Review of Greenberg (2010) by Andrew S — 27 Jan 2015

I find myself liking Baumbach's earliest film the most and chronologically finding his more recent films less successful. I feel like Baumbach's screenplays are best for the mundane lifestyle exhibited in Kicking and Screaming rather than the more emotional Squid and the Whale and the even more emotional Greenberg.

The film did not do a whole lot for me. For a film that is supposed to be awkward, I didn't see it so awkward (with exception of Greenberg going down on Florence for 10 seconds and then them just carrying on without any other sexual references to each other) but more feeling sorry for how ignorant and oblivious Greenberg is as a character.

The film tells us he was in an insane asylum but it wasn't really insanity I saw in him. He has a few anger outbursts but that's about it. His personality and view on life are incredibly pessimistic but nothing to suggest insanity.

I felt the worst for the dog which usually isn't a good sign. This was simply a story of a man house sitting for his brother and seeing a few old friends. Nothing spectacular camera wise just like in Baumbach's other films.

It's not a bad movie but it really isn't a good movie either.