GREENBERG
US, 2010, 118 minutes, Colour.
Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Massina.
Directed by Noah Baumbach.
Noah Baumbach has made some small idiosyncratic films about family, the dysfunctional family in The Squid and the Whale, the family assembling for Margot at the Wedding. This time, he offers a portrait of a strange, or not so strange 40 year old American male, Roger Greenberg. Along with this picture of Greenberg, is a side portrait of the 25 year old Florence, the next generation to Greenberg.
The setting is straightforward, contemporary LA. Florence works as an assistant to a family and is asked to keep an eye on the husband's brother, just out of a mental institution who will babysit the house and the dog while the family has six weeks in Vietnam.
While the setting is straightforward, Greenberg is certainly not. It is an advantage that he is played by Ben Stiller, not in raucous comedy mode, but more like the put-upon Greg in the Focker comedies, except that he is messed up psychologically. He has a past with drugs, with a band that never achieved the single record because of his dominating interference. He writes paranoid letters of complaints to companies and can burst out in hurtful 'plain truths' as the mood takes him. Greenberg is a case.
Florence herself has the makings of a case: broken relationships, pregnancy, abortion, educated but little job satisfaction, a would-be singer who is attracted by Greenberg though his responses to her can be particularly insensitive, nasty and hurtful. Greta Gerwig is very good in this role.
There is no particular ending in view of this portrait. The film just stops – but could go on in the same way.
A great plus of the film is the restrained performance by Rhys Ifans as Greenberg's best friend who has made more positive efforts with his own life.
1.A story of midlife? The US messed up way of life?
2.The LA world, the 21st century compared to the 1990s? A comfortable world, houses and apartments, expensive vets, clubs, parties? The musical score and range of songs?
3.Memories of the 1980s and 1990s, lifestyle, young people at that age, music, drugs, addictions, relationships? Roger asking the young people and their partying questions about life in the present generation compared with the past?
4.The introduction to Florence, twenty-five, ordinary, her college education, up-and-down relationships, her friends, Gina? Singing at the club? Her pregnancy? As Philip’s assistant, the different jobs, the detail? The driving, the shopping? As a person, pleasant, her aims in life, mixed up?
5.The situation of the house, the family and the flurry to leave, Philip and Carol going to Vietnam? Florence and the issue of payment? The plan for Roger, coming from the institution, his problems, house-sitting for six weeks, the dog, the pool (and the neighbours)?
6.The introduction to Roger, forty, celebrating his forty-first birthday and not wanting to make a fuss? Coming out of the institution, breakdown? Obsessive and paranoid? Writing letters of complaint? Not driving? His skill and his work of carpentry? His expectations of people, self-focused? The interactions with Florence, coming to rely on her, phoning, the driving, the dog going to the vet? His going to hear her sing but keeping his distance? Ivan and his birthday, the cake and his outburst? The friend and his blaming Roger for the band breaking up, vetoing the deal? Ivan as his best friend, their talking, sharing, memories of the past, getting Ivan to drive him, the outings, his birthday, the party and Victor coming? The sexual relationship with Florence, yet his anger with her? His telling her off, his hurting her? Ivan telling him the truth? The cocaine and the pills with the young people? Philip and the phone calls, anxiety about the dog? Going to the vet, going to the hospital? His decision to go to Australia with the young girls? Deciding to pick up Florence, after the abortion, taking her home?
7.The effect of Roger’s journey – from what to what?
8.Florence and her life, over six weeks? Her strengths, weaknesses, potential?
9.Ivan, memories of the past, the band, his drug addiction, his marriage, Roger’s dislike of his wife, his love for his son, the separation, trying to patch things up, his priorities of what was important, his telling Roger the exact truth?
10.A slice of life for fortysomethings, for twentysomethings?
