'Greenberg'

'Greenberg' (R) ***

Written and Directed by Noah Baumbach
Starring: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mark Duplass

Ben Stiller is best known for goofy comedies and big Hollywood blockbusters like the "Night at the Museum" movies. He has made some classics like "Tropic Thunder" and unique misfires like "Zoolander". He has never been known for being deep or serious and that is not such a bad thing. We all know though that every actor or movie star wants to show they can act and a serious vehicle is what can help do that. Ben Stiller is smart and he can act. Just watch the old television classic "The Ben Stiller Show" which is one of the best skit shows ever on television. His mastery of different characters on that show displayed the sheer talent and brilliance of his acting in comedy. Robin Williams and Jim Carrey have gone the serious actor route very well and now you can add Ben Stiller. His performance in "Greenberg" is the best of his career so far. This is not a lovable character Stiller is playing here and this will make "Greenberg" one of those movies that people either like or hate. I love the performances and I like the message and characters of this challenging drama. Time will tell if I truly love this movie for I think on a second viewing I might like it much more. I just love it for the fact that it is tough to embrace and that others will hate it. When it comes to movies I always seem to go against popular opinion a lot. I actually identified with the main character more than I would be willing to admit.

Ben Stiller plays Roger Greenberg who has just been released from a mental institution for a nervous breakdown. He leaves his home in New York to go to Los Angeles to house sit for his brother. Greenberg is a very depressed, cranky and introverted man who just doesn't like people much and sees life as hopeless. Then he meets his brother's assistant and house keeper Florence played by newcomer Greta Gerwig. Gerwig has been in a few small movies including last year's horror masterpiece "The House of the Devil". She is not a conventional beauty but in certain shots she does look very beautiful. She is lanky, awkward in her body movements and she either has moments where she is very expressive and moments where she fumbles her words and tries to swallow them back for fear of not sounding right. Gerwig is very good here playing this shy but pleasant woman who has to deal with a lost Greenberg. Stiller and Gerwig work well off of each other. They create two people who start an unusual relationship but turn out to be right for each other. This movie is not always a happy movie though it has a lot of funny moments. So if you want a joyous and upbeat movie you might hate this movie. I identified with the characters and I loved following them. All movies can not be all sunny and fun because in reality there are a lot of sad and unsure people in this World. "Greenberg" depicts that view well in a story that in time grew on me and got me emotionally involved. I like when actors show us a side we haven't seen before. I also like seeing a very good actress who shows that actresses don't all have to look like Megan Fox or Sandra Bullock. This felt like a movie about real people in a sad World who find out they need someone and that it can sometimes be a person right under your nose. This is a well written movie that just might become more of a classic in time with repeat viewings.