Beaks here...

When I interviewed the Coens last week*, they let slip that Noah Baumbach had recently shown them an early version of his new comedy GREENBERG. They liked it. And while they didn't get into much detail about it, they did say they were intrigued by Baumbach's (and cinematographer Harris Savides's) decision to shoot the film anamorphic, particularly since it's got something of a "verite" aesthetic. I took this to mean it will look a little like Baumbach's last picture, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, but... wider.

I'm good with wider. And so, evidently, is "The Woodpecker", who just sent us in a very positive, very early, very detailed look at Baumbach's sixth feature, which stars Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brie Larson and Mark Duplass. Seriously, if you're at all averse to spoilers, I would recommend reading the first few paragraphs and checking out, as The Woodpecker pretty much outlines the entire narrative. Just know he found the film "hilarious", but "black as coal" - which signals to me that Baumbach is still in that scabrous SQUID AND THE WHALE state of mind. No qualms here.

I had the good fortune of getting in to a sneak preview of the new Noah Baumbach/ Ben Stiller movie "Greenberg" last night and wanted to send in a review. My reason for seeing the movie (other than it was free...) was the director, Mr. Baumbach. Most people know him from the movie "The Squid and the Whale" or "Margot at the Wedding," but my favorite is "Kicking and Screaming." As a stereotypical Gen-X'er, I loved it and bought the DVD the moment it was finally released after the success of "The Squid and the Whale." We were told that we were the first audience to see the movie, and that credits, color, and music were not completely finished; some of the music cues were rough, but otherwise it seemed done to me.

In many ways, Greenberg mines a similar vein as Kicking and Screaming, although many will compare it to Garden State. Tonally GS and Greenberg are very different, but the set up is similar; both main characters are on meds galore, travel across the country for family reasons, and neither can swim to save their lives. Ben Stiller is the eponymous Greenberg. A washed up grunge rocker, he is coming home to LA from New York to house sit for his much wealthier brother to both help the family and recover in peace from a nervous breakdown. I was a little scared when I saw Ben Stiller as the lead, but he is great as an immature nasty asshole throughout the movie. Forget a character arc, you spend the whole movie waiting for his next meltdown. Growth for him is a finished a conversation without abusively freaking out on someone then storming off. There is none of the silly charm or self-deprecating humor of There's Something About Mary or even Tropic Thunder. Greenberg doesn't have the self-awareness to poke fun or even understand himself.

When Greenberg gets to his brother's home, he meets the family's assistant, the lovely Florence. Played by Greta Gerwig, she's a younger Chloe Sevigny. In many ways she's a screwed up as Greenberg: she's a bit of a tramp, lets people walk all over her, and drinks too much, but compared to Greenberg, she's the picture of mental health. The difference between them is their age; he's 40 but she's only 25. She still has many chances to get it together, unlike him. We also get to see her sing, and she has a lovely voice to accompany the lovely everything else.

Rounding out the main cast is Rhys Ifans as Ivan, Greenberg's band mate and the only old friend who will hang out with him. Unlike Greenberg, he's become an adult - for better or worse. An ex-junkie, he fixes computers while waiting to divorce his wife, who shares a mutual hatred with Greenberg. Ivan brings Greenberg all over LA, and helps him catch up with old band mates and old flames.

As I mentioned above, the movie is similar to Kicking in Screaming in that there is no set plot. Greenberg is staying in his brother's home for 6 weeks while the family travels to Vietnam. He's in LA to recover and build a dog house. Beyond that, he wishes (and this is a direct quote) "To do nothing." Who said the slacker ethic is dead. Anything else that happens is more or less an unwelcome accident. This includes the central premise of the movie: a very awkward romance between Greenberg and Flo. They meet, drink a bit, have awkward sex, then leave just as clumsily. This is not to say it isn't funny; I found it hilarious, but the humor in this movie is black as coal. The sex scenes become even more uncomfortable as the movie progresses. Also, Greenberg's behavior gets worse as they see one another. Some will be left wondering why exactly she continues to see him, and I can't explain it either. Again, it is all very funny, but you won't get the warm fuzzies at any point in this movie.

Aside from Flo, the other points of action and humor in the movie deal with Greenberg turning 40, hanging out with Ivan, talking to his brother long distance, meeting with his old girlfriend, trying to hook up with other old friends, re-acclimating himself to LA (kinda hard; he doesn't drive anymore), and writing very expressive and impressive letters to the editor of the New York Times, a cab company, American Airlines, Mayor Bloomberg, and I forget who else. Again, while all of the above are funny, they are not nice. Greenberg comes to learn he is seen as an unloved prick whom no one (save Ivan) missed. His getting shot down by his loser ex-girlfriend is a highlight of the movie, as you see the slightest glimmer of understanding cross his face. Ouch.

Although there is no real plot to describe, there is an small arc which movies the story forward. Mawller, the brother's dog, gets sick early in the movie, and Greenberg and Flo must care for him. Never once did I believe dog's survival was automatic; the movie is just too dark. This gives them a reason to get together even when they don't want to be near one another, which is at least half the movie. This also gives us a chance to see how the two brothers feel about one another. Ben's character evidently bailed while his mother was terminally ill, and the resentment bubbles just beneath the surface. He couldn't (or wouldn't) care for his mom; he can't care for himself; how is he supposed to care for the dog?

The dog recovers (phew!), but it does have an autoimmune disorder requiring steroids, etc. Successfully caring for the pooch does give Greenberg a break from his otherwise bizzare and nasty behavior. It gives us a break as well. Still, it does not serve as a benchmark in his recovery or maturity or growth. He's just happy the dog is OK. At this point, with the dog healthy again, the movie takes 3 abrupt turns. First, Flo, who has had enough of Greenberg's abuse, finds out she's pregnant - but not by Greenberg. She has an abortion, and the pain wipes her out for the rest of the movie. Both Ivan and Greenberg help her get to the hospital, and the attempts by Greenberg to be kind and supportive are painfully h ilarious. Second, only mentioned in the beginning of the movie, the sister-in-law's daughter (making her Greenberg's step-niece, though he has trouble with the concept) appears out of no where to have a drunken and drug filled party with Ben as the chaperon. Make jokes about the blind leading the blind, but he does act as a responsible adult some of the time. Most importantly, he prevents 20 year old idiots from giving a sick dog beer, pizza, etc. He does, however, decide to do coke and weed then drug dials Ivan. The party becomes the moment of denouement for the movie, as Greenberg has a "kids today" coke fueled rant, then proceeds to have it out with Ivan. Turns out Greenberg blew the band's chance at a record deal 15 years ago, and nothing has worked out for either of them since. At this point you are given the impression their friendship is dead. Ivan is patching things up with his wife (who, again, hates Greenberg), and he is ready and willing to accept whatever that path offers him. He's moved on, while Greenberg cannot.

After the fight with Ivan, Greenberg calls Flo's voice mail. Since he cannot hold a conversation, he leaves a message like he's writing a letter to the editor. Finally, he successfully communicates how he feels, and leaves a clumsy but sweet message for her. Once he picks her up from the hospital and she gets home, she listens to her voice mails. When his begins to play, she smiles, and bang the movie is done.

Obviously, the ending is a bit abrupt, and completely leaves you hanging. It didn't bother me though, and I did like this movie quite a bit, but at 2 hours it was long. I felt going in that few, if any, characters would be likable, and I was certainly correct on that level. This movie may have grand designs as a vehicle for a more serious Ben Stiller, but at its heart it is an indie flick all the way. Ben was great at the title character, as was Greta, but the movie is too black and the people too remote for most people to want to see this. I wasn't really invested in Greenberg's success or growth, but that didn't seem to be the point. He wasn't going to grow up; he didn't know how. His future is too empty and his past too filled with wasted promise for him to accept. Fellow Gen-Xer's will love it, and I laughed throughout the movie at the bitter truth of it all.

Focus Features plans to release GREENBERG at some point in 2010. Looking forward to it.

*I'm bragging.