Listen Up Philip (2014)

Listen Up Philip: Directed by Alex Ross Perry. With Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Krysten Ritter, Joséphine de La Baume. When a self-obsessed novelist (Jason Schwartzman) has problems with his novel and his girlfriend (Elisabeth Moss), he seeks refuge in his mentor’s cottage where the peace and quiet allow him to focus on his favorite subject – himself.

“Set among a new York artistic milieu featuring introspective characters, and asking questions of how we should live – one might be forgiven for thinking Woody Allen had made this during one of his darker periods.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAt the start of Listen Up Philip Jason Schwartzmanu0026#39;s Philip lets loose a tirade of anger at an ex-girlfriend when she shows up to lunch 25 minutes late. The voiceover narration (in the reassuring, rich tones of Eric Bogosian) tells us something changed that day as Philip felt the exhilaration and thrill of letting loose his aggression, of freeing his id and feeling no consequences.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film follows the ensuing months in the lives of Philip and those around him as he leans into aggressively self-centred behaviour somewhat indulged by his position as an up-and-coming noteworthy (Not notable) author.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHe finds a mentor in Ike (played by Jonathan Pryce doing some of his best work) who is essentially an older version of Philip, a man who has deliberately alienated most of the people in his life, viewing them all as leeches.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Well this all sounds thoroughly unpleasantu0026quot; you may be thinking, but writer/director Alex Ross Perry maintains a distance from Philip and Ike that allows us to see them for the monsters they are.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is partly achieved through the sympathetic portrayal of the women in their lives. Krysten Ritter plays Ikeu0026#39;s daughter as disgusted by him, yet still somehow hoping for some sign of love from him.nElisabeth Moss plays Philipu0026#39;s girlfriend, Ashley, as a woman who poured three years of her life into Philip thinking he was a good man, but who is slowly horrified to see he (now that he has some success) is revealing himself to be someone she canu0026#39;t stand.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere is something about Elisabeth Moss that is so endlessly watchable. She brings so much emotion to the surface while saying so little. In every production, she owns the screen. Iu0026#39;m not sure if the script always called for a 15 minute interlude where we simply follow events in Ashleyu0026#39;s life, or if Perry saw what he had in Moss, and decided they needed more, but I would not be surprised to find out it was the latter. Structurally, it makes little sense, but emotionally, itu0026#39;s a welcome relief to be away from the narcissism of the authors, and in the joyful company of Moss.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe brisk pace of the film also stops things becoming miserable; new characters enter and exit the narrative, helping to hold our interest as they react to the authoru0026#39;s insistence on being true to their worst impulses.nA pattern emerges; people are at first fascinated by these smart, emotionally aloof men, but are soon repulsed by their lack of empathy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIu0026#39;m struggling to articulate why this was an enjoyable watch, and I think itu0026#39;s that itu0026#39;s just so interesting to try and trace the consequences of acting in an entirely selfish manner. Philip isnu0026#39;t rich or powerful, and he freely and often admits he is lonely and unhappy, but he is, in a terrible way, living his truth. He always acts in the way that suits him, without regard for the feelings of others.nThe film suggests it is possible to live this way; maybe even become respected and successful, but it is lonely and soul-withering. We all wish sometimes we could just do what we want, but that might leave us with no-one to listen to us.”