One of the best pleasant surprises of the initial Toronto International Film Festival announcement this morning? The surprise reveal of a new Noah Baumbach film. While Baumbach, the filmmaker behind "The Squid and the Whale," hinted to us in a recent interview that something was up his sleeve, we didn't imagine it was something we'd be seeing so soon.
Titled "Frances Ha," co-written by Baumbach with his girlfriend Greta Gerwig, plus starring Gerwig herself and Mickey Sumner ("Last Chance Harvey"), we've finally received a first look at the under-the-radar picture. And first and foremost, we'll all note that the picture is shot in black and white (this time instead of cinematographer Harris Savides, Baumbach has Sam Levy, of "Wendy and Lucy" fame, shooting the picture). And clearly this is the picture Gerwig was talking about when she hinted a few months ago that she was at work on a "secret" picture.
"[It's] a love story about girls. It’s a girl who’s in love with her best friend, but not sexually. It’s sort of that moment when you realise, 'Oh, so we won’t all move in together,' and you’re going to move on with your life," Gerwig said adding, "I’m really proud of it. I think it’s really good."
A few more details have arrived courtesy of the TIFF website. Here' sthe synopsis: An aspiring dancer (co-writer Greta Gerwig) moves to New York City and becomes caught up in a whirlwind of flighty fair-weather friends, diminishing fortunes and career setbacks, in the new film from director Noah Baumbach ("Margot at the Wedding," "Greenberg").
Scott Rudin, who's worked closely with Baumbach on his last three projects, is a producer along with Baumbach, Lila Yacoub, Rodrigo Teixeira and the picture is a brief 86 minutes long. The picture has no distribution yet, but that's what its TIFF appearance will be all about. It also looks like astute reader pointed out something we missed: it appear that Adam Driver of HBO's "Girls" (the character Adam), is also in this picture. Certainly looks like him in the fedora, no?
Wow. I have never seen such a personal debate in a comments section. It reads to me that this either Jennifer Jason Leigh (or her best friend) and Noah B or Greta G or one of their friends having this conversation with anonymous names. Who else would care so deeply and personally about these two? Wait a minute, what was Jennifer Jason Leigh's name in fast times? Wasn't it Stacy? Or was that pheobe cate's name? Someone had the name Stacy.
Clearly Stacy is very angry about something, and would have us believe it is about NB, JJL and GG – my guess is she got her vituperative little ass dumped for another woman at some point and is still fuming over it.
Can we go back to talking about Adam Driver???
NB worked on Madagasgar 3. Its as much a NB product as any other film he works on. In case you haven't figured it out yet, a movie is made up of more than just the director and actors. Yes, screenwriters count too. I don't know about you, but "favors for my friends" doesn't usually pay me as handsomely as NB was paid for his work on that movie. It was a job. You sure take a lot of latitude with words. No one ever said working for HBO = Hollywood director. But would one consider NB an independent director? No. He is almost up there as an A-list director. Not Steven Speilberg, no, but he is well-known in Hollywood. His name does upon doors for those attached to his projects, and that was exactly my point about GG working with him numerous times over the past few years. My family works in the entertainment industry (and my uncle is especially prominent) and while I've taken a different route, I've spent a bit of time in at as well, on the corporate and business side, and let me tell you, NB's name does most certainly command attention and important people in the industry (namely big studios) will take meetings with him, on any random day. That is not the case for your average independent film maker, as you're making him out to be. Btw, every "independent studio" you named is an offshoot or affiliated to a major studio. You think just because the budgets and distribution are smaller, and the name "independent" is attached to it that the trappings of a big studio film are non existent? No. NB is more of a Hollywood director more than the independent film director "based in New York" that you make him out to be. You seems to really care about GG's career, and thats fine. She is and will be off everyone's radar in a couple years. I don't care enough about this talentless dimwit to continue this conversation. And unless you are her, you too are speculating. Maybe not being a informed consumer is not important to you – but I do care about what I put my hard earned money towards, and its not going to be given to talentless homewreckers. If Chick-fil-A and Kristin Stewart has taught anyone anything lately, its that people should care. Before you go off and say that people are entitled to their private lives, know that there is a difference between private and public figures, the latter are expected to be role models, whether they like it or not. That makes every A to D lister a public figure. Even the law recognizes this (public and private figures have different thresholds of proof/evidence for libel and defamation). Those in the know think GG is a social climber with movie star aspirations (although unattainable), and a talentless one at that. JJL is pure class. By continuing to cling onto NB she's just further proving us right.
She's constantly finagling her way into Baumbach's movies to get attention, because she knows she can't carry movies on her own. Look at how many times they've worked together since Greenberg.
GG is a homewrecker. Baumbach left his wife after GG and him worked on Greenberg together. She's unattractive and talentless, and aside from 3 or 4 films, wheres shes part of an ensemble cast and not carrying the movie, she has stuck to Baumbach like glue wanting him to carry her into "movie star" status. It's not happening. Lola versus bombed at the box office, and barely made any money. Hope she fades away.
What I wouldn't give to be Greta Gerwig in that pic next to Mike Zegen and Adam Driver.
yep, Adam Driver from Girls and Michael Zegen from Walking Dead/Rescue Me/Boardwalk Empire
Is that Adam Driver, from Girls, in the spiffy fedora?
Greta Gerwig or her reps never confirmed that she is Noah Baumbach's girlfriend nor did he or his reps ever confirm that he is her boyfriend. This is all word of mouth, needless to say if it is true, I wish them luck and would love to see their film Frances Ha!