Greta Gerwig Movies
Though she began her career with playwriting ambitions, Greta Gerwig soon skirted to fame as one of the preeminent actresses in "mumblecore" films. As led by the Amerindie filmmakers including Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha Ha), Jay and Mark Duplass (The Puffy Chair), and Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs), this movement of early-21st century American cinema relied on shoestring budgets and characterized itself via such elements as shaky, handheld photography, loosely strung narratives, and ultra-informal, from-the-hip dialogue that sustained the illusion of complete spontaneity.Gerwig -- a graduate of Barnard College and a longtime resident and habitué of Brooklyn, NY -- first made her presence known in Swanberg's 2006 LOL (as a girl who sends pictures of herself to an admirer via cell phone), but only rocketed to fame the following year, as the lead in the same director's Hannah Takes the Stairs. In that feature, she fully evoked the complexities and contradictions of a young woman drifting through a long, hot Chicago summer and blithely but unsuccessfully attempting to fulfill her romantic yearnings. The picture (like LOL) immediately became a sensation and turned Gerwig into a screen favorite among enthusiasts of grassroots independent filmmaking.
In many ways, however, 2008 represented Gerwig's breakthrough year -- the year that witnessed her essaying supporting roles in two additional mumblecore features (Yeast and Baghead) and posing a triple threat as lead actress, screenwriter, and co-director (alongside Swanberg) on Nights and Weekends. This off-center romantic comedy stars Gerwig and Swanberg as two geographically estranged lovers grappling with the impracticalities of a long-distance relationship.
In 2010, Gerwig received rave reviews and critical acclaim as the female lead opposite Ben Stiller in Noah Baumbach's Greenberg. The next year, she moved to mainstream films, appearing in No Strings Attached and with Russell Brand in the remake of Arthur, and in 2012, played a supporting role in Woody Allen's To Rome With Love. Gerwig also continued to star in smaller movies, playing the title role in Lola Versus and reteaming with Baumbach for Frances Ha. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- 2012
- R
Directed by Noah Baumbach, Frances Ha stars Greta Gerwig as Frances, a twentysomething Brooklynite barely making a living as an apprentice with a dance company. Her greatest happiness is the friendship she shares with Sophie (Mickey Sumner), but when Sophie moves away, Frances goes on a downward spiral that includes unemployment, failing to find the right guy, and moving into a series of smaller and smaller apartments. Co-written by Baumbach and Gerwig, Frances Ha screened at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
Lifelong friends Adam (Ashton Kutcher) and Emma (Natalie Portman) attempt to avoid falling in love after falling into each other's beds in this comedy exploring the complexities and quirks of having friends with benefits. Adam was a typical, hormonal 14-year-old when he first came on to Emma at summer camp -- and got shot down in flames. In the years that followed, however, Adam and Emma continued to cross paths until, eventually, they both caved to their animal instincts. Despite an intense session of earth-shaking sex, however, Emma makes it clear to Adam that the last thing she wants is a committed relationship. And thanks to the fact that Adam's father (Kevin Kline), a fallen television star, has just begun dating his son's ex-girlfriend, the horrified bachelor has developed an aversion to monogamy as well. At first their casual stance on sex works great for both; Emma can focus on her career instead of allowing her emotions to dictate her decisions, and Adam can play the field without fear of hurting her feelings. Over time, though, a funny thing happens -- Adam begins to develop feelings for Emma that he never had for any of his countless conquests. Before they both know it, love has reared its ugly head and they've gotten too emotionally involved to cut the relationship off cold. But is commitment in the cards for the couple that always swore it would never get serious, or has the time come for them to finally part ways once and for all? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, (more)
The immature heir to a billion-dollar empire finds himself cut off from the family fortune after rejecting his arranged marriage to a nouveau riche socialite, and instead falling for a free-spirited unlicensed tour guide in this remake of the sentimental 1981 comedy starring Dudley Moore. Arthur (Russell Brand) was raised in the lap of luxury. His family is wealthy beyond compare, and ever since he was a child his every whim has been catered to by his nanny, Hobson (Helen Mirren), and his chauffeur, Bitterman (Luis Guzman). But the party starts to wind down when Arthur's domineering mother (Geraldine James) insists that he marry Susan (Jennifer Garner), the daughter of a self-made millionaire (Nick Nolte) who isn't above intimidating his future son-in-law into marriage. Vehemently opposed to the idea due to the fact that he and Susan have nothing in common, Arthur rejects the proposal after falling in love with Linda (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring children's book author who pays the rent by giving unofficial tours of Grand Central Station. As a result, Arthur has to decide if he can face life as a normal member of the working class -- and without his trusty flask of booze. Television veteran Jason Winer (Modern Family) directs from a script by Peter Baynham (Brüno, Borat). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Helen Mirren, Greta Gerwig, (more)
Two people hurt by love are brought together in this independent drama from writer and director Alison Bagnall. Rose Greta Gerwig) is a woman who feels angry and betrayed when her husband tells her he's been having an affair. Rose impulsively hops in her car and heads to the Delaware seaside community where the other woman lives and her parents keep a summer cottage. Rose has no luck finding her husband's lover, but she happens upon a teenage boy (Olly Alexander) who is stranded and sleeping by the beach as fall turns to winter; he came to Delaware to be with his girlfriend, only to learn she'd left him for someone else. Rose takes pity on the boy and lets him stay with her, and they become fast friends, though she has to work through her own anger and disappointment before the two of them can truly open up to one another. The Dish and the Spoon received its world premiere at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Greta Gerwig, Olly Alexander, (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)
- 2009
Bound together by circumstance, two travelers wrestle with the prospect of making their vacation romance something a bit more serious in this romantic drama from director Rod Webber. Horace (Webber) and Cassandra (Greta Gerwig) first crossed paths while traveling to Canada. Their mutual guide through the Great White North was the Greek philosopher Socrates, who laid out Horace and Cassandra's traveling itinerary through a series of books-on-tape. Now, in order to avoid becoming lost in the vast frozen wilderness, this mismatched couple must learn to work together. But all is not well with Cassandra, and as she attempts to face the terrifying truth that her physical condition is quickly deteriorating, she chose between standing by Horace, and standing to face her fate alone. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rod Webber, Greta Gerwig, (more)
A coed struggling to pay her rent ends up taking the wrong part-time job in writer-director Ti West's old-school 1980s-set horror flick, The House of the Devil. Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) is a sweet-natured and retiring young woman, unlike her rambunctious, loud, and self-assured best buddy, Megan (mumblecore stalwart Greta Gerwig). After moving into a new apartment, Samantha is desperate for a way to make a few more bucks. When Mr. Ulman (Tom Noonan) comes on campus looking for a babysitter, Samantha jumps at the opportunity. Once she convinces Megan to give her a ride to the creepy old Ulman house, Samantha learns that the job is not quite what was advertised. Ulman and his wife (Mary Woronov) don't even have a child. He tells Samantha that she just has to stay in the house with his elderly mother-in-law while he and the missus go out to celebrate the lunar eclipse. When she balks at the change of plans, he offers her more money. As the night goes on, it becomes clear that Samantha is a much bigger part of the Ulmans' plans for the evening than she would ever want to be. West established his genre credentials with low-budget cult favorites The Roost (which also starred Noonan) and Trigger Man. The House of the Devil also stars A.J. Bowen and Dee Wallace. The movie had its world premiere in the Midnight section of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jocelin Donahue, Greta Gerwig, (more)
- 2008
- NR
Two people who fall in love while separated by 800 miles find it's hard to stay friends while living in the same city in this low-key independent drama. James (Joe Swanberg) and Mattie (Greta Gerwig) are in love and trying to make their relationship work. But James lives and works in Chicago, while Mattie calls New York home, and though they try to visit one another as often as they can, their infrequent weekends together are punctuated by telephone calls, e-mails, on-line chatting, and sending digital pictures back and forth. As much as Mattie cares for James, in time the space between them is too much to deal with and they break up. Twelve months later, James' career as a video-game designer is taking off, and a new project necessitates a move to New York City; while they're no longer lovers, he tries to reconnect with Mattie, though his recent success has added a new and uncomfortable element to their relationship. Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig wrote, directed, and produced Nights and Weekends as well as playing the two leads; the film received its world premiere at the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Greta Gerwig, Joe Swanberg, (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)
- 2008
Hopelessly oblivious, frustratingly tyrannical, and emotionally stunted, a woman suffering from a wide variety of personality flaws does her best to talk through two deeply destructive friendships. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mary Bronstein, Amy Judd, (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)
- 2006
- PG13
- Add LOL to Queue Add LOL to top of Queue
The constant need to be plugged in and connected threatens to crash the real-life operating system of three technologically obsessed twentysomethings in director Joe Swanberg's humorous meditation on the relationship between man and machine in modern society. Tim does computer work for a living, but he also lives for his computer. Unfortunately his inability to snap the lid closed on his laptop is rapidly alienating his girlfriend Ada, who recognizes Tim's apparent inability to communicate with other people without the buffer of technology. Meanwhile, as struggling musician Alex obsesses over a girl he met on an adult website, a flesh-and-blood girl named Walter does her best to make her attraction to Alex known. Lastly, Chris has transferred from New York to Chicago due to the demands of his job, making a long-distance relationship with his East-coast girlfriend Greta increasingly difficult to maintain. Though the pair talks constantly on their cell phones while also sending cell-phone pictures to one another, neither Chris nor Greta can deny that their reliance on technology in sustaining their relationship is no substitute for the living, breathing warmth of human companionship. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Bewersdorf, Joe Swanberg, (more)
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