Matrixiole
Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.
Gurlyndrobb
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
Edwin
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
krocheav
After wondering why I had not heard much about this movie - approached it with caution - now I understand why it failed big time. The best way to summarise might be to see it for what it is - Neurotic Minimalism. What might have been a good study of attempting to re-engage with yourself gets totally lost in the movie makers obscene & disconnected self indulgences. This style of pseudo sociology appeals to the in-crowd & those who think of themselves as 'insightful' - while actually being estranged from any worthy reality. Christopher Tookey (Daily Mail) sums it up rather accurately: "This is the kind of low-budget movie that attracts respectful reviews, but tiny audiences. That's because there's virtually no story or character development",etc. Writer Jennifer Jason Leigh and director (co writer) Noah Baumbach both end up tending to glorify grotty people who display no understanding of how to engage in healthy relationships. It's the sort of movie that won't benefit anyone attempting to improve their lives so, maybe best stay away.
Davalon-Davalon
This is not what I would call a movie. This is a "fly-on-the-wall" experience of seeing Ben Stiller show his acting chops as a slightly mentally ill person. Although his neuroses or psychoses or God-knows-what-kind-of-problem-it- was seemed to be very real, ultimately, I didn't care. He was a pathetic, sad f'd-up person who needed psychiatric help and drugs to stabilize him. Instead, this is what happens: His rich brother, wife and family take off for a vacation in Vietnam. Why Vietnam is never explained. Greta Gerwig is their put-upon assistant. For reasons that are unclear, rich brother is allowing nutcase brother to stay at his house in L.A. while he's in Vietnam. This doesn't make any sense at all. He and wife know that Ben has had a "breakdown" -- did they for one second give any thought to what his needs might be? In other words, did they think it would be okay to let him roam around their huge house by himself? Did they somehow think that Greta would tend to all his needs? This was a device that allowed Ben and Greta to meet, but it did not seem organic or believable. Then, because Greta is at some vulnerable point in her life, she easily slips into some kind of sex/love relationship with Ben, who is CLEARLY a nutcase. It does not make any sense why this woman would continue to subject herself to experiences in which Ben is cruel, insulting, degrading and otherwise deranged. Were we also supposed to feel sorry for her? Greta has a very real, honest quality about her; that cannot be denied. She seems like a real human being and she seemed authentic. But she obviously is aware that Ben is nuts and yet... she's willing to risk possible danger to be involved with him. I just didn't buy it. Not after only knowing him a week. The movie ambles about, from one improvised scene to the next. There are occasional moments that are hysterically funny, and they are organic, and that's the best thing that can be said. But as to why these people thought this was a movie worth making is beyond me. It is not "enjoyable." You will not come away feeling "good." You will have a sad, sour taste in your mouth and be shaking your head at the end. And the "ending" -- what a joke! What a let-down! What a half-assed way to get out of this mess. Ben Stiller either IS this person, or is very good at portraying a mentally ill person who desperately needs to be medicated. Either way... why is this something you'd want to watch? IF he had learned something, IF he had grown and accepted his stupid, cruel actions (which he clearly does not in his pathetic attempt to apologize to Greta), and if he showed some signs that he was making the effort to improve, I might have given this movie a thumbs up. Since he stays essentially the same, as does Greta, I cannot. Yes, there are great moments from the supporting cast, and yes, most people have "been there" -- trying to go back into their past and fix things. In THIS way, the movie does have a few minutes of value, reminding us very clearly that we cannot go home again. But other than that, this was a very depressing, upsetting and unsettling film that I cannot recommend to anyone.
cnycitylady
'Greenberg' is a little out of whack when it comes to characters, plot and even setting. The main character lacks any real empathy, so you find yourself feeling, at best, confused. Almost no sorrow, pity or understanding about this man fills you. He's out of it in a way that is very unique, and everyone seems to see only that about him, and then enters Florence, played by the wonderfully subtle Greta Gerwig. Florence sees the man for who he is. Not what he's done, not where he's been, not how he thinks. But she sees Him; the man struggling with himself. They form an instant bond that Greenberg (Ben Stiller) desperately tries to ignore. The kindred spirit story that unravels is quiet. It isn't direct and boisterous but it still finds its way to you. All of the noise that consists of Greenbergs relationships with his friends and family, and even with himself is secondary to that of his with Florence, and she sees that. And we see that. Even if it takes Stiller's character a little longer than the rest to see it, he gets there eventually.You'd think that the Gerwig/Stiller pairing was a mismatch, but the two seem to make it work. They even seem to thrive off of each other's individual quirkiness to tell the story in a very true way.For all of its wanting in character or plot there is a solid story being told here, and I give it 6.4/10 stars.
Spencer Olney
For most recent films, nothing is close to real life. Most of the actors and actresses are not real people. It's all fiction, but movies should be something one can relate to. That is what Greenberg is. First of all, and I know I certainly do, people should have a weakness for actresses like Greta Gerwig. She is great looking, but in the same sense as a real human being, not like most actresses are presented to be. She represents innocence, she is naive. She is Florence Marr, the personal assistant to Phillip Greenberg. When Phillip, his wife and two children go on vacation to Vietnam, his brother, roger comes to sty in the house and make a dog house. Florence seems to like his, and he likes her too, except when he is with her he drives her away. Roger Greenberg is the guy who writes letters of complaint to every company who has ever slightly bothered hi, he does not drive, he tried to kill himself and was just let out of a psych ward. You know, that kind of brother. He was in a band that almost made it big, and he stays in contact with his co- songwriter (Rhys Ifans)who wants to talk to Roger, and help him. But our neurotic (anti)hero rejects him as he does with Florence, and just about everyone else. Greenberg is a character study. Ben Stiller portrays Roger as the terrible guy women tell stories of. Stiller is intriguing; for we can't stand Greenberg but we care about him. He refuses whats good for him until it could be too late. When he gets close to a little bit of happiness, she destroys it to allow himself to stay miserable and unique. Florence wants the best for him, but tires because its hard to be around someone like Roger. The film is fascinating. It delivers great performances that mimic real life. This is why most people will not like the film. Don't take it as a romance movie or a comedy, see it as the life of a troubled person.
