Noah Baumbach is on a creative tear these days, seemingly rejuvenated from the off-the-cuff shooting style of “Frances Ha.” In 2015, “The Squid And The Whale” director will be the rare filmmaker to have two movies released in the same year. In March, A24 Films released “While We’re Young,” and later this summer Fox Searchlight will release his second effort of the year, “Mistress America.” Baumbach’s films are always wry, sharply observed comedies with humanist tendencies, often centering on youth, ambition, and aging out of cultural relevance. “Mistress America” certainly tackles many of these topics too, but it’s a bit like Baumbach on amphetamines, with a sped-up screwball approach to his already delightful and insightful comedies. Our review from Sundance earlier this year says the movie is another keeper: "Baumbach’s breezy hot streak continues with another contemporary classic New York tale."
READ MORE: Sundance Review: Noah Baumbach’s ‘Mistress America’ Starring Lola Kirke & Greta Gerwig
Co-written by Greta Gerwig (“Greenberg,” “Frances, Ha”), who also stars, “Mistress America” gives a terrific and larger introduction to Lola Kirke, the younger sister of “Girls” star Jemima Kirke, known for a supporting turn in “Gone Girl” and a starring role on Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle.” Here’s the film’s synopsis:
In MISTRESS AMERICA, Tracy (Lola Kirke) is a lonely college freshman in New York, having neither the exciting university experience nor the glamorous metropolitan lifestyle she envisioned. But when she is taken in by her soon-to-be stepsister, Brooke (Greta Gerwig) – a resident of Times Square and adventurous gal about town – she is rescued from her disappointment and seduced by Brooke’s alluringly mad schemes.
Co-starring Michael Chernus, Heather Lind, Matthew Shear, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and musician/actor Dean Wareham — who co-scored the film with a terrific ‘80s inflected synthy soundtrack with his partner Britta Phillips — "Mistress America” is due in theaters August 14. Check out the new poster below.
That tagline made me throw up in my mouth a little. I can imagine Baumbach felt the same. If it tricks folks who wouldn\’t normally by a ticket for a Noah Baumbach screwball comedy into turning up and inflating the gross, I\’m all for it.