HE’S GOT A LOT ON HIS MIND.
Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller), who’s just been released from a mental hospital, goes to live in his brother’s house while he’s abroad; after a while, he tries to strike up a relationship with the family’s personal assistant (Greta Gerwig). Director Noah Baumbach knows how to take cinematic advantage of alienation as a theme and this time he doesn’t lose himself in bile as he did with Margot at the Wedding (2007). These characters and their issues are much more relatable and interesting; the portrayal of a fledgling romantic relationship is amusing, awkwardly realistic and the outcome isn’t obvious from the start.
2010-U.S. 107 min. Color. Widescreen. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach. Story: Noah Baumbach, Jennifer Jason Leigh. Cast: Ben Stiller (Roger Greenberg), Greta Gerwig (Florence Marr), Rhys Ifans (Ivan Schrank), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brie Larson, Juno Temple… Mark Duplass, Dave Franco.
Trivia: Co-produced by Leigh. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams and Mark Ruffalo were allegedly considered for roles.
