A lot of people seem to dislike this movie. I was chocked by the low ratings. When viewing Greenberg, you have to face some difficult things about yourself. I know I do. I believe people are scared to find out who they really are. Because that's what I think this movie is about. We all have this image of ourselves, of our lives, and that image often has very little to do with reality. I'm sure many of you will disagree. Just think about it.
shareI don't know what you're talking about. I didn't have to face anything about myself. The man was just a complete, self involved jerk on every level. I place part of the blame on Ben Stiller in playing the part in such a way that he brings absolutely no likable qualities to the surface with this guy. Mark Ruffalo, who was originally scheduled to play the part, is a master at taking unlikable characters and putting in that human piece that makes you empathize in spite of yourself.
I guess it just comes down to the difference between using a limited actor (Stiller) and a gifted actor (Ruffalo.)
"He'd kill us if he got the chance."
--The Conversation
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This was a scarily brilliant post. The last part about the study of the futility of social expectation is especially poignant. I'm currently reading this book that a friend gave me, "The Fifth Agreement." While I get its points intellectually, I'm having a hard time with myself emotionally. I know I'm nowhere close to behaving with any kind of detachment about myself or the world the way the book mentions.
We get stuck with expectations because we realize we are more products of our environments than we were willing to admit. Who knows how much of Greenberg's backstory we're missing. Besides copping out on himself and his mates, what messages did his brother and parents send him about success in the world or who he was supposed to be? Like it or not, our parents' expectations do matter and we do internalize that crap. And it's hard not to pass some of that stuff onto your own kids, because you realize how hard it is to fight 'city hall.'
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I just wanted to say I really liked your post. Usually when people say what you just said they go around in circles and they try not to admit feeling that way. You just said it like it is, without any anger or trying to hide behind any excuses.
share"I see it as a study of the futility of social expectation" Xen11, brilliant comment, I agree. Dates, Parties, and Reunions seem largely irrelevant to me as well.
share"But no matter how much you try to ignore it, you always have to face other people and the world itself which treats you like sh!t if you are not climbing some kind of stupid ladder. Then I feel down on myself because I'm not impressing them.
You get older and the more old you get, the more expectation is put upon you to have achieved something great and to continue achieving great things until you are dead. There's no reason for it, but all that pressure is there. It can't be measured but you can feel it.
You also are not allowed in other people's eyes to do the stuff you used to love to do. You are no longer young enough and anything you do is considered weird or "you need to grow up". I'm in my mid-twenties and I feel like this already."
preach...brother.....preach.
an older poster might be able to take the thread from there but i doubt they would. after all, the game is to be sold...not told.
"damn kids and their music! damn mature adults and their wisdom!"
Really?
When I was in a rut with unemployment my reality was hustling the job fairs, networking, and cold calling companies to land interviews. I didn't have the luxury of having a wealthy sibling to fall back on so I could stutter and contemplate my own existence. Even though I've had those "moments" they were not extended periods of time like Greenberg's.
But, I don't think that's what this movie's narrative entailed and it wasn't designed to make you feel reflective about yourself via Greenberg's situation.
(¯`i´¯)´·¸.)‹^›