I went to see Noah Baumbach's new film, Greenberg, with some pals last night. I'm a big fan of The Squid and the Whale (well, more like amazed and horrified upon realizing I actually dated the doppelganger of Jeff Daniels character *shudder*), and quite liked Margot at the Wedding, so I went with high hopes for his usual brand of slightly painful humour and cast of not all that likable, definitely damaged, but infinitely true and recognizable characters. I wasn't disappointed.
Greenberg (played fantastically by Ben Stiller) is a generally unlikable, neurotic 40 year old, uncomfortable in his aging skin, and frustrated with the imperfections he sees - constantly - in the world around him. Florence, the 25 year old he strikes up a truly awkward (and at times ugly) relationship with, is lovely and kind hearted, but her passivity makes her a somewhat complicit victim to the weirdness that is Greenberg. What I love about Baumbach is that he stays with these characters throughout the story arc, small though it may be - they don't change, there is no big transformation or resolution. It's awkward, painful, funny. Some people will hate it, but I think it's brilliant.
I know I have been blogging strictly about stuff I've seen recently, and not stuff that is going on with me. There is stuff, most of it is good, and I'm busy, but for some reason, I just don't feel like writing about it all just yet. Maybe soon.
1 comment:
Oooh, I like the mysterious teaser at the end - way to hook your audience!
And I love your review of Greenberg. Very eloquently put.
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