Greenberg

GREENBERG (2010) - April 9, 2010
A really well made character study about a self-absorbed 40 year old who returns to LA after several years to house-sit for his brother.  While there, he reconnects with an old friend and a forms a tentative relationship with his brother's personal assistant.  Noah Baumbach's direction is quite good, and he does a really good job of getting us to care about the characters -- Greenberg himself is a bit of a jerk, but Ben Stiller is pretty much perfect in the role and ensures that the character is always relatable.  The other performances were just as good, and all the characters were exceptionally well drawn and compelling, making the film's kind of meandering vibe and lack of a plot a distinct non-issue.  ***1/2