Directed by Alex Ross Perry (Tribeca Film, 2014)
Human beings are gifted with the ability to learn from our mistakes, yet we are also creatures of habit. And sometimes, those habits lead us to repeat the same missteps again and again, even when we can foresee the consequences. Such is the case for Philip Lewis Friedman (Jason Schwartzman), a brilliant but self-obsessed young novelist seemingly hell-bent on ensuring his own misery.
On the cusp of greatness with the release of his second novel, Philip is at odds with nearly everything, from his noisy Brooklyn surroundings to his own budding career. He succeeds almost in spite of himself, intentionally alienating others with reckless abandon. Yet he stubbornly ignores the warning signs of things to come, even when presented with a glimpse of his own future in the form of a lonely and bitter old writer (Jonathan Pryce) who becomes Philip’s mentor.
Schwartzman’s trademark dry wit and deadpan delivery are a perfect fit for the title role. Philip is at once instantly unlikeable and undeniably charming; he is a character we can’t help but root for, yet one we can’t feel too sorry for when things don’t go his way. Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men fame also shines in the role of Philip’s abandoned girlfriend, Ashley, who endures the crushing loneliness that comes with the promise of freedom from a clearly doomed relationship.
Writer and director Alex Ross Perry creates a cast of well -drawn characters burdened by complex emotions, each seemingly trapped in their own endless cycle of self-destruction. Although the path to happiness is at times well lit, the characters more often choose to walk the same dark road of despair rather than risk abandoning what is comfortable and familiar.
Listen Up Philip is not a feel-good movie. But it is a powerful cautionary tale, reminding us that while change is never easy, it is the only way to avoid repeating our past failures.
This review appeared in the December 2014 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 79, No. 12, page 42).
Image: Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film
