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Greenberg (2010) 6.1
Ratings:
6.1/10 from 19,974 users
Metascore: 76/100
Reviews: 132 user | 226 critic | 39 from Metacritic.com A man from Los Angeles, who moved to New York years ago, returns to L.A. to figure out his life while he house-sits for his brother. He soon sparks with his brother's assistant. Director:Noah Baumbach |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Greta Gerwig | ... | ||
| Koby Rouviere | ... |
Greenberg Boy
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| Sydney Rouviere | ... |
Greenberg Girl
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| Chris Messina | ... | ||
| Susan Traylor | ... |
Carol Greenberg
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| Merritt Wever | ... | ||
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Emily Lacy | ... |
Gallery Band Member
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Aaron Wrinkle | ... |
Gallery Band Member
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Heather Lockie | ... |
Gallery Band Member
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| Chris Coy | ... |
Guy at Gallery
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| Ben Stiller | ... |
Roger Greenberg
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Zach Chassler | ... | |
| Mina Badie | ... | ||
| Rhys Ifans | ... | ||
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Blair Tefkin | ... | |
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
We like Florence: she's considerate, sweet, pretty, and terrific with kids and dogs. She's twenty-five, personal assistant to an L.A. family that's off on vacation. Her boss's brother comes in from New York City, fresh from a stay at an asylum, to take care of the house. He's Roger, a forty-year-old carpenter, gone from L.A. for fifteen years. He arrives, doesn't drive, and needs Florence's help, especially with the family's dog. He's also connecting with former band-mates - two men and one woman with whom he has a history. He over-analyzes, has a short fuse, and doesn't laugh at himself easily. As he navigates past and present, he's his own saboteur. And what of Florence? is Roger one more responsibility for her or something else? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
He's got a lot on his mind.Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for some strong sexuality, drug use, and language | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
1 April 2010 (Germany) See more »Also Known As:
Den skeftomai, ara yparho See more »Filming Locations:
Laurel Pet Hospital - 7970 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, California, USA See more »Box Office
Opening Weekend:
£118,804 (UK) (11 June 2010)Gross:
£283,806 (UK) (18 June 2010)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Ivan Schrank: It's not too late.
Roger Greenberg: I'd be over 50 by the time I graduated.
Ivan Schrank: What is it? Four years, right?
Roger Greenberg: Yeah, but I know myself. I'd procrastinate, take time off. Eight years at best. Who's gonna hire a 49... Let's just call it 50. A 50-year-old vet?
Ivan Schrank: I'm confused. Are you going to vet school or regular medical school?
Roger Greenberg: Neither, clearly.
See more »
Written and Produced by James Murphy
Performed by James Murphy, Matthew Thornely (as Matthew Thornley) and 'Gunnar Bjerk'
Courtesy of DFA Records/EMI Records Ltd.
James Murphy appears courtesy of DFA Records/EMI Records Ltd.
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
During the "teenage party", Greenberg decides to change the music on the CD player and inserts "Rio" by Duran Duran. He only presses three times the "next song" button and should therefore reach the song #4 ("Hungry Like The Wolf"). Instead, it is "The Chauffeur" (song #9 on the CD) that can be heard, to everybody's dismay. See more »Quotes
Roger Greenberg: Wish it wasn't too late to get my medical degree.Ivan Schrank: It's not too late.
Roger Greenberg: I'd be over 50 by the time I graduated.
Ivan Schrank: What is it? Four years, right?
Roger Greenberg: Yeah, but I know myself. I'd procrastinate, take time off. Eight years at best. Who's gonna hire a 49... Let's just call it 50. A 50-year-old vet?
Ivan Schrank: I'm confused. Are you going to vet school or regular medical school?
Roger Greenberg: Neither, clearly.
See more »
Soundtracks
"If You Need A Friend"Written and Produced by James Murphy
Performed by James Murphy, Matthew Thornely (as Matthew Thornley) and 'Gunnar Bjerk'
Courtesy of DFA Records/EMI Records Ltd.
James Murphy appears courtesy of DFA Records/EMI Records Ltd.
See more »
Greetings again from the darkness. Noah Baumbach wrote and directed the excellent "The Squid and the Whale", and it is with "Greenberg" that he really makes a statement as an independent filmmaker to anticipate. The second gem is always the most elusive. That said, I am not sure I can recommend this movie to very many people, despite all the good things I am about to write.
This is the first Ben Stiller role that actually seems to fit him. His typical role is as a punchline. Here, he plays a guy who recently suffered a nervous breakdown and is now house-sitting for his rich brother, whose family is vacationing in Vietnam. Throughout the movie, Greenberg states he is concentrating on doing "nothing" right now. Of course, that is his defense mechanism for being unable to connect or communicate with any real person. Yes, that sounds bleak ... and it is. Yet, it is also fascinating and thought-provoking.
Despite Stiller's strong turn, Greta Gerwig (as Florence) proves to be the heart of the story. She is the family assistant to Greenberg's brother and finds herself oddly attracted to Greenberg's vulnerable state. This is my first exposure to Ms. Gerwig and I find her fascinating as an actress. She has a natural openness on screen and is certainly no glamour-gal. Instead she comes across as a very real 25 year old trying to make sense of life - especially her own.
In addition to Ms. Gerwig, Rhys Ifans provides outstanding support work as Greenberg's long ago band mate. This is the polar opposite of Ifan's character in "The Boat that Rocked" as here is just a guy putting together a grown up life for himself. He struggles with the adjustment, but accurately depicts how choices can make or break us.
I am not sure whether to categorize this as a character study or just an exquisitely written series of scenes that hit the nail on the head. One of the best scenes of the film is when Stiller meets up with Jennifer Jason Leigh and she immediately rebuffs his reconciliation attempts. They had been a couple briefly 15 years ago and she has obviously moved on. Excellent film-making.
The best way I can describe Greenberg the character is that he is a compilation of the dark thought that we all experience from time to time ... a desire to do nothing, wanting to be blunt and direct, dreams of recapturing the magic of youth, and of course, writing complaint letters for everything wrong in the world. Obviously, most of us spend very little real time on these things, but that is the Greenberg character. Let's keep an eye on Mr. Baumbach - he may just be the real deal.