Film No. 20 (2015) While We're Young March 28th.

Film No. 20 (2015) March 28th.  11.00 AM LUNA Leederville. 

   

"Maybe the point is that we have our freedom. What we do with it isn't that important" (Josh coming to terms with what he has discovered).

 

While We're Young

 

Noah Baumbach is a smart, middle aged film maker. He's smart because he both entertains and tests his audiences to think beyond the realms of what is accepted as normal. Even his trailer for While We're Young is clever because the film is more than the light, frothy, comic prelim that has inundated our screens for weeks leading up to the release. The trailer will attract an audience besides that of the normal disciples of Baumbach.

Ben Stiller teams with Baumbach once more after their collaboration on Greenberg. I wonder if in this film, Stiller (Josh)is drawing on some of Baumbach's own experiences. He's playing a middle aged film maker stuck in a rut navigating a loving relationship with wife Cordellia (Naomi Watts) while desperately trying to finish his documentary. A ten year project. I doubt Baumbach would procrastinate for 10 years over a project but he is 45 and I dare say he has a front row view of middle age and those around him.

While We're Young is a complex comedy. Not complex from a storyline point of view but rather because it is a multi-layered comic drama that sells us the idea of a middle aged couple who don't want to act their age anymore, opting instead to be mentored by new friends Jamie (Adam Driver) and Darby (Amanda Seyfried) who happen to be 20 years younger. There is an abundance of clever one-liners and slapstick early on. Then the film shifts gear as Josh discovers all is not what it seems.

Naomi Watts works the screen brilliantly. Baumbach has an eye for feisty woman who don't waste a word of dialogue. Charles Grodin (Lesley) is also excellent as both the 'father' of documentary film makers and Josh's father in law. He has a gentle way and brings the film back to its focal point as he helps both Josh and Jamie to understand what is real. The documentary isn't everything you think it might be in this clever film. 9GUMS