The Humbling (2014)

A stage actor who is slowly losing his mind engages in a relationship with a sexually confused younger woman.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers:

Buck Henry (screenplay), Michal Zebede (screenplay)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Greta Gerwig, Nina Arianda

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Simon
Greta Gerwig	...	Pegeen
Nina Arianda	...	Sybil
Charles Grodin	...	Jerry
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Rutledge
Dan Hedaya	...	Asa
Dianne Wiest	...	Carol
Billy Porter	...	Prince
Li Jun Li	...	Tracy
Lance Roberts	...	Walter
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Louise
Victor Cruz	...	Security Guard
Derrick Arthur	...	Techie
Steve Rosen	...	Stage Manager
Andrea Barnes	...	Nurse

Storyline

Simon is an aging actor who suffers from bouts of dementia. He is institutionalized after an incident during a Broadway play, then returns home, where he contemplates suicide in Hemingway style. When he embarks upon an affair with an ex-girlfriend's amoral bisexual daughter, Pegeen his world starts to fall apart. It ends on stage, with even Axler's audience and fellow actors unsure what's real and what's not.

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Plot Keywords:

female professor | bad back | impossible love | locked out | stage play | 

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Taglines:

Suicide is the role you write for yourself.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual material, language and brief violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film in the beginning had ample funding, the listed conditions got too much for Barry Levinson, who backed out and lost by his estimate "somewhere in the area of $6 million." Subsequently it was decided to shoot the film incrementally with several breaks built in to accommodate Al Pacino's schedule.

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Quotes

Simon Axler: Three quarters of the things we do in life are mistakes!

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Connections

References Shane (1953)

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Soundtracks

Circlesong 6
Performed By Bobby McFerrin
Written By Bobby McFerrin
Courtesy Of Sony Classical

User Reviews

Can Be Quite Funny But Quite Weird As Well

This film can be quite funny but also quite weird, as it had a certain appeal to me and I ended up liking it. Not everything works here, and I would venture to say it's not for everyone, but I felt the parts of the movie that do work, work well and make it worthwhile.

Al Pacino and Greta Gerwig are exceptional here, in the lead roles, and play off each other quite well. Pacino portrays Simon, an aging actor who sees his mental capabilities diminishing before his eyes, thus markedly affecting his ability to perform. Following an intentional leap from a stage into an empty orchestra pit, landing face first, followed by a botched suicide attempt, He ends up in a rest and rehab home for 30 days, before being released into the outpatient care of his therapist (Dylan Baker), whom he has sessions with on Skype.

Gerwig plays Pegeen, who shows up at Simon's front door, one day, and is the daughter of former friends and co-performers of his, many years before. She tells Simon, whom she hasn't seen in many years, that as a child she used to have an enormous crush on him when he would visit their home. Despite declaring she's an avowed lesbian, she begins to boldly seduce Simon and they soon begin a May-December relationship.

All kinds of quirky characters will come and go throughout the film, such as Sybil (Nina Arianda) who met Simon in rehab and now is stalking him to kill her vile husband. Also, Prince (Billy Porter), who used to be Priscilla and in a relationship with Pegeen before the operation. It's fun to see some veteran screen notables make varying screen time appearances, including Charles Grodin, Dianne Wiest, Dan Hedaya, Kyra Sedgwick, and Mary Louis Wilson.

It's nice to see the acclaimed filmmaker Barry Levinson (Rain Man, The Natural) back with a movie on screen, with a screenplay from the great Buck Henry (The Graduate), and Mechal Zebede.

All in all, this film offers something different but, as mentioned it will not appeal to everyone. With the performances of Pacino and Gerwig, as well as solid support, plus some quirky humor, I felt there was enough here for me to enjoy.

Details

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 2015 (South Africa)

Also Known As:

The Humbling

Filming Locations:

St. George Theatre, Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$399,666

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ambi Pictures, Hammerton Productions, Stonelock Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1