Mark Duplass Movies
Louisiana native Mark Duplass paid his dues both behind and in front of the camera, writing, producing, directing, and starring in a number of films throughout the early 2000s, like The New Brad and This is John. Duplass' efforts began capturing wider attention with 2008's The Puffy Chair and 2009's Baghead, which garnered some critical buzz on the festival circuit. The filmmaker's star climbed even higher in 2010, when he received critical acclaim for his next project, an uncomfortable comedy called Cyrus, starring Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, and John C. Reilly. Simultaneously, Duplass made a successful six-episode run as an actor on the comedy series The League, as well as in fellow indie filmmaker Noah Baumbach's 2010 dramedy Greenberg. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi- 2013
Two twins (Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader) escape death that leads them on a trip to sort out their lives and their own relationship in this comedy from director Craig Johnson (True Adolescents). ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
An aging couple find the happiness of their daughter's wedding offset by the emotional distress of losing their beloved dog in this comedy-drama from director Lawrence Kasdan. Beth (Diane Keaton) and her daughter Grace (Elizabeth Moss) are driving down a Denver freeway on a chilly winter day when Beth rescues a lost dog on the side of the road. Naming her new companion "Freeway," Beth forges a strong bond with her new pet while growing increasing frustrated with her husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) -- a self-centered doctor who shows more concern for his patients than he does for his own children. But shortly after Grace's wedding in the Rockies, Freeway runs off during a walk with Joseph. Furious at Joseph and devastated at the loss of losing her loyal pet, Beth recruits remaining wedding guests Penny (Dianne Wiest), Russell (Richard Jenkins), and Bryan (Mark Duplass) -- and enigmatic stranger Carmen (Ayelet Zurer) to help bring Freeway home safely. Along the way, Beth finds her crumbling marriage to Joseph put to the ultimate test. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, (more)
- 2012
From Jay and Mark Duplass, the writer/directors of the Sundance hits "The Puffy Chair," "Cyrus" and the upcoming "Jeff Who Lives at Home" comes "The Do-Deca-Pentathalon" - the story of two grown brothers who secretly compete in a homemade Olympics during a family reunion. When their fierce and disruptive competition is uncovered, the brothers must choose between their passion for beating the hell out of each other and the greater good of the family.
Directing brothers Jay and Mark Duplass examine fate and family in the comedy Jeff, Who Lives at Home, starring Jason Segel as the title character, a slacker who still lives with his mother. He spends the vast majority of his time smoking pot and explaining how he's waiting to understand his own fate, using the film Signs as the model for how he takes in the world. His brother Pat (Ed Helms) is a salesman in a mid-life crisis having purchased a sweet new sports car over the objections of his wife (Judy Greer). After Jeff answers the phone and a voice demands to speak to "Kevin," the stoner believes this is the sign he's been waiting for. During the course of the day, Jeff and Pat will confront their issues with each other, while their long-suffering mother (Susan Sarandon) may find love for the first time since the death of her husband. The film played at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Segel, Ed Helms, (more)
- 2011
- R
Three women on a camping trip find their fireside bonding interrupted by a group of psychotic veterans in this survival thriller from writer Mark Duplass and his wife, first-time director Katie Aselton (who also stars). As young girls, Sarah (Kate Bosworth), Lou (Lake Bell), and Abby (director Aselton) used to spend much of their spare time on a secluded island just off the coast of Maine. Years later, Lou and Abby have grown estranged after the former slept with the latter's boyfriend, and Sarah hopes to see them reconnect by taking a nostalgic trip to their favorite childhood haunt. As dusk falls, the ladies encounter an old classmate named Henry (Will Bouvier) trekking through the woods with his friends Derek (Jay Paulson) and Alex (Anslem Richardson). Armed with rifles, the men reveal they are on a hunting trip after returning from their tours of duty in the Middle East. Later, as the two groups gather around a fire for dinner, the booze begins to flow, and Abby's inhibitions fall away. Before long, Abby and Henry are all over each other. But the situation turns critical when Henry gets too rough, and Abby accidentally kills him while attempting to break free. Upon learning that their brother in arms is dead, Derek and Alex vow that the women won't get out of the woods alive, setting the stage for a bloody life-or-death struggle between the battle-hardened soldiers, and the terrified female trio. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kate Bosworth, Lake Bell, (more)
A personal ad placed for a time-travel partner prompts an investigation involving three magazine reporters in this quirky comedy produced by Mark and Jay Duplass (Jeff, Who Lives at Home) and starring Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation). Kenneth is a self-proclaimed time traveler who doesn't want to take his next journey alone. Intrigued by Kenneth's cryptic ad, a local newspaper editor dispatches cynical reporter Darius (Plaza) and a pair of other employees to get the scoop. Upon meeting Kenneth, Darius see past his peculiar front and recognizes the lonely soul inside. As genuine as Kenneth may be, however, his questionable sanity leaves Darius uncertain of how to proceed with her story. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Aubrey Plaza
A man struggling with his feelings following a death in the family throws himself into an even more uncomfortable situation in this independent comedy-drama from filmmaker Lynn Shelton. A year after the death of his brother, Jack (Mark Duplass) is still having a hard time dealing with his loss, and when he has an emotional outburst at a family get-together, Iris (Emily Blunt) steps in to offer some help. Iris is one of Jack's closest friends and was also dating his brother at the time of his death; Iris' family has a cottage on Puget Sound, and she suggests Jack bike up there and take some time to come to terms with his troubles. Jack accepts her offer, but when he arrives at the cabin, he discovers it's occupied by Iris' sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), who is in need of some alone time after breaking up with her lover. Jack and Hannah discuss their heartache over a bottle of tequila, and end up stumbling into bed. The next morning, Iris arrives, and Jack is desperate to keep her from learning he had sex with her sister; Hannah agrees not to tell, but as she bonds with Jack, she also senses his feelings for Iris aren't as platonic as he cares to admit. Your Sister's Sister received its world premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt, (more)
- 2010
Three astronauts experience unexpected adventure en route to a distant planet in this independent sci-fi comedy. A robotic space probe is sent by French scientists to the planet Mars, but the machine goes haywire after someone sneezes on it and it loses its way en route to the Red Planet. A second robot is sent on the same mission, but the machine takes it upon itself to rescue its mechanical sibling, and just before crashing into the Martian surface the robot sends back an image suggesting there's life on the planet. The United States quickly puts together a manned mission to Mars, with the heroic but inept Charlie Brownsville (Mark Duplass) joined by his more capable colleagues Dr. Casey Cook (Zoe Simpson) and Hank Morrison (Paul Gordon). As the crew struggles to beat their European rivals to Mars, Charlie tries to find a way to live up to his image and Casey and Hank discover that love can thrive outside Earth's atmosphere. Director Geoff Marslett shot Mars using digital equipment, and then used a new computer-assisted rotoscoping technique to give the images a special cartoon-influenced visual style; the film also includes a supporting performance from author, musician, and political gadfly Kinky Friedman as the President of the United States. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mark Duplass, Zoe Simpson, (more)
Director and actor Linas Phillips takes his audience on a strange but fascinating cross-country journey in this independent comedy. Linas isn't sure what to do with himself when his girlfriend (who is already married) breaks up with him, his friend tells him he's no longer welcome to sleep on the sofa and he has no idea of where to turn. Stuck in Seattle, Linas wishes he could get out of town, and when he finds "Shorty," a battered 1976 Volkswagen bus that's been customized to significantly reduce its length, he buys the vehicle, hops in and starts heading East, with a vague notion to going to Brooklyn. Over the next ten days, Linas drifts from one side of the country to another, and as he encounters a variety of colorful strangers en route, he begins to embrace the possibilities that come with each turn of the road and begins to believe being on his own isn't as awful as expected. Combining scripted material with improvisation and interactions with random strangers, Bass Ackwards received its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Directed by mumblecore stalwarts Jay and Mark Duplass, Cyrus stars John C. Reilly as John, a middle-aged lonely divorced guy who, as the film opens, gets dragged to a party by his remarried ex-wife (Catherine Keener) -- who remains his best friend. After a few clumsy, drunken passes at a variety of women, John encounters Molly (Marisa Tomei), an attractive single-mom who finds John's social awkwardness appealing. They hit it off, and quickly begin a tender new relationship. Problems soon arise in the form of Cyrus (Jonah Hill), Molly's twentysomething son, who has an off-puttingly close relationship to his mom. Soon the jealous Cyrus sets about trying to break them up, and John must figure out how to deal with this unhinged and unexpected rival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, (more)
A fortysomething New Yorker in the throes of a midlife crisis falls for his brother's assistant while house-sitting for his sibling in Los Angeles. Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) is single and jobless. He's at a crucial crossroads in life when his successful family-man brother summons him to Los Angeles to housesit for six weeks. Recognizing the opportunity to turn over a new leaf in a new city, Greenberg reaches out to his former bandmate Ivan (Rhys Ifans) and discovers that some old wounds aren't so quick to heal. When Greenberg meets his brother's pretty assistant, Florence (Greta Gerwig), a kindred spirit who longs to become a singer, he vows not to become too attached. But the more time Greenberg spends with Florence the more he begins to wonder whether he might have finally made a connection worth keeping. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Brie Larson co-star in a climacteric comedy drama from Oscar-nominated writer/director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, (more)
A couple hatches a highly dubious scheme to put the spark back in their marriage in this independent comedy drama. Annie (Katie Aselton) and Darren (Dax Shepard) have been married for seven years, and they love each other as much as the day they were wed; they're affectionate, have fun together, and enjoy games such as crossword puzzle races. They would seem to have a perfect relationship, except for one thing -- they haven't had sex in ages, and seem to have lost all interest in making love with one another, no matter how they try to put each other in the mood. Hoping to put some adventure back into their lives, Annie and Darren come up with an unusual idea -- they each get one night in which they're free to find someone and have sex with them, scot-free. But is this going to help their relationship, or is it just going to turn a small problem into a big problem? The Freebie was the first directorial assignment for actress Katie Aselton, who also plays Annie (and is married to another actor and filmmaker, Mark Duplass); the film was an official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kathryn Aselton, Dax Shepard, (more)
An ageing Seattle rocker takes a pair of teens on a camping trip in this warm-hearted coming of age story starring Mark Duplass and Academy Award-nominee Melissa Leo. Sam Bryant (Duplass) isn't exactly the kind of guy a parent would recruit to take their kids on a camping trip; he doesn't have a job, he's still searching for a record deal, and he was nearly homeless until he moved into his aunt's house in the suburbs. But perhaps a change of scenery will do Sam well, and when Oliver (Bret Loehr) and Jake (Carr Thompson) need an adult to supervise their camping trip, Sam reluctantly obliges. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mark Duplass, Melissa Leo, (more)
My Effortless Brilliance writer/director Lynn Shelton takes the topic of male bonding to new extremes with this comedy about two best friends who make an unusual pact that both may soon come to regret. Back in college, Andrew and Ben were inseparable. Years later, Andrew comes knocking on Ben's door and discovers that his former roommate is all grown up -- married and planning to have a baby. Meanwhile, Andrew never settled down at all, and has spent the past decade partying and traveling the world. Both men experience a mini existential crisis when they see what their own lives lack, and their dissatisfaction manifests itself in a strange way, when a drunken conversation about the upcoming amateur porn festival spirals into a contest of one-upmanship, with each guy daring the other to star together in a gay adult film. Two straight guys having sex together on film will surely be the hit of the festival -- and besides, it isn't a gay thing, just an artistic experiment! Strangely enough, even after sobering up the next day, neither Andrew nor Ben is willing to back down from their unique proposal. As the friends put their dignity, heterosexuality, and Ben's marriage in jeopardy to pursue their strange project, underlying issues about growing up, being friends, and the fear of a passionless life begin to creep into the picture. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, (more)
- 2009
- NR
A man looks for a way to get even with the sibling who has stolen away the woman he loves in this independent comedy drama from writer and director Bryan Poyser. Paul (Alex Karpovsky) and Rudy (Chris Doubek) are brothers who are also both writers, though their careers are on opposite ends of the spectrum of success; Paul has authored a series of fantasy novels for kids that have made him a very wealthy man, while Rudy's bitter and more personal work makes no inroads into the marketplace. Rudy is envious of his brother's good fortune, in part because he helped him come up with the characters for his stories when they were children. Rudy does have one thing that Paul wants, however -- Rudy's wife, Diana (Heather Kafka), who is disenchanted with her husband's dour attitude and money troubles and wants a divorce. After Diana finally kicks Rudy out of their home, he's reduced to living out of his car until Paul takes pity on him and pays for an extended stay at a hotel. What Rudy doesn't know is that Paul has given him a place to stay so he can invite Diana on a getaway to a luxury ski resort in Utah. Once Rudy catches on that Paul is seducing his ex-wife, Rudy makes his way to Utah and sneaks into their chalet, following their movements as he plots his revenge. Lovers of Hate received its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival -- fitting, since Poyser shot the Utah sequences in Park City while attending the Sundance Festival in 2009 (using the bungalow where he and a number of other Austin, TX filmmakers were staying as the set for Paul and Diana's love nest). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Chris Doubek, Heather Kafka, (more)
The Puffy Chair filmmaking duo Jay and Mark Duplass return to the realm of cinema with this tale of a man, a bag, and the strangeness that occurs when the two independently inconsequential factors come together. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Steve Zissis, Ross Partridge, (more)
American independent filmmaker Joe Swanberg's 2007 feature Hannah Takes the Stairs concerns Hannah (Greta Gerwig), a recent college graduate who spends one long, unsatisfying summer in the Windy City attempting to achieve romantic fulfillment in a seemingly endless series of relationships. Drifting in and out of infatuation, but never quite reaching satisfaction, Hannah begins to pose an emotional threat to herself and those around her. The picture co-stars filmmakers Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha) and Todd Rohal (The Guatemalan Handshake) as well as screenwriter Kent Osborne (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie). Gerwig co-authored the script with Osborne and Swanberg. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Greta Gerwig, Kent Osborne, (more)
Dejected by his failure to achieve fame as a New York City indie-rocker and unable to figure out just when it was that his life took a sharp turn for the worse, a small-town boy who had once harbored big dreams for the future sets out on a cross-country adventure to give his father a birthday the old man will never forget in director Jay Duplass' nostalgic road trip comedy. Josh (Mark Duplass) may not have found the success he was hoping for in the big city, but he's determined not to go back home empty-handed. When an eBay browsing session leads Josh to a vintage Lazy Boy recliner just like the one that used to grace his childhood living room, the loving son opts to purchase the purple relic and deliver it to his father as a surprise birthday gift. Josh's simple plan is suddenly complicated by the appearance of his emotionally demanding girlfriend, Emily (Kathryn Aselton), and his granola-munching brother, Rhett (Rhett Wilkins) -- who both insist on joining him on his homeward-bound mission. While the hapless would-be rocker sets out with them on a mission to deliver a piece of his childhood to his father back home, he might also learn a thing or two about himself and his relationships in the process. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mark Duplass, Kathryn Aselton, (more)
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