diaries-—are more subtle than the sometimes sophomoric Kevin Smith-styled antics of their earlier film, ultimately revealing Confusions as a more emotionally sophisticated film. But Confusions still manages to maintain a raw edge through the Brothers' use of clever, sexually frank dialogue. Technically, it's an improvement over their earlier efforts as well, with tighter editing, considered cinematography, and more believable acting. Equal parts Woody Allen and the Hanson Brothers, Dan's private thoughts and self-delusions provide most of the film's spot-on humour, and though the results aren't laugh-out-loud funny, Confusions is still a cut above most indie relationship comedies, and deserves to be seen by a wide audience.

Confusions of an Unmarried Couple is a snappy indie film made by the Butler brothers, who split writing, directing, editing, cinematographing and starring duties between them. The film is structured around a lengthy conversation between Dan and Lisa, a couple that were engaged until he walked in on her with another woman. It's full of crackling, funny dialogue and fairly insightful observations about people and relationships.

I'm sure the filmmakers have heard this from countless viewers, but the film fits in the same stylistic and thematic universe as early 90s indies like Richard Linklater's work and, in particular, Kevin Smith. From Linklater we've got the dialogue based film, echoing something like Before Sunset. The Butlers clearly love the way people talk and take great pleasure in crafting literate, but profane banter for the two lead characters. In that respect, there's a lot of Kevin Smith in here. He's become the target of a lot of haters, and certainly his recent films have their flaws, but I still really like Clerks and love Chasing Amy. Confusions exists in the same universe as these films, and is perhaps even more professional looking and certainly better acted than Clerks.

The film centers almost exclusively on a real time conversation between Dan and Lisa, which is occasionally interrupted by talking head video of Dan and Lisa reflecting on the relationship. The talking head segments keep things from getting tedious, it's not easy to keep an audience interested when your film has only one setting and two characters, but the fairly consistent hit ratio on jokes made it work. The film uses slightly stylized dialogue, the characters speaking the way we'd all want to speak, in witty, literate sentences, rather than the halting, um interrupted way that most of us actually speak. I like this kind of dialogue, it helps to keep things a bit lighter.

The film works best when it remains in an emotionally real universe, and allows the characters to go to a darker place. Dan vacillates between likability and douchebaggery in a way that makes us understand why she could like him, but also sympathize when she rejects him. In the way that a lot of male filmmakers do, our point of view character is the male, we understand what he's doing, but Lisa remains more enigmatic. She seems like an artsy person with larger concerns, why was she attracted to Dan in the first place? The film does a good job of showing how he can be charming at moments, and that the two of them can work well together. Because we're coming in after the relationship is over, the two of them focus on the bad times, but there's still that rapport and connection that draws them together.

Not to dwell on Smith, but the emotional arc of their relationship is reminiscent of Chasing Amy, with a less experienced male letting his insecurity destroy the relationship. It's a relatable arc, and I think it works here by giving Dan a motivation for some of his hurtful moments. Not that Lisa is devoid of negative characteristics, there's a balance in the relationship, but I feel like we're given less access to her internal motivations, or perhaps they're just less relatable to me. Either way, the characters work fairly well.

While I liked the dialogue, I had an issue with the way it was filmed. A lot of the scenes were shot in lengthy singles, with the camera panning from character to character as they spoke. The problem is, the characters would always pause as the camera panned, then start when it was on them. This made things feel a bit unnatural. It would have been better to keep the conversation flowing naturally and just catch up as they panned. There's not that much to do with this film visually, but there are some interesting shots, the final scene is really well staged, definitely the visual highlight of the film.

In terms of acting, the film's got its on and off moments. Naomi Johnson, who plays Lisa, is great in the talking head scenes, but not as believable in the real world scenes. Brett Butler as Dan is really funny, but not always believable on an emotional level.

But, ultimately, the film has enough to entertain. I love snappy banter, and this film provides that in spades. There's a lot of really funny stuff here, and also a believable emotional story. That's more than you'll get out of virtually all Hollywood comedies. It's a bit reductive to say, if you enjoy Kevin Smith movies, you'll enjoy this, but really, that's the best thing I can say. It's that same style and the same satisfaction.

I loved this film. I attended the Indiana University of South Bend Independent Video and Film Festival and was so impressed with this film that was created by a couple of great guys (had the chance to speak with them a bit - very genuine). The movie was so funny and entertaining. I already had it in my mind who I was going to vote for for the audience choice award but then I watched this film and changed my vote. Watch it if you can! There were some laugh out loud funny moments. Many actually. The acting was done in such a way that it didn't really seem like they were acting. Some of the dialogue and banter back and forth is just "spot on" with some relationship drama that I have experienced.

Confusions of an Unmarried Couple is like the independent antidote to the sickening Hollywood rom-com. This is a funny and intelligent look at the dysfunctional relationship between two real people, no sugar coating, no bull and lots of laughs.

We open with a dishevelled Dan as he lies rotting on the couch, drinking beer, wallowing in bitterness and scratching the days since his break up with Lisa off his calendar. Dan and Lisa were in a relationship, in fact they had just gotten engaged when Dan came home from work one night and caught Lisa in bed with another woman. He left her and we pick up the story a while later when Dan decides to go back and confront her.

The film plays out in a series of recorded interviews, documentary style, with both characters and then the main thread of action which focuses on Dan's return to their home and the resulting conversation which quickly descends into an emotional argument. Dan and Lisa are the only two characters in the film but there is easily enough going on between them to hold your interest. The documentary style blurs into the action and is surprisingly effective mainly because the script is really sharp and witty.

The film was made by the Butler Brothers, Brett and Jason, and Brett stars as Dan. These guys are genuine independent film makers with very little in the way of budget and other than the music they seem to have done the whole thing themselves.

I'd highly recommend this, it made me laugh out loud more than once.

The Butler Bros. continue to amaze me. As filmmakers, they have a mental library of great directors they draw upon to make their own works. More importantly, I never feel that they are unworthy of the significant comparisons.

Take the Bros. newest film Confusions of an Unmarried Couple, for example. The influences of John Cassavetes are unmistakable. It's easily the strongest film to date from two of the strongest voices in indie film. But that also means it's time for them to step it up to the next level of film-making.

Confusions follows Dan, who months after finding his girlfriend Lisa in bed with another girl decides to collect his belongings from the apartment they shared. Apparently looking for a confrontation, Dan makes sure that Lisa is home before he barges in. An argument, months in the making, it lives up to everything a knock-down, drag out relationship fight should be, right down the sex part.

Confusions is the Butler Bros. most inspired and most flawed achievement. It's inspired because the Brothers take their usual topic (a break-up) and turn it into a fresh cinéma vérité relationship film. The life and intimacy in the production that differentiates the Brothers' work from the films that inspire them.

But the Brothers have outgrown the style that made them famous. In an interview with co-director Brett Butler, Brett said that he and his brother Jason have matured, but their characters haven't. It's apparent on screen. The story doesn't need the Butlers' signature humor, which is rooted in debates groups of friends, not two lovers, would have. Some of the lines just fall flat. In spite of that, the film holds together.

Maybe it's the aggressive intimacy that makes the film work. The Brothers are able to dig up conscious and subconscious insecurities in their characters. The devastating honesty in the interviews with Lisa and Dan (made into a documentary by Dan's fictional brother) goes beyond the pop culture references to Sixteen Candles or Angelina Jolie.

I would hate to pull another Kevin Smith comparison out for the Butler Bros., but I will only as a warning. Confusions of an Unmarried Couple, through all of its inspiration and artistry, could end up being the Butlers' Chasing Amy if they don't proceed cautiously from here. Sure, they don't have Ben Affleck, but Confusions is the type of soul-searching project that can make or break a filmmaker.

Before he made Clerks 2, Smith's films had an empty quality to them based in his inability to leave something behind. When he made Clerks 2, he wasn't just revisiting; he was growing. The Butler Bros. are on the verge. They've already proved they are ready to grow beyond their first two productions with the refreshing addition of Ryan Noel as sound and music guy. All I'm asking now is for the Brothers to move past what they are doing and finally make that indie masterpiece that I know they have in them.