plus 3, ACORN: The Movie – Is It Possible? - Front Page

ACORN: The Movie – Is It Possible? - Front Page
Movie Schedule - Arizona Daily Star
I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry! - New York Post
Movie Review: 'Greenberg' - Delaware County Daily Times

ACORN: The Movie – Is It Possible? - Front Page

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 01:23 AM PDT

The last few months have been full of conservatives railing against the anti-American attitude that is all too present in the wildly successful 3D sensation Avatar. Once the hype over that film dies something will have to take its place; what if there was a film about ACORN? As interesting as such a film could be, we probably shouldn't hold our breath.

On Wednesday, Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld discussed the prospect of an ACORN movie:

"If ACORN was a right-wing entity and the pranksters were lefties, this would quickly become a mega-million dollar movie, directed by Steven Soderbergh, with George Clooney as the bad guy."

Hollywood loves to distort the truth so why would something like the facts stop them from spinning the ACORN story to their benefit? Here is where we would find a film about a corrupt drug company (Clooney can play the evil doctor) and corrupt practices that will be exposed by Matt Damon (puppet for the late Howard Zinn) and Marion Cotillard (9/11 truther) who play a couple of left wing vigilantes. Tom Cruise could make a cameo as a radical Republican senator who is on the drug company's payroll.

Odds are it would win a handful of Academy Awards due to the "heroic truth-telling nature" of the film. It would also most likely be "A Spike Lee Joint" produced by Oliver Stone.

But what if I were to pitch the ACORN film myself? I would most likely be citing great social commentary films of the past like Network. I might also mention All The President's Men, seeing that the politics of that film may get their attention. After all, they have to love a story about heroic journalists. Unfortunately, today's studio execs have never seen either film. They also know very little about the ACORN story.

"We heard it was a bunch of highly paid radical right-wingers that set out to destroy President Obama," they said with confidence. I would respond, "No, it was actually a couple of courageous journalists who uncovered corruption in our inner cities. They have single handedly squandered a major player that was to blame in part for the destruction of our major cities." I would be told that I watch too much FOX News and the studio execs would break into laughter.

"Let me tell you who I have lined up for cast and director," I said with a smile. Before I could go further I would feel two security guards ask me to leave. The studio execs continued laughing about their FOX News comment. I suppose they wouldn't have liked my choices for cast and director anyway, which is unfortunate. Upon being escorted out I would hear the two execs discussing how James Cameron was robbed at the Oscars (ha!).

The story of two journalists uncovering corruption at ACORN could be a great film. It doesn't have to be a movie about the Right and the Left, but rather about how the government isn't always the answer. Today we see too many mind numbing (instead of thought provoking) ideologically driven films from the Hollywood left, so we shouldn't place any bets for an honest film about the infamous association of community organizers.

Read the original story at NewsReal Blog » Feature.

Categories: NewsReal Blog
Tags: american attitude, George Clooney, Greg Gutfeld, heroic journalists, Howard Zinn, marion cotillard, NewsRealblog, republican senator, right wingers, steven soderbergh, studio execs

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Movie Schedule - Arizona Daily Star

Posted: 27 Mar 2010 11:57 PM PDT

* Denotes complexes in which at least one theater has equipment for the hearing-impaired.

Century El Con 20*

3601 E. Broadway

1-800-FANDANGO (326-3264), Ext. 902

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 12:10, 1:25, 2:50, 5:35, 6:55, 8:10, 10:45.

Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) - 11:25, 2:05, 4:50, 7:30, 10:05.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 11:30, 12:40, 2:10, 3:30, 4:55, 6:15, 7:40, 9:10, 10:35.

Chloe (R) - 11:55, 2:35, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 11:15, 12:20, 1:45, 2:55, 4:15, 5:25, 6:45, 7:50, 9:15, 10:10.

Ghost Writer (PG-13) - 1:20, 4:25, 7:20, 10:15.

Green Zone (R) - 11:35, 2:20, 5, 7:40, 10:20.

Greenberg (R) - 11:40, 2:25, 5:05, 7:45, 10:25.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 11:20, 12:30, 1:50, 3, 4:20, 5:30, 6:50, 8, 9:20, 10:30.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 11:45, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15, 3:15, 4, 4:45, 5:45, 6:30, 7:15, 8:15, 9, 9:45, 10:45.

Our Family Wedding (PG-13) - 12:05, 2:40, 5:10, 7:35, 10.

Repo Men (R) - 11:50, 2:30, 4:05, 5:15, 7:55, 9:30, 10:40.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:20, 2, 4:40, 7:10, 9:50.

Shutter Island (R) - 12:35, 3:55, 7, 10:10.

Century Gateway 12*

770 N. Kolb Road

1-800-FANDANGO (326-3264), Ext. 962

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (PG) - 12:15, 2:40, 5, 7:10.

Blind Side (PG-13) - 12:30, 3:30, 7:15.

Book of Eli (R) - 12:05, 3:15, 7:30.

Edge of Darkness (R) - 1, 7:20.

An Education (PG-13) - noon, 2:30, 4:55, 7:30.

From Paris With Love (R) - 12:50, 3:05, 5:25, 7:50.

It's Complicated (R) - 12:20, 3:10, 7.

Lovely Bones (PG-13) - 3:40.

Princess and the Frog (G) - 12:35, 2:55, 5:15, 7:35.

Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) - 12:25, 3:35, 7:25.

Spy Next Door (PG) - 12:10, 2:35, 4:50, 7:05.

Up in the Air (R) - 12:40, 3:25, 7:45.

When in Rome (PG-13) - 12:45, 3, 5:20, 7:40.

Century Marketplace*

12155 N. Oracle Road, at the Oro Valley Marketplace

1-800-FANDANGO (326-3264), Ext. 899

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 10:55, 1:40, 4:25, 7:10, 9:55.

Avatar (PG-13) - 2:55, 6:35, 10:10.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 11, 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:05.

Crazy Heart (R) - 10:45, 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:45.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 11:20, 1:50, 4:20, 6:50, 9:25.

Ghost Writer (PG-13) - 10:35, 1:35, 4:35, 7:40, 10:35.

Green Zone (R) - 11:15, 2:05, 5, 7:45, 10:30.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 11:40, 2:15, 4:55, 7:25, 10.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 10:30, 11:45, 1:05, 2:20, 3:35, 4:50, 6:05, 7:20, 8:35, 9:50.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 12:05.

Repo Men (R) - 11:05, 2, 4:45, 7:35, 10:25.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:10, 5:15.

Shutter Island (R) - 1:55, 7:55.

Century Park 16*

1055 W. Grant Road

1-800-FANDANGO (326-3264), Ext. 901

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 12:10, 1:30, 2:45, 4:05, 5:20, 6:45, 7:55.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 11:45, 2:25, 5:05, 7:45.

Brooklyn's Finest (R) - 1:25, 4:25, 7:20.

Crazies (R) - 12:30, 3, 5:30, 8.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - noon, 2:20, 4:40, 7.

Green Zone (R) - 11:20, 2, 4:40, 7:25.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:30.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 11:30, 12:45, 2, 3:15, 4:30, 5:45, 7.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) - 11:25, 2:10, 4:55, 7:40.

Repo Men (R) - 11:50, 2:30, 5:10, 7:50.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:35, 2:05, 4:35, 7:05.

Shutter Island (R) - 12:55, 4, 7:10.

Tooth Fairy (PG) - 12:05, 2:35, 5, 7:35.

Wolfman (R) - 12:20, 2:50, 5:25, 7:55.

Century Park Place 20*

5870 E. Broadway

1-800-FANDANGO (326-3264), Ext. 903

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 11:15, 12:10, 2, 2:50, 4:40, 5:40, 7:30, 8:25, 10:10, 11.

Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) - 10:20, 1, 3:50, 6:35, 9:20.

Avatar (PG-13) - 11:05, 2:45, 6:30, 10.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 10:15, 11:35, 12:55, 2:20, 3:40, 5, 6:20, 7:40, 9, 10:20.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 10:25, 11:40, 1, 2:10, 3:25, 4:35, 5:45, 7, 8:10, 9:25, 10:30.

Green Zone (R) - 11:30, 2:25, 5:05, 7:50, 10:45.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 10:10, 12:35, 3, 5:30, 8, 10:40.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 10:35, 11:10, 11:45, 1:05, 1:40, 2:15, 3:35, 4:10, 4:45, 6:10, 6:45, 7:20, 8:35, 9:15, 9:50, 11.

How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) - 10, 12:25, 2:55, 5:25, 7:55, 10:25.

Our Family Wedding (PG-13) - 11:20, 1:50, 4:30, 7:05, 9:40.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) - 11, 1:55, 4:55.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 7:45, 10:30.

Repo Men (R) - 10:05, 11:25, 12:45, 2:05, 3:30, 4:50, 6:15, 7:35, 8:55, 10:15.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:05, 1:45, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45.

Shutter Island (R) - 10, 1:10, 4:15, 7:25, 10:35.

Crossroads*

4811 E. Grant Road

327-7067

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (PG) - 11:10 a.m.

Blind Side (PG-13) - 11, 1:40, 4:20, 7, 9:45.

Book of Eli (R) - 11:50, 6:40, 9:15.

An Education (PG-13) - 1:30, 6:30.

Hurt Locker (R) - 2:05, 9:45.

Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (PG-13) - 11, 3:50, 9.

It's Complicated (R) - 1:50, 4:30, 7:10.

Lovely Bones (PG-13) - 9:40.

Sherlock Holmes (PG-13) - 1:10, 4, 6:50, 9:35.

Up in the Air (R) - 11:40, 4:50, 7:20.

When in Rome (PG-13) - 11:30, 2:20, 4:35.

Foothills*

7401 N. La Cholla Blvd.

1-888-AMC-4FUN

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 11:55, 2:40, 5:10, 7:50, 10:20.

Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) - 11, 1:40, 4:10, 6:45, 9:20.

Blind Side (PG-13) - 2:25, 7:55.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 10:55, 11:45, 1:25, 2:15, 3:55, 4:55, 6:30, 7:30, 9:05, 10.

Crazy Heart (R) - 11:25, 2:10, 5, 7:40, 10:15.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 11:05, 1:15, 3:30, 5:45, 8, 10:15.

Green Zone (R) - 11:15, 1:55, 4:35, 7:15, 9:50.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 10:15, 12:35, 2:55, 5:15, 7:45, 10:05.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 10:30, 12:50, 3:15, 5:35, 8, 10:30.

How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) - 11:30, 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30.

Our Family Wedding (PG-13) - 11:10, 1:30, 4:15, 7:05, 9:40.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 11:40, 5:20, 10:40.

Repo Men (R) - 11:55, 2:45, 5:40, 8:15, 10:45.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:50, 2:20, 4:50, 7:20, 9:45.

Shutter Island (R) - 10:45, 1:45, 4:45, 7:55, 10:55.

Harkins Spectrum*

5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz

806-4275 Ext. 843

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 9:40, 12:30, 3:20, 6:20, 9:05.

Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) - 10:30, 1:20, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 10:50, 1:50, 4:40, 7:40, 10:25.

Brooklyn's Finest (R) - 3, 9:20.

Cop Out (R) - noon, 6:05.

Crazies (R) - 8:10, 10:35.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 10:10, 11:10, 12:40, 1:40, 3:10, 4:10, 5:40, 6:40, 9:10.

Ghost Writer (PG-13) - 10:15.

Green Zone (R) - 10:15, 1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 10:05.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 11, 11:50, 1:30, 2:20, 4, 4:50, 6:30, 7:20, 9, 9:50.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 9:50, 11:30, 12:20, 2, 2:50, 4:30, 5:20, 7, 7:50, 9:30, 10:20.

How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) - 10:40, 1:10, 3:40, 6:10, 8:40.

Our Family Wedding (PG-13) - 10:20, 1, 3:50, 6:50, 9:40.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) - 10:35, 1:35, 4:35, 7:30.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 9:45, 12:10, 3:15, 6:15, 9:15.

Repo Men (R) - 10:45, 1:45, 4:45, 7:45, 10:30.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:40, 2:30, 5:10, 8, 10:40.

Shutter Island (R) - 12:15, 3:30, 6:45, 10.

Loft*

3233 E. Speedway

795-7777

Last Station (R) - 11:30, 4:45.

North Face (NR) - 2, 7:15, 10.

A Prophet (R) - 12:30, 3:45, 7, 10.

Oracle View

4690 N. Oracle Road

292-2430

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (PG) - 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:40, 9.

Blind Side (PG-13) - 1, 4, 6:50, 9:30.

Edge of Darkness (R) - 2:10, 4:50, 7:20, 9:50.

From Paris With Love (R) - 3, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40.

Princess and the Frog (G) - 12:05.

Spy Next Door (PG) - 12:50, 2:50.

Up in the Air (R) - noon, 2:20, 4:40, 7, 9:20.

When in Rome (PG-13) - 12:40, 5, 7:10, 9:10.

Tower Theatres*

8031 N. Business Park Drive, Marana

579-0500

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 12:45, 3:15, 5:55, 8:30.

Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) - 11:30, 2:05, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45.

Avatar (PG-13) - 11:10, 2:30, 5:50, 9:10.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - noon, 2:25, 4:50, 7:15, 9:40.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 11, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50.

Green Zone (R) - 1:55, 7:25, 9:55.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 12:30, 2:55, 5:15, 7:35, 9:55.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 12:35, 3:10, 5:45, 8:20.

How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) - 11:20, 1:50, 4:25, 7, 9:30.

Hurt Locker (R) - 11:05, 4:30, 7:20.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (PG) - 11:25, 2, 4:45.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 10:05.

Repo Men (R) - 12:10, 2:35, 5, 7:30, 10.

She's Out of My League (R) - 4:40, 10.

Shutter Island (R) - 10:50, 1:45, 7:05.

Desert Sky Cinema*

70 W. Duval Mine Road, Sahuarita

393-1222

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 2, 4:30, 7.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 2, 4:15, 7.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 2, 4:30, 7.

Green Zone (R) - 2:15, 7:15.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 2, 4:15, 7.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 2:15, 4:30, 7:15.

Repo Men (R) - 4:45.

Oasis Cinema

240 W. Roper Road, Nogales AZ

1-520-761-1777

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 1, 4:15, 7:15.

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 12:45, 4, 7:45.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 1:30, 4:45, 7:15.

Green Zone (R) - 12:30, 3:45, 7:30.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 1:30, 4:45, 8.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 1:15, 4:30, 7.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 12:30, 3:45, 7:30.

Repo Men (R) - 12:45, 4, 7:45.

She's Out of My League (R) - 1, 4:15, 8.

Cinemark 10*

2175 El Mercado Loop, Sierra Vista

1-520-458-1980

Alice in Wonderland (PG) - 11:30, 12:50, 2:10, 3:30, 4:50, 6:15, 7:30.

Crazy Heart (R) - 11:35, 5.

Green Zone (R) - 1:20, 4:10, 7.

Hot Tub Time Machine (R) - 12:05, 2:40, 5:10, 7:40.

How to Train Your Dragon (PG) - 11:45, 1:10, 2:20, 3:45, 4:55, 6:20, 7:25.

Our Family Wedding (PG-13) - 12:10, 2:45, 5:15, 7:50.

Remember Me (PG-13) - 2:15, 7:35.

She's Out of My League (R) - 11:40, 2:05, 4:40, 7:10.

Shutter Island (R) - 12:55, 4, 7:05.

Uptown Theatre*

4341 S. State Highway 92, Sierra Vista

1-520-378-2858

Bounty Hunter (PG-13) - 1, 4, 7.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) - 12:30, 3:30, 6:30.

Repo Men (R) - 12:45, 3:45, 6:45.

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I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry! - New York Post

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 12:55 AM PDT

This month, "Battlefield Earth," the blockbuster bomb based on the novel by Sciento logy founder L. Ron Hubbard, won the Razzie for "Worst Movie of the Decade." J.D. Sha piro, the film's first screenwriter, accepted the award in person. Shapiro, who also wrote the screenplay for "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "We Married Margo," and is developing a King Arthur spoof called "524 AD" (524AD.com), explains what it's like to be attached to one of Hol lywood's most notorious flops.

LET me start by apologiz ing to anyone who went to see "Battlefield Earth."

It wasn't as I intended -- promise. No one sets out to make a train wreck. Actually, comparing it to a train wreck isn't really fair to train wrecks, because people actually want to watch those.

It started, as so many of my choices do, with my Willy Wonker.

It was 1994, and I had read an article in Premiere magazine saying that the Celebrity Center, the Scientology epicenter in Los Angeles, was a great place to meet women.

Willy convinced me to go check it out. Touring the building, I didn't find any eligible women at first, but I did meet Karen Hollander, president of the center, who said she was a fan of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." We ended up talking for over two hours. She told me why Scientology is so great. I told her that, when it comes to organized religion, anything a person does to reward, threaten and try to control people by using an unknown like the afterlife is dangerous.

Nonetheless, Karen called me a few days later asking if I'd be interested in turning any of L. Ron Hubbard's books into movies. Eventually, I had dinner with John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston, Karen -- about 10 Scientologists in all. John asked me, "So, J.D., what brought you to Scientology?"

I told him. John smiled and replied, "We have tech that can help you handle that." I don't know if he meant they had technology that would help me get laid or technology that would stop Willy from doing the majority of my thinking.

I RESEARCHED Scientology before signing on to the movie, to make sure I wasn't making anything that would indoctrinate people. I took a few courses, including the Purification Rundown, or Purif. You go to CC every day, take vitamins and go in and out of a sauna so toxins are released from your body. You're supposed to reach an "End Point." I never did, but I was bored so I told them I had a vision of L. Ron. They said, "What did he say?" "Pull my finger," was my response. They said I was done.

During my Scientology research, I met an employee who I instantly had a crush on. She was kind of a priestess, and had dedicated her life to working for the church by becoming a Sea Org member. She said that she signed a billion-year contract. I said, "What! Really?" She said she got paid a small stipend of $50 a week, to which I said, "Can you get an advance on the billion years, like say, a mere $500,000?" And then she said as a Sea Org member, you can't have sex unless you're married. I asked her if she was married. She said yes. So I said, "Great! That means we can have sex!"

As far as I know, I am the only non-Scientologist to ever be on their cruise ship, the Freewind. I was a bit of an oddity, walking around in a robe, sandals, smoking Cuban cigars and drinking fine scotch (Scientologists are not allowed to drink while taking courses). I also got one of the best massages ever. My friends asked if I got a "happy ending." I said, "Yes, I got off the ship."

But if you're reading this to get the dirt on Scientology, sorry, no one ever tried to force me to do anything.

Even after all the "trouble" I'd gotten into, people at the church liked me, so I read "Battlefield Earth" and agreed to come up with a pitch to take to studios.

I met with Mike Marcus, the president of MGM, and pitched him my take. He loved it, and the next day negotiations went under way. A few days after I finished the script, a very excited Travolta called, told me he "loved it," and wanted to have dinner. At dinner, John said again how much he loved the script and called it "The 'Schindler's List' of sci-fi."

My script was very, VERY different than what ended up on the screen. My screenplay was darker, grittier and had a very compelling story with rich characters. What my screenplay didn't have was slow motion at every turn, Dutch tilts, campy dialogue, aliens in KISS boots, and everyone wearing Bob Marley wigs.

Shortly after that, John officially attached himself to the project. Then several A-list directors expressed interest in making the movie, MGM had a budget of $100 million, and life was grrrrreat! I got studio notes that were typical studio notes. Nothing too crazy. I incorporated the notes I felt worked, blew off the bad ones and did a polish. I sent it to the studio, thinking the next I'd hear is what director is attached.

Then I got another batch of notes. I thought it was a joke. They changed the entire tone. I knew these notes would kill the movie. The notes wanted me to lose key scenes, add ridiculous scenes, take out some of the key characters. I asked Mike where they came from. He said, "From us." But when I pressed him, he said, "From John's camp, but we agree with them."

I refused to incorporate the notes into the script and was fired.

IHAVE no idea why they wanted to go in this new di rection, but here's what I heard from someone in John's camp: Out of all the books L. Ron wrote, this was the one the church founder wanted most to become a movie. He wrote extensive notes on how the movie should be made.

Many people called it a Scientology movie. It wasn't when I wrote it, and I don't feel it was in the final product. Yes, writers put their beliefs into a story. Sometimes it's subtle (I guess L. Ron had something against the color purple, I have no idea why), sometimes not so subtle (L. Ron hated psychiatry and psychologists, thus the reason, and I'm just guessing here, that the bad aliens were called "Psychlos").

The only time I saw the movie was at the premiere, which was one too many times.

Once it was decided that I would share a writing credit, I wanted to use my pseudonym, Sir Nick Knack. I was told I couldn't do that, because if a writer gets paid over a certain amount of money, they can't. I could have taken my name completely off the movie, but my agent and attorney talked me out of it. There was a lot of money at stake.

Now, looking back at the movie with fresh eyes, I can't help but be strangely proud of it. Because out of all the sucky movies, mine is the suckiest.

In the end, did Scientology get me laid? What do you think? No way do you get any action by boldly going up to a woman and proclaiming, "I wrote Battlefield Earth!" If anything, I'm trying to figure out a way to bottle it and use it as birth control. I'll make a mint!

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Movie Review: 'Greenberg' - Delaware County Daily Times

Posted: 28 Mar 2010 02:21 AM PDT

By David Germain, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) --- The lesson Ben Stiller's praise-hungry actor learned in "Tropic Thunder" was that "you never go full retard" when playing a simpleton in hopes of snaring an Academy Award.

Stiller himself goes full nutcase, or near enough, in "Greenberg," and while the results won't earn him an Oscar, it turned out pretty well.

As the title character, a guy pausing at mid-life to lick his wounds, heal some old rifts and maybe open a few new ones, Stiller manages quite a nice performance.

Rather than the silly, caricatured buttheads on which Stiller's made his fortune, in "Greenberg" he plays a true butthead, a man with deep emotional scars, a backpack full of guilt and a bushel of regrets. Here's a man whose excess of self-involvement, self-doubt and self-loathing often make him unpleasant to be around — so the fact that he's still an engaging character is a testament to the fine line Stiller manages to walk.

Stiller is paired to great effect with Greta Gerwig in a breakout role as an aspiring musician with her own self-esteem issues, a woman who kind of falls for Greenberg despite his off-putting demeanor.

The film marks a nice rebound for director Noah Baumbach, who made the heartbreaking divorce portrait "The Squid and the Whale," then stumbled with the stagy, phony sibling drama "Margot at the Wedding."

With a story Baumbach developed with producer, co-star and real-life wife Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Greenberg" is a perceptive look at coming to terms with, if not entirely embracing, the life you weren't expecting and by no means wanted.

Stiller's Roger Greenberg is a man whose own musical ambitions led nowhere. Now a seemingly successful carpenter in New York City, Roger is fresh out of a mental hospital after a nervous breakdown, and he heads home to Los Angeles to crash at his brother's place while sibling and family are vacationing in Vietnam.

Forty-year-old Roger tries to reconnect with an old bandmate (Rhys Ifans) and an ex-girlfriend (Leigh), but the actual connection comes with his brother's twenty-something personal assistant Florence Marr (Gerwig), who's helping to look after the family dog.

An awkward, fleeting, I-like-you-this-moment-but-despise-you-the-next love story tries to unfold around them, Roger continually spoiling things with a mean mouth that doesn't seem linked to either his brain or his heart.

Florence and Roger might be kindred spirits only in the sense that she's a sweet, fitful doormat always in search of a good stomping, while he's an often nasty guy with big, heavy boots.

This could have turned into an odious story about emotional sadomasochism. Yet like "The Squid and the Whale," ''Greenberg" has a real heartbeat, a feeling of happy-sad authenticity that makes you understand and appreciate the romantic pull between these irresolute lovers, even if you don't exactly root for it to succeed.

Leigh, one of the leads in "Margot at the Wedding," turns up here for only a couple of sturdy scenes.

Ifans is a quiet scene-stealer. Often cast as a kooky Brit, Ifans here tones it down and becomes a real person, a man who, unlike Greenberg, has succeeded at living with his failures and now simply aims to make the best of what he has.

The film belongs to Stiller and Gerwig, though (and maybe to the adorable dog Mahler, the magnet that keeps bringing Roger and Florence together when it seems they no longer can stomach each other).

Roger and Florence are two people in varying stages of damage, his extreme, hers potentially so if the years and mileage keep wearing her down the way they have so far. They might be the cure for each other or simply a temporary salve — or even the stuff of future cautionary remembrances that begin with the phrase, "Remember that psycho I used to date?"

What's lovely about their relationship, succeed or fail, is its honesty. Though Los Angeles landmarks appear throughout "Greenberg," Roger and Florence are anything but shallow, standard-issue Hollywood lovers.

These are two genuine people making clumsy, hesitant advances and retreats toward and away from each other.

For a fresh face such as Gerwig, it could be a career-making role. For a face as familiar (and generally predictable) as Stiller, it's the finest work he's done, a revelation that the star of "Meet the Parents" and "Night at the Museum" has more to offer than just broad comedy.

"Greenberg," a Focus Features release, is rated R for some strong sexuality, drug use, and language. Running time: 107 minutes. Three stars out of four.