MovieChat Forums > Greta Gerwig Discussion > Greta Gerwig frustrates me.

Greta Gerwig frustrates me.

posted 14 years ago by ctownfilm
9 replies | jump to latest

I will say that as an actress, her work is completely polarizing on a movie-by-movie basis. In Greenberg I think she gave a wonderfully nuanced, and ultimately Oscar-worthy performance, and I will stand by that statement. Though watching her in collaboration with Joe Swanberg, as well as on fellow mumblecore production "Yeast," is like watching nails on a chalkboard. It's almost embarrassing the way in which her face contorts and conforms into truly strange shapes. Her constant whiny demeanor, slurred speech, and persistence to cry at every opportune beat could be considered indulgent. For some actors, mumblecore gives them a safe place to thrive. Greta Gerwig needs the stable hand of a seasoned pro, such as Baumbauch. Hopefully she wont fall back onto such tropes, seeing as she's truly gifted.

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[–] SteveGrabowski 14 years ago

I agree, frustrating is a good word to describe her career so far. She is a fantastic actress when she's in the right film. Mumblecore is fine for some people, I guess, but I'm not a fan of Swanberg, and I think Greta is so much better than that. Hopefully, since it seems she's finding parts in (relatively) larger projects, we'll see more of her in some quality roles from truly talented filmmakers. Maybe then she'll show the world more of what she is really capable of.

[–] noose_and_nail 14 years ago

I totally, effin' TOTALLY disagree...but your wording is so beautiful and articulate that I can't help but commend your post.

[–] ridleyrules 14 years ago

Have only seen her in Greenberg and No Strings Attached. I loved the very lovable, but also breakable, damaged character that she played in No Strings Attached. I want to see more of this talented actress.

[–] VWstarwars 14 years ago

I actually first noticed her as the best friend in "House of the Devil" and thought she was really interesting in that role though she was just playing an average college student. To me it's not always about finding this spectacular part, but taking a role and doing something interesting with it. She has really expressive eyes and I found it really interesting in the "Pizza Parlor" scene how you could see her mind thinking of things as the character as opposed to just saying the lines which is what over half of Hollwood actresses and actors do.

[–] LostSok0523 13 years ago

She's wonderfully natural in Arthur. I haven't seen her mumblecore work, because that would mean watching mumblecore and I'd rather have my penis filleted.

[–] space_base 13 years ago

My thought exactly! Thought she was a revelation in Greenberg (and one of the best things about No Strings Attached... a pretty bad film), but going through her filmography: yeesh. She's pretty awkward to watch in some of her mumblecore efforts.

God I hate the term "mumblecore." Having to say it destroys my soul a little. What a worthless, uninteresting, and self congratulatory genre and title.

[–] Hancockenstein 12 years ago

her persistence to cry in a role written by someone else makes HER indulgent? i think you took a few too many stable hands balled up into fists to your seasoned noggin.