Greenberg

In 2010, Greenberg was released, written by Noah Baumbach (story by Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Leigh), directed by Noah Baumbach, and starring Ben Stiller, Rhys Ifans, Greta Gerwig, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. This is a very low key comedy that fits in with Baumbach's other works, and is highly recommended.

Following a nervous breakdown, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) house sits for his brother's family. He is a very quirky guy. He writes letters of complaint to large companies, he doesn't drive (and he is in LA), he always seems on the edge of another mental collapse. While he is at the house, he begins to fall for the "maid/nanny" type lady Florence (Greta Gerwig). She finds him interesting, but wants to take things slow, which confuses Greenberg, but then again, so does everything. His opinions alienate most people he knows without understanding that. He gets back in contact with one of his old band mates Ivan (Rhys Ifans) who drives Greenberg where he needs to go sometimes, but obviously just tolerates Greenberg. His biggest personal flaw is not letting anyone inside to his inner self. He thinks he is by remembered mundane details from years earlier, and the self-centered talking, but really he just alienates everyone. The best quote (even though there are many) is: "A shrink said to me once that I have trouble living in the present, so I linger on the past because I felt like I never really lived it in the first place, you know?" Greenberg is a very flawed character, but very real too. Something about him draws Florence to him, but at the same time pushes her away. But that's how Greenberg is.

It's hard to really explain this movie to someone who has seen any Noah Baumbach movies. His movies are typically comedies, but the hilarity is so low key that many would miss it. There are moments that make you laugh out loud, but in any other movie, they wouldn't even elicit a chuckle. That's the genius of Baumbach. He creates an atmosphere that brings you into the movie and feel the flow of it. The hilarious in his movies are barely chuckles in others, but then again his movies are very down to earth and not outlandish in any way. There is realism in his movies. Greenberg is the perfect example of this. One can only get away with this in an independent movie, and Baumbach succeeds admirably.

I highly recommend this movie, but with all other Baumbach movies, you may go to a sad place and question yourself for awhile, but that's only because of the real quality of the movie. It almost makes you feel like a voyeur, it's so real. But you will be glad you watched when you are finished.

Here is a link to the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVcIUSpz2v0

PS- If you notice, this takes place in Los Angeles. Baumbach does not use the glamorous sites of LA, and instead used what the majority of LA looks like. I've been there several times, and I like that it (like the rest of the movie) is grounded in reality that there is nothing cleaned up for the film. Everything is just as it is (just like the themes of Baumbach's movies).