Review of Greenberg (2010) by Kurt F — 15 Mar 2011

I was reluctant to watch this movie, partly because I thought it would be depressing, and partly because I once saw Noah Baumbach on a panel discussion in which, in my opinion, he was kind of a jerk to Stewart Copeland.

Now I am surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Baumbach was able to pull off a movie in which the main character is flawed in layers and even preachy at times. It actually works as a finely written and refreshingly understated and well-acted movie. There is nothing extraneous or boring about this, as it is a solid character study. The comedy is effective, and never forced. The awkwardness of life in general is well captured.

Baumbach is a pretty damn good writer, even if he was mean to the drummer of the Police.