THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED)

US, 2017, 112 minutes, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Candice Bergen, Judd Hirsch, Grace Van Patten, Ronald Alexander Peet, Elizabeth Marvell, Rebecca Miller, Adam Driver, Sigourney Weaver.
Directed by Noah Baumbach.

An episodic film, selected stories of dysfunctional families, especially Jewish families and those living in New York City. It was written and directed by Noah Baumbach who made a number of striking films on similar themes, The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding, Mistress America and Frances Ha, with (Greta Gerwig), and Greenberg with Ben Stiller.

While there is a great deal of variety and humour in this story of families, parents and children, rival brothers, plenty of eccentric characters, the cast is quite striking. Dustin Hoffman appears as the father, ageing, coming to terms with life. There is a surprise in finding Emma Thompson in New York City as his wife. The two sons are quite different, each different in his acting and comic style, the contrast between Adam Sandler and Ben Stiller. And, there is a very strong supporting cast.

Some audiences might find these stories to New York focused, a difficult immersion in the fights and squabbles of Jewish families. But, as with all of Baumbach’s films, often arresting.

1. Family stories? Dysfunctional families? In several generations? Parents and carers? Children and grandchildren? The effects, long-term, the ability to cope, possible remedies, possible changes in reconciliation?

2. American Jewish families, audience expectations of stories about them, characters, interactions, talk, the effect? Marriage, divorce, favourites, neglect, through the generations and the consequences?

3. The director, his themes, his strong cast?

4. The New York story, the city, apartments, museums and galleries, the social atmosphere, restaurants, the streets, hospitals? The musical score?

5. The chapters, the focus on particular characters and events?

6. Adam Sandler as Danny, his age, his relationship with Eliza, his wife, Karen, leaving him? Eliza going to college? Her work on filmmaking, starring herself, schools, the sexual emphases? Driving in New York, Danny and his yelling out, Eliza in the car? Looking for a parking spot, passing them? The importance of the visit to his father? Hoping to stay with him? Memories of his mother, the divorce? Julia as stepmother, mother of Matthew? Maureen and her role with his father? His relationship with Jean, her life? Maureen and her travel, drinking, absence, discussions, the art, the pieces, the exhibitions? Danny as a musician, composer? The issue of the selling the house?

7. LJ, his art, relationship with Harold, the past, competitiveness? Success in his art career? Going to the exhibition, the invitation? Wearing tuxedos? LJ as friendly, the guests ignoring him, the encounter with Sigourney Weaver and Harold repeating the story, Danny and his meeting Loretta, the bonds from the past? Harold upset, leaving, tantrums?

8. Danny, his leg, Eliza and her career, the plan to live with his father?

9. Matthew and his story, the younger son, his relationship with his mother, his age, career, his success with sales and deals, helping his father with the sale, living in Los Angeles, his wife, his five-year-old son, the phone calls? The selling the house, the artwork? His clashes with his father, his memories of his father? His relationship with Danny? Danny feeling that all the attention had been given to Matthew?

10. The visit to Julia, her personality, the significance of making her apology and her reflection on how she had treated the children?

11. Matthew and his lunch with his father, his father’s behaviour, the assistant and Harold getting rid of him? The man putting things on the table, the wrong coat, the pursuit, Harold wrong?

12. Harold, his collapse, going to the hospital, the doctor and her diagnosis, the range of nurses, the children with their visits, anxiety, taking notes? Harold in a coma? The forthcoming exhibition? The arguments about his care? Their impatience with the nurses? The arguments with the doctor? Her going on holidays?

13. Eliza, her friends, work, drinking habits, Danny being severe on her? His mistakes in parenting?

14. The exhibition, the arguments about giving the speech, the rivalries between Danny and Matthew, Matthew speaking, his tears, talking about his father, Danny talking? LJ and his presence?

15. Jean, the focus, her story, her life, relationship with her father, with her brothers, her work, her ability to cope?

16. Harold recovering, at home with Maureen, watching the films on TV, his sons and their visits, Danny and his being in hospital, the hip
replacement? Matthew and his visits? Maureen and her care for Harold?

17. Resolutions? Possible?