Listen Up Philip (2014)

Anger rages in Philip as he awaits the publication of his second novel. He feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his ... See full summary »

Director:

Alex Ross Perry

Writer:

Alex Ross Perry

Stars:

Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce

2 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Schwartzman	...	Philip Lewis Friedman
Elisabeth Moss	...	Ashley Kane
Krysten Ritter	...	Melanie Zimmerman
Joséphine de La Baume	...	Yvette Dussart
Jonathan Pryce	...	Ike Zimmerman
Jess Weixler	...	Holly Kane
Dree Hemingway	...	Emily
Keith Poulson	...	Josh Fawn
Kate Lyn Sheil	...	Nancy
Yusef Bulos	...	Norm
Maïté Alina	...	Clare (as Mäité Alina)
Daniel London	...	Seth
Samantha Jacober	...	Mona
Lee Wilkof	...	Uncle Jonathan
Joanne Tucker	...	Eve

Storyline

Anger rages in Philip as he awaits the publication of his second novel. He feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his photographer girlfriend Ashley, and his own indifference to promoting the novel. When Philip's idol Ike Zimmerman offers his isolated summer home as a refuge, he finally gets the peace and quiet to focus on his favorite subject: himself.

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Plot Keywords:

jacket | sale | photographer | college | writing | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA Greece

Language:

English French

Release Date:

21 October 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Analizando a Philip

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,284, 17 October 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$137,600, 31 October 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tribeca Film, Faliro House Productions, Sailor Bear

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Alex Ross Perry previously worked with actors Jess Weixler, Keith Poulson and Kate Lyn Sheil on the film 'Somebody Up There Likes Me (2012)'

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Quotes

Ike Zimmerman: Don't make yourself any more miserable than you need to be. Leave that to the women you love.

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Connections

References Mon Oncle (1958)

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Soundtracks

I Hear a Symphony
Performed by Diana Ross & The Supremes
Written by Eddie Holland (as Edward Holland Jr), Lamont Dozier, & Brian Holland
Published by Stone Agate Music
Courtesy of Motown Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Pretensions of art

I should be a perfect viewer for this movie. I know and care about the literary world and the characters portrayed in this film. Yet, I found it boring and pretentious.

The story telling style, the focus moving from one character to the other, the narration not quite connected to the screen image, the abrupt behaviors, the dizzying camera work and cutting all pointed to a director who wanted to make a showy splash; the jittery techniques of moving the story along overwhelmed the story itself. The tricks are not only not compelling, but they eventually become silly and boring.

Since the Philip character is intrinsically unlikeable, you would either have to hate him so much that you watch the movie to see him get his comeuppance or to laugh at him. But Philip is not that hateful and, while his ferocious self-centeredness might have been quite funny, the Philip character is just NOT funny. All the other characters are inadequately developed, so their self defeating behavior seems mysteriously motivated.

The performances are all superior. This actually makes thing worse, as the actors are all saying "something of importance is taking place here". This sense of importance is then sabotaged by gratuitous directorial razzle-dazzle and characters that will never change.

Thus, this film is not enlightening, not very funny, and not very interesting.