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Product Description
Greenberg unites Ben Stiller (Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Tropic Thunder) with Academy Award®-nominated writer and director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Fantastic Mr. Fox) in walking the fragile line between humour and heartbreak to tell the witty and moving tale of Roger Greenberg. Also starring Jennifer Jason Leigh (Margot at the Wedding, The Anniversary Party), Rhys Ifans (The Boat that Rocked, Notting Hill) and Greta Gerwig (Nights and Weekends), Greenberg proves that mid-life may just be the ideal time to finally decide to grow up and embrace the life you never planned on...
After a stint in New York and another in a mental institution, Roger Greenberg (Stiller) is single, fortyish and deliberately doing nothing with his life. Wondering how life sent him adrift, he is in search of a place to re-start and agrees to house-sit and look after pet dog Mahler for six weeks in Los Angeles for his younger brother while he vacations with his family in Vietnam. Greenberg grew up in L.A. and often reflects on re-visiting the past, where he clearly feels that his life broke off. However, since envy and paranoia eat away at every connection he seems to make, whether a thorny one with a highly successful, former college bandmate or a reunion with his patient, soft-spoken old friend Ivan (Ifans), who’s living in a motel while separated from his wife and son. But Greenberg is too self-obsessed to notice or care about other people’s problems. The exception is his former girlfriend Beth (Jason Leigh), a divorced mother of two who sets him straight as he awkwardly attempts to rekindle their extinct 15-year-old relationship.
Greenberg soon realises that old friends aren't necessarily still best friends and finds that his vulnerability immediately endears him to his brother’s sweet young assistant, Florence (Gerwig), who helps him navigate Los Angeles and take care of Mahler. What begins as a courtesy to her employer develops into a charmingly eccentric and unexpectedly significant connection. As Greenberg discovers there is only so much “nothing” you can do, the awkward beauty he builds with Florence starts to look more and more like a reason to be happy.
Special Features:
After a stint in New York and another in a mental institution, Roger Greenberg (Stiller) is single, fortyish and deliberately doing nothing with his life. Wondering how life sent him adrift, he is in search of a place to re-start and agrees to house-sit and look after pet dog Mahler for six weeks in Los Angeles for his younger brother while he vacations with his family in Vietnam. Greenberg grew up in L.A. and often reflects on re-visiting the past, where he clearly feels that his life broke off. However, since envy and paranoia eat away at every connection he seems to make, whether a thorny one with a highly successful, former college bandmate or a reunion with his patient, soft-spoken old friend Ivan (Ifans), who’s living in a motel while separated from his wife and son. But Greenberg is too self-obsessed to notice or care about other people’s problems. The exception is his former girlfriend Beth (Jason Leigh), a divorced mother of two who sets him straight as he awkwardly attempts to rekindle their extinct 15-year-old relationship.
Greenberg soon realises that old friends aren't necessarily still best friends and finds that his vulnerability immediately endears him to his brother’s sweet young assistant, Florence (Gerwig), who helps him navigate Los Angeles and take care of Mahler. What begins as a courtesy to her employer develops into a charmingly eccentric and unexpectedly significant connection. As Greenberg discovers there is only so much “nothing” you can do, the awkward beauty he builds with Florence starts to look more and more like a reason to be happy.
Special Features:
- A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Greenberg: Ben Stiller and the cast talk about the character Roger Greenberg and how they brought this humorous story to life.
- Greenberg Loves Los Angeles: Writer/Director Noah Baumbach shares his aspirations for making the film.
- Noah Baumbach Takes a Novel Approach: Noah Baumbach discusses how essential writing is to filmmaking and how he personally turned to great American novelists for inspiration.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Nick
Format:DVD
... so if that's what you're after, go elsewhere. But if you like character-based films like Hal Ashby and Robert Altman used to make in the '70s, or their modern counterparts like 'The Squid and the Whale' (same director as this), 'Trees Lounge' or 'Sideways' - adult films about flawed, often charm-challenged people struggling against their limitations just to get by, maybe make some consoling human contact - then this is well worth a go.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Challenging, but brave, and worth a re-look (won't be everyone's cup of tea)
25 Nov 2011
By K. Gordon
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
A film I immediately felt I needed to see again, I found this
fascinating and sometimes maddening.
Ben Stiller plays a truly unlikable 'hero', a man so angry that he
can't maintain any sort of real friendship, much less romantic
relationship.
What's admirable about the film, is that all the acting is so rich and
subtle, as is the writing, that no one ends up a caricature.
There's also an admirable unwillingness to give into convention, to
provide easy answers or heartwarming redemption. This is about a man
maybe taking the first step from A to B and we're not sure in the end
he'll even make it that far.
On the downside, there is a certain repetitiveness to it. We 'get'
Greenberg and his anger, and sometimes the going in circles feels like
just filling time instead of proving a point about how stuck the
character is emotionally.
Also, there's mention of Greenberg's vulnerability, but if that had
been allowed to be just a bit more evident it might have better
balanced his off-putting downside. As is, on first viewing, the film
felt a bit removed and intellectual.
But I could easily imagine that impression changing on revisiting, now
that I'm prepared for it's dark and difficult tone.
In any case, I found this a very good, if challenging film that's well worth
seeing, from one of our most interesting creators of complex characters.
On the other hand, it certainly won't be to everyone's taste or mood. I have
a feeling reactions to a film that has this much 'nails on a chalkboard' feeling
is a very individual, subjective matter.
fascinating and sometimes maddening.
Ben Stiller plays a truly unlikable 'hero', a man so angry that he
can't maintain any sort of real friendship, much less romantic
relationship.
What's admirable about the film, is that all the acting is so rich and
subtle, as is the writing, that no one ends up a caricature.
There's also an admirable unwillingness to give into convention, to
provide easy answers or heartwarming redemption. This is about a man
maybe taking the first step from A to B and we're not sure in the end
he'll even make it that far.
On the downside, there is a certain repetitiveness to it. We 'get'
Greenberg and his anger, and sometimes the going in circles feels like
just filling time instead of proving a point about how stuck the
character is emotionally.
Also, there's mention of Greenberg's vulnerability, but if that had
been allowed to be just a bit more evident it might have better
balanced his off-putting downside. As is, on first viewing, the film
felt a bit removed and intellectual.
But I could easily imagine that impression changing on revisiting, now
that I'm prepared for it's dark and difficult tone.
In any case, I found this a very good, if challenging film that's well worth
seeing, from one of our most interesting creators of complex characters.
On the other hand, it certainly won't be to everyone's taste or mood. I have
a feeling reactions to a film that has this much 'nails on a chalkboard' feeling
is a very individual, subjective matter.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Alix
Format:DVD
Greenberg is a beautifully subtle film about a man who can't decide what his next step in life should be.
Everyone understands feeling trapped; not feeling brave enough to plunge into the unknown, despite having the strength to walk away from a life which is devoid of excitement or distinction. Greenberg perfectly captures this state of antithesis.
Other reviewers have slated this film for not being 'Stiller like'. This is true. Don't watch Greenberg if you are expecting Zoolander or Dodgeball. Thankfully, Ben Stiller is progressively making more films that suit his acting style. He portrays the troubled, middle aged Greenberg sublimely with his abrupt delivery and awkward glances. Greta Gerwig is perfect as Florence, the quiet, disillusioned nanny that has a delicate sadness hidden beneath her every breath.
Greenberg is a fantastic film that everyone who has felt unequipped to deal with the adventure they've chosen to embark upon should watch and appreciate.
Everyone understands feeling trapped; not feeling brave enough to plunge into the unknown, despite having the strength to walk away from a life which is devoid of excitement or distinction. Greenberg perfectly captures this state of antithesis.
Other reviewers have slated this film for not being 'Stiller like'. This is true. Don't watch Greenberg if you are expecting Zoolander or Dodgeball. Thankfully, Ben Stiller is progressively making more films that suit his acting style. He portrays the troubled, middle aged Greenberg sublimely with his abrupt delivery and awkward glances. Greta Gerwig is perfect as Florence, the quiet, disillusioned nanny that has a delicate sadness hidden beneath her every breath.
Greenberg is a fantastic film that everyone who has felt unequipped to deal with the adventure they've chosen to embark upon should watch and appreciate.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By C. Willans
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Reading some of the reviews I can understand how some people would see this as a not very nice movie to watch. Mental illness is still pretty much a taboo subject for many and perhaps there are too many examples of that going in this film for some folk to handle.
Overall I think Ben Stiller has handled the role in question brilliantly and shows that medication alone is not enough to help some people. Circumstances and real life situations ultimately decide how you behave and sometimes there is just nothing you can do about that. How this translates into comedy though I am not so sure but the film put a smile on my face now and then.
All in all I found the movie satisfying to watch and sure the people out there with the same symptoms as the main character would feel the same way also.
This movie has a superb soundtrack too.
Overall I think Ben Stiller has handled the role in question brilliantly and shows that medication alone is not enough to help some people. Circumstances and real life situations ultimately decide how you behave and sometimes there is just nothing you can do about that. How this translates into comedy though I am not so sure but the film put a smile on my face now and then.
All in all I found the movie satisfying to watch and sure the people out there with the same symptoms as the main character would feel the same way also.
This movie has a superb soundtrack too.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By pollmeister
Format:DVD
I can see why this has divided peoples opinions. Not much happens, but Ben Stiller is remarkable. His unpredictable character made my skin crawl and made me feel very uncomfortable. I agree that in real life Laurence would have run a mile from a person like him - then again she was supposed to be a little unhinged I guess. Rhys Ifans was under-used though. Some great lines but a very unsatisfactory ending.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In a world where we are bombarded by explosion-packed & drug-fuelled cinema, selling fast cars and sexy women, it is far too easy to miss the films like Greenberg. Ben Stiller (Tropic Thunder) plays Roger Greenberg, our eponymous loser who is spending some time at his much more successful brother's house to recuperate from a nervous-breakdown and a stint in the puzzle-factory. When he meets his brother's PA/Housekeeper Florence (Greta Gerwig) he instigates an awkward relationship that neither find very fulfilling but keep defaulting back to as a result of having nothing else in their lives. Roger looks up his old bandmates (Rhys Ifans - Notting Hill- amongst them) and tries to reconnect with old friends with mixed success.
Well directed by Noah Baumbach there are some great arty-shots, this is a touching film that will make you assess yourself as you watch Roger bumble through his distinctly average life. The experience left me wondering what I had just watched but it did make me think for a long time after the credits had rolled. A weird and wonderful film about love, life and friendship that at first glance may feel a bit slow-paced and low on gags but has a lot of subtext.
The DVD has some funny out-takes of Stiller, true-to-form for him and also stars a novel menu interface, but apart from that it's really not that special or unique. Recommended!
Well directed by Noah Baumbach there are some great arty-shots, this is a touching film that will make you assess yourself as you watch Roger bumble through his distinctly average life. The experience left me wondering what I had just watched but it did make me think for a long time after the credits had rolled. A weird and wonderful film about love, life and friendship that at first glance may feel a bit slow-paced and low on gags but has a lot of subtext.
The DVD has some funny out-takes of Stiller, true-to-form for him and also stars a novel menu interface, but apart from that it's really not that special or unique. Recommended!
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2.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good
I think people will either love or hate this film. It resonates with some people (including Taratino for some reason) and others dismiss it. I liked it.
Published 2 months ago by Adam
1.0 out of 5 stars
do not buy.
do not recommend. i watched about 3ominutes of it before i HAD to turn it off, it's very boring and just... uhhhh. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Echo1
5.0 out of 5 stars
greenberg dvd
the movie greenber is a funny film ,its romantic film and ben stiller is very good actor.i love this film ,my husband too.
Published 5 months ago by maria
3.0 out of 5 stars
Is Hard To Watch
I liked this film to a certain extent. what i mean by this that the film itself is good, well written, well filmed and a rather good soundtrack. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. G. A. Dowling
1.0 out of 5 stars
A waste of your time and life watching it!
I spent only 30 mins watching this rubbish then flicked forward to see clips and realise that it was all a load of rubbish. My god! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Sevillano
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good plot but lacked excitement
The usual Ben Stiller movie expectation is that it will be some slapstick ridiculous comedy that's highly predictable. But this was entirely different to his normal casting. Read more
Published 14 months ago by BookWorm64
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious and pointless and completely unfunny
Check out the other 1 star reviews. I can't add anything other than my wholehearted agreement. It's not worth wasting anymore time than I have already, sitting through this rubish. Read more
Published 21 months ago by A. KING
1.0 out of 5 stars
boring
I bought this film as I was tempted by the words 'romantic comedy' and Ben Stiller. How I wished I had saved my money and bought something half decent. Read more
Published 21 months ago by chips
4.0 out of 5 stars
Light Hearted, enjoyable film.
Really enjoyed this film, very easy to watch - good acting on Stiller's behalf and generally a good laugh. I honestly don't see why so many people dislike it - It's good fun!
Published 22 months ago by qwertyuiop
1.0 out of 5 stars
The are worse films... but not many
Ben Stiller's performance in this film was not unlike the sensation of frying your own eyes in a rusty frying pan, brimming over with lard. Read more
Published on 7 April 2011 by P. Bessell
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