Greenberg is a 2010 American comedy film written and directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Noah Baumbach. The film stars Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Greenberg is produced by Focus Features and Scott Rudin Productions, and will be distributed by Focus Features. It was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.
The film's soundtrack features the first film score by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and DFA Records fame.
Plot
Greenberg (Ben Stiller) is at a crossroads in his life. Out of a job and none too interested in finding one, he agrees to housesit for his younger and more successful brother, thereby getting a free place to stay in Los Angeles. Once settled in, Greenberg sets out to reconnect with his old friend and former bandmate Ivan (Rhys Ifans). But times have changed, and old friends aren’t necessarily still best friends, so Greenberg finds himself spending more and more time instead with his brother’s personal assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer and herself something of a lost soul. As their relationship develops through a series of embarrassingly awkward romantic encounters, even someone as irascible as Greenberg might have at last found a reason to be happy.
Original cast included Amy Adams and Mark Ruffalo.
Maggie Gyllenhaal was considered for the lead role after Amy Adams dropped out.
GOOFS AND BLUNDERS
In the final scene just after Roger received the second doll he walks screen right. As the camera pans with his movement, the camera is visible in the bathroom mirror at the back of the scene.
REVIEWS
I have a weakness for actresses like Greta Gerwig. She looks reasonable and approachable. Reviewed by: Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Greenberg is a movie of throwaway one-liners and evocatively nondescript locations. The style is observational, the drama is understated, and, when the time comes, it knocks you out with the subtlest of badda-booms. Reviewed by: J. Hoberman of The Village Voice.
Greenberg, with Stiller's sad and self-mocking portrait at its core, is well worth getting to know. Reviewed by: Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
