Greenberg (2010)

Director:

Noah Baumbach

Writers (WGA):

Jennifer Jason Leigh (story) &
Noah Baumbach (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 April 2010 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

He's got a lot on his mind.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Assistant | Dog | Carpenter | Vacation | Personal Assistant

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Greta Gerwig	...	Florence Marr
Koby Rouviere	...	Greenberg Boy
Sydney Rouviere	...	Greenberg Girl
Chris Messina	...	Phillip Greenberg
Susan Traylor	...	Carol Greenberg
Merritt Wever	...	Gina
Emily Lacy	...	Gallery Band Member
Aaron Wrinkle	...	Gallery Band Member
Heather Lockie	...	Gallery Band Member
Chris Coy	...	Guy at Gallery
Ben Stiller	...	Roger Greenberg
Zach Chassler	...	Marlon
Mina Badie	...	Peggy
Rhys Ifans	...	Ivan Schrank
Blair Tefkin	...	Megan - Beller's Party
Mark Duplass	...	Eric Beller - Beller's Party
Jake Paltrow	...	Johno - Beller's Party
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Beth - Beller's Party
Charlotte Vida Silverman	...	Beller's Daughter - Beller's Party
Nicole Luizzi	...	Vet Receptionist
Norizzela Monterroso	...	Female Vet (as Nora Isela Monterroso)
Luke Clements	...	Guitarist
Alfredo Marin	...	Bus Boy
Jeremy Barber	...	Musso and Frank's Patron
Anna Culp	...	Musso and Frank's Patron
Erica Huggins	...	Musso and Frank's Patron
Dale JE Hebert II	...	Musso and Frank's Patron (as Dale JE Herbert II)
Sophie Savides	...	Musso and Frank's Patron
Robert E. Wolfe	...	Male Vet (as Robert N. Wolfe M.D.)
Desira Pesta	...	Coked Party Girl
Trace Webb	...	Victor
Jessica Mills	...	Second Vet Receptionist
Maria Snow	...	Nurse
Brie Larson	...	Sara
Juno Temple	...	Muriel
Layla Delridge	...	Girl with Beer - Sara's Party
Dave Franco	...	Rich - Sara's Party
Max Hoffman	...	Jerry - Sara's Party
Ramona Gonzalez	...	Anita - Sara's Party
Alessandra Balazs	...	Olivia - Sara's Party
Nick Nordella	...	Kid at Stereo - Sara's Party
Trent Gill	...	Kid at Stereo - Sara's Party
Emily Kuntz	...	Guest - Sara's Party
Zosia Mamet	...	Guest - Sara's Party
Zoe Di Stefano	...	Guest - Sara's Party
Cole M. Grief-Neil	...	Guest - Sara's Party
Micah Schaffer	...	Guy with Joint - Sara's Party
Sam	...	Mahler - a Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Keiko "Cakes" Kawamura	...	College Party Goer (uncredited)
Meghan Keeler	...	Drunk Party Guest (uncredited)
Meegan Michel	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Danny Minnick	...	Musso and Frank's Patron (uncredited)
Steve Shebaugh	...	Guest (uncredited)
Karen Strong	...	Party Girl (uncredited)
Samuel Thacker	...	Hasidic Boy (uncredited)
Angelo Vacco	...	The Bartender (uncredited)
Sandra Valladares	...	Musso and Frank Patron (uncredited)
Carla Vila	...	Party Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Noah Baumbach

Writing credits (WGA)
Jennifer Jason Leigh		(story) &
Noah Baumbach		(story)
Noah Baumbach		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Lila Yacoub	....	executive producer

Original Music by
James Murphy

Cinematography by
Harris Savides		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Tim Streeto

Casting by
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
Ford Wheeler

Art Direction by
Curt Beech

Set Decoration by
Elizabeth Keenan

Costume Design by
Mark Bridges

Makeup Department
Jean Ann Black	....	department head makeup artist (as Jean A. Black)
Fionagh Cush	....	key makeup artist
Jonathan Gale	....	hair colorist: Ben Stiller
Lori Guidroz	....	department head hair stylist
Samantha Wade	....	key hair stylist (as Samantha L. Wade)

Production Management
Jennifer Lane	....	post-production supervisor
Yoli Poropat	....	production supervisor
Meredith Zamsky	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ian Calip	....	second second assistant director
John R. Saunders	....	second assistant director (as John Saunders)
David J. Webb	....	first assistant director (as David Webb)

Art Department
David Agajanian	....	set dresser
Todd Bennett	....	plaster foreman
Mike Childers	....	propmaker (as Michael Childers)
Larry Guy Clause	....	general foreman (as Larry G. Clause)
Jeremy Cook	....	propmaker
Randy Culberhouse	....	propmaker foreman
Elizabeth Cummings	....	additional art production assistant
Kiel Gookin	....	art production assistant (as Kiel J. Gookin)
Rod Gregory	....	head greensman
Gene Hunter	....	paint foreman
Anne Hyvarinen	....	lead painter
Wendy Jerde	....	paint foreman
Charles Kern	....	on-set painter
Lance Larson	....	assistant property master
Scott W. Leslie	....	set dresser
Catherine Leyba	....	art department coordinator
Mark Lopez	....	propmaker (as Mark C. Lopez)
Harry Matheu	....	additional art director
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser (as John H. Maxwell)
Mike Medina	....	construction coordinator (as Mike 'Chachi' Medina)
Pete 'Peanut' Medina	....	propmaker
Steven B. Melton	....	property master
Vince Meridith	....	laborer
Kimberly Merlin	....	buyer
Howard Payne Miller	....	set dresser
Clint O'Quinn	....	arts/greens production assistant
Seth Phillips	....	toolman
Gregory F. Poulos	....	props assistant
Brent Rice	....	lead dresser
Danny Ronay	....	paint foreman
Dominic Sandfrey	....	labor foreman
Jared Scardina	....	props assistant
Christopher Taylor	....	set dresser
Michael Timman	....	set dresser
Michael W. Volz	....	paint foreman

Sound Department
Felix Andrew	....	production sound mixer
Jamie Baker	....	foley editor (as Jamie R. Baker)
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist
David Corcoran	....	assistant sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
James Cruz	....	sound mix technician (as Jimmy Cruz)
Cameron Davis	....	adr recordist
David Guerrero	....	adr mixer
Dan Harris	....	sound mix technician
Paul Hsu	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Hsu	....	supervising sound editor
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer (as George Lara)
Doug Latislaw	....	adr recordist
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor (as Branka Mrkic-Tana)
Michael Primmer	....	boom operator (as Michael E. Primmer)
James David Redding III	....	sound mix technician (as James Redding)
Neil Riha	....	sound assistant
Josh Sachs	....	sound intern
Joy Marie Smith	....	apprentice sound editor (as Joy Smith)
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound technician: Dolby

Special Effects by
Scott R. Fisher	....	special effects coordinator
Jim Rollins	....	special effects foreman
Robert Cole	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Molle DeBartolo	....	quality control lead
Markus Janner	....	scanning and recording
Chris MacKenzie	....	smoke artist
Iain Marcks	....	scanning and recording (as Iain Stasukevich)
Norberto Valle Jr.	....	scanning and recording (as Norberto Valle)

Stunts
Pat Romano	....	precision driver
Pat Romano	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Curtis A. Andrews Jr.	....	rigging gaffer
Samantha Bahramian	....	lamp operator
John Barr	....	additional camera operator: "b" camera
Christopher Blauvelt	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Sandy Bloom	....	set grip
Richard W. Botchlet	....	rigging technician (as Rich Botchet)
Steve Charnow	....	rigging best boy
Jeff Chassler	....	lamp operator
Eric Cross	....	set grip
Eric M. Davis	....	lamp operator
Derrick Esperanza	....	lamp operator
Sam Falconi	....	camera intern
Christopher Franey	....	rigging technician
Cory Geryak	....	chief lighting technician
Willy Hewson	....	set grip (as William M. Hewson)
Eric Jensch	....	film loader
Jacques Jouffret	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jacques Jouffret	....	steadicam operator
Michael Kenner	....	key grip
Tucker Korte	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jeff Kunkel	....	dolly grip (as Jeffrey Sherman Kunkel)
Amber Maahs	....	set grip
Stephen MacDougall	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Jason McCormick	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Paul Metcalf	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Hank Sheppherd	....	rigging set grip
Cricket Sloat	....	lamp operator
Kenny Solomon	....	lamp operator
Christian Franz Staab	....	best boy grip (as Christian F. Staab)
Larry Sushinski	....	best boy electric
Wilson Webb	....	still photographer (as Wilson R. Webb)
Brian Woronec	....	lamp operator
Daniel Ferrell	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)
Christian Kessler	....	film loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rose Colasanti	....	extras casting assistant
Lauren Grey	....	casting associate
Carla Lewis	....	extras casting: Headquarters Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eden Clark Coblenz	....	costume supervisor (as Eden C. Coblenz)
David Page	....	set costumer
Mark Walcott	....	additional set costumer
Eric Yake	....	key costumer
Elizabeth Abate	....	key costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Marcus Alexander	....	digital intermediate producer
Naomi Sunshine Filoramo	....	post-production assistant: LA
Perri B. Frank	....	assistant editor
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Jack Lewars	....	digital intermediate assistant
Tim Mullen	....	digital intermediate engineer
Jacob Robinson	....	digital intermediate editor
Jed I. Rosenberg	....	post-production assistant: NY
Jonathan Sanden	....	digital intermediate assistant
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer (as Steve Sheridan)
Darrell R. Smith	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Sam Tirado	....	colorist: dailies
Shannon Torchia	....	dailies coordinator
Molly Wedgwood	....	post-production intern
D.R. Farquharson	....	project manager: Deluxe Digital Cinema (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearances
Gunnar Bjerk	....	assistant score engineer
Jason Disu	....	musician: score
Al Doyle	....	musician: score
George Drakoulias	....	music supervisor
Pat Mahoney	....	musician: score
Matthew Thornely	....	assistant score engineer
Chris Seefried	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alfredo Arriola	....	driver
Michael Bangs	....	driver (as Mike Bangs)
Edwin P. Blay	....	driver
Robert aaron Brown	....	driver (as Robert A. Brown)
Steve Cole	....	driver
Bill Condit	....	driver
Gary Ferraro	....	driver: craft service (as Gary C. Ferraro)
Spencer Foster Jr.	....	driver
Spencer Foster	....	driver
Vincent Blair Giordano	....	driver (as Vincent B. Giordano)
Rubén Gutiérrez	....	driver
Jason Hardman	....	driver
Bryan Henley Jr.	....	driver
Jim Herbert II	....	transportation co-captain (as Jim Herbert)
Orlando Hurtado	....	driver (as Orlando O. Hurtado)
John Jordan	....	driver
Donny Joseph	....	driver
Tom Lyons	....	transportation captain (as Thomas Lyons)
Debbie Morris	....	driver
Steve Rawson	....	driver
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator (as Joel A. renfro)
Juan J. Rodriguez	....	transportation co-captain (as Juan Rodriguez)
Scott Tyler	....	driver
Anthony Jamal Wade	....	driver (as A.J. Wade)
Ron Wamhoff	....	transportation captain
Charles A. Winzer	....	driver (as Charles Winzer)
Mike Ortiz	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Scott Ballew	....	additional set production assistant
Raymond W. Beal	....	animal handler: Birds & Animals Unlimited
Lindsey Jayne Boyd	....	set production assistant (as Lindsey J. Boyd)
Carol Sue Byron	....	construction accountant
Micki Caruso	....	assistant: Ben Stiller
Orlando Chongo	....	craft service (as Orlando J. Chongo)
Therese Clinton	....	additional craft service
Carolyn Crimley	....	studio teacher
Stephenson Crossley	....	location manager
Phil Eisenhower	....	studio teacher
Leann Emmert	....	key assistant location manager
Elaine Ferritto	....	office production assistant
Carey Field	....	set production assistant
Nathan Fields	....	set production assistant
Anna Fishko	....	assistant: Noah Baumbach
Mark A. Freid	....	key assistant location manager
M.K. Gleason	....	production accountant
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Ryan Gomez	....	second assistant accountant
Guadalupe Gonzalez	....	chef assistant
Duck Grossberg	....	data wrangler
Chris Hadlock	....	production coordinator
Heidi Harlan	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist
Justin Harrold	....	assistant location manager
Christian Humphreys	....	construction medic
Arturo D. Hurtado	....	chef assistant
Orlando Hurtado	....	cook (as Orlando O. Hurtado)
Richard Itskovich	....	office production assistant
Sergio Jiminez Vera	....	chef assistant
David Kennedy	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Kristin Kopp	....	production assistant (as Kristen Kopp)
Ashley Kravitz	....	legal clearance coordinator: Cleared By Ashley, Inc.
Chris Kuslack	....	site representative: Greenberg house
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer: Chef Robert Catering
Yana Collins Lehman	....	post-production accountant: Trevanna Post
Chris MacKenzie	....	title designer: Deluxe New York (as Chris Mackenzie)
Christine McCaffrey	....	installator: Machine Project Gallery
Matt Miller	....	key set production assistant
Matt Nemeth	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Sara Newey	....	installator: Machine Project Gallery
Anthony Penido	....	set medic (as Anthony Pemido)
Jill Remis	....	assistant: Ben Stiller
Jordan Romano	....	office production assistant (as Jordan L. Romano)
Fanny Schwartz	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Chad N. Smith	....	construction medic
Elizabeth Speckman	....	first assistant accountant
Narges Takesh	....	production assistant
Nate Taylor	....	location scout
Stan Umamoto	....	payroll accountant
Margarita McClenon Velona	....	rigging medic (as Margarita Velona)
Nicholas Zayas	....	assistant: Scott Rudin (as Nick Zayas)
Steven Farnsworth	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Christopher Goodson	....	technical advisor: carpentry (uncredited)
Kevin Graham-Caso	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (uncredited)
Greenberg	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
David B. Lyons	....	location scout (uncredited)
James E. Maddux	....	on-set medic (uncredited)
Brennan Reynolds	....	assistant to cast (uncredited)

Thanks
Barbara Bestor	....	special thanks
Niall Bourke	....	special thanks: Kipper Furniture
Georgia Brown	....	special thanks
Michael Cary	....	special thanks
Evgenia Citkowitz	....	special thanks
Peter Dunham	....	special thanks: Hollywood at Home
Peter Dunham	....	special thanks: Hollywood at Home
Annette Gutierrez	....	special thanks: Potted
Julian Sands	....	special thanks
Barbara Turner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Scott Rudin Productions (as Scott Rudin)
• Twins Financing (produced in association with) (as Twins Financing, LLC)

Distributors

• Focus Features (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Media (2009) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2010) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Castello Lopes Multimédia (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2010) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (all media)
• Paradise Group (2010) (Russia) (all media)
• Star Channel (2012) (Japan) (TV)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2010) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Home Video (2011) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Video (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Video Film Express (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Other Companies

• AGM Productions  French dubbing (uncredited)
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services, Inc.)
• American Humane Association, The  animal activity monitoring: AHAD 01668 (as American Humane)
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal handler
• C5  adr recorded at (as C5, Inc., New York)
• C5  post-production sound editorial facility (as C5, Inc., New York)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  special thanks: camera dollies
• Chef Robért Catering  catering
• Cleared By Ashley  legal clearance services (as Cleared By Ashley, Inc.)
• Columbia Records  courtesy: CD cover artwork
• Condé Nast Publications, The  courtesy: publications (as Condé Nast Publications)
• Deluxe Digital Media  dailies
• Deluxe New York  digital intermediate
• Deluxe New York  main and end titles
• Digital Cinema  mixed at (as Digital Cinema, LLC)
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables (uncredited)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix (uncredited)
• EFilm  film recording (as Efilm)
• Filmtools  expendables
• Filmtools  expendables (uncredited)
• Forum Gallery, New York  courtesy: paintings of Robert Cottingham, Linden Frederick, Peter Krausz, Wade Schuman and Raphael Soyer; drawings of Robert Cottingham and Bela Kadae; etching by Cesar Galicia; and paper construction by Cybele Young used by permission
• Headquarters Casting  extras casting
• Hollywood at Home  special thanks
• Intelligent Media  international monitoring agency (uncredited)
• Kipper Furniture  special thanks
• L.A. Studios, The  adr recorded at (as LA Studios)
• Me&Ro Jewelry  special thanks (as Me&Ro)
• Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l.  courtesy: "Just My Luck" footage (as Monarchy Enterprises Sarl)
• Monkeyland Audio  adr recorded at
• Movie Movers  cast trailers (uncredited)
• Movie Movers  star trailers (uncredited)
• New Yorker, The  courtesy: publications
• PES Payroll  extras payroll (uncredited)
• POP Sound  adr recorded at
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Potted  special thanks
• Reel Security  production security (uncredited)
• Regency Entertainment  courtesy: "Just My Luck" footage (as Regency Entertainment Inc.)
• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton  legal services (as Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP)
• Sony Music Entertainment  courtesy: CD cover artwork
• Technicolor  release printing
• Trevanna Post  post accountant
• Twentieth Century Fox  courtesy: "Just My Luck" footage
• Virgin Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some strong sexuality, drug use, and language

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45703) | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:R21 | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Malaysia:18 | Sweden:Btl | Australia:MA | Argentina:13 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Laurel Pet Hospital - 7970 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Scott Rudin Productions

Trivia:

Original cast included Amy Adams and Mark Ruffalo. Maggie Gyllenhaal was considered for the lead role after Amy Adams dropped out.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the final scene just after Roger received the second doll he walks screen right. As the camera pans with his movement, it appears as though the camera is visible in the bathroom mirror at the back of the scene.

Quotes:

Florence Marr:You like old things.
Roger Greenberg: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?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Late Show with David Letterman: Episode #17.110" (2010)

Soundtrack:

If You Need A Friend

Character Study or Stiller Study?

Noah Baumbach known for the film "The Squid and The Whale" wrote and directed this character study on a 40 something down on his luck, emotionally deprived man who travels to California to house sit for his brother. Ben Stiller plays "Roger Greenberg" in one of his best acting jobs to date. Greenberg has recently gotten out of a Psychiatric Hospital, but we don't know why he was there. He decides that a change in scenery would help him so he agrees to move to California. While there he meets a few people and reconnects with some old band mates. Sorry to say, that's it. There isn't much story here, it's just 107 minutes of Ben Stiller as Roger Greenberg being a general jerk to everyone. There is some humor and some drama, but I felt like this was a waist of time.

Character studies are a unique genre in that they are essentially hit or miss most of the time. We are able to see Greenberg at his most raw and vulnerable self. He is condescending, aloof and sarcastic, a role Ben Stiller was born to play it seems. Stiller truly "wowed" me with this movie. It was unlike anything I've ever seen him do before and he played it brilliantly. The problem, however, was that I just didn't care about him. Sure it was nice to see Stiller play a different role than he is used to, but what was the point? Why was this film written and made? I almost feel as if this was just a gift to Stiller so he could prove is versatility.

The director Noah Baumbach usually does movies I absolutely love, such as: "The Squid and The Whale" and "The Life Aquatic, with Steve Zissou". At least those movies had a story and likable characters. The only characters I liked in "Greenberg" was the brothers dog.

As the movie drags on we meet "Florance" Stiller's first love interest played by Greta Gerwig. Although, it doesn't get much further than an awkward romp on a couch. She does a good job acting but like Greenberg, there is nothing really interesting about her. Greenberg meets up with some old band mates and an ex girlfriend. All of whom, while spectacularly acted, were just "blah" characters. There was no connection to any of them or to the story for that matter. Considering there wasn't a story, this shouldn't be surprising.

This film has gotten mostly positive reviews from film critics; however, I just couldn't see it. Most say that if you didn't like this movie then you "didn't get it". Well, I'm pretty sure I "got it" though it wasn't what I was looking for. It is a film to watch if you would like to see Stiller do something completely out of his comfort zone and succeed with flying colors.