Art Vandelay Is there a reason producers keep putting Hollywood's most untalented, obnoxious, midg.., errrr, short person in movies? Schwartzman can't act to save his life. His quirky shtick worked well when he was playing a 15-year-old in Rushmore opposite a total pro like Bill Murray. But how many times can a guy go to the same self-conscious, hair-flicking, deliberately unlikeable, emotionally vacant well? Scene after scene where his character acts like a complete d?nk to everyone. Enough, already. What was this movie trying to prove? How long viewers would sit there before walking out?Let's not even talk about the shaky-cam super-closeups. Or the hack- writing narration. On the other hand we have Elisabeth Moss and her portrayal of the main character's emotionally abused girlfriend. She humanized him and this film. I was never a fan of Mad Men. I thought it was self-important, nostalgic drivel. And Moss's supposed charms in that show escaped me. But after seeing her powerful performance in this movie I look forward to seeing her in more big-screen fare.

Ladiloque Boh While this film is certainly not for mainstream audiences it depicts fairly well a typical position modern intellectuals-writers put themselves into when they stop "listening", learning and growing up due to either success or failures.Only some illness can stop you from being smart, but being smart is not enough to live a fulfilling and authentic life. Especially when (what you believe is) your authentic self is actually the main obstacle to that, by aiming at systematically despise and mistrust the people around you.The first 10 minutes already may remind you (also for the main actor) some early Wes Anderson movies or some Woody Allen ones: if you like them, you'll - at least mildly - appreciate this too. This is the first movie from Perry I watch and I'll look forward to see others but as a first impression I'd like him to put his efforts in more genre oriented stuff: being smart is not enough to make a fulfilling movie too. The difficulties (or impossibility) in communicating between people shouldn't become a 2h film themselves or... none obviously will like it. Whatever his objectives in filming and showing us intelligence together with emptiness, loneliness and crisis, I'm sure he can accomplish them by writing a richer story behind them.

Bob This is a truly awful film with cameraship that's as shaky as the plot and acting. We hope from one unbelievable stage set to another with a narrator desperately trying to explain what's going on. The main character is a very unappealing human with no warmth surrounded by bit parts who aren't given the opportunity to develop beyond 2D. What makes someone think this kind of disconnected, theatre style drama would capture people's interest? Do yourself a favour and give this film miss. Watching your own toes is far more entertaining. On the other hand if you like pretentious arty stuff that's more about the director entertaining themselves than you then give it a go!

comicman117 Listen Up Phillip is a very pretentious movie. It's not a poorly made movie, but it gives me the feeling that it's trying to be more than something it is. Listen Up Phillip tells the story of aspiring author Phillip Lewis Friedman (Jason Schwartzman) who has just published his second novel. He wants to leave his adopted home city, and his relationship with his girlfriend, Ashley (played by Elizabeth Moss) is falling apart. When his idol Ike Zimmerman (played by Jonathan Pryce) offers him a chance to live with him at his isolated summer home, Phillip takes this opportunity to get some peace and quiet to focus on his favorite, and most important subject, himself.The main character of Listen Up Phillip, Philip, is intentionally unlikeable and it's very hard to root for him. In some stories, unlikeable main characters change throughout the course of the story, but in this story, Phillip not change from beginning to end. Although I feel this is intentional on the director's part, if the protagonist was even meant to be relatable character at all, as the movie's narration suggests, then I believe the film failed in that regard.Elizabeth Moss is pretty darn good as Jason's girlfriend, Ashley. She has all the right ingredients: she's full of emotion. Jonathan Pryce does a good job playing a messed up author, Ike, in a somewhat predictable role. Props to Krysten Ritter, especially, as Ike's daughter, who really gives us her all as an unhappy character. Also of note, is French actress, Josephine de La Baume, as Melanie Zimmerman, a woman Phillip starts dating at the end. Unfortunately, their relationship is underdeveloped, and somehow I was left feeling she was supposed to be more of a major character.One of the better things I appreciated the film for, is how, despite the title, Phillip isn't the only character that gets some perspective. There are a few scenes, halfway through the film, where we see things from Ashley's viewpoint. There's even a sequence where she's talking to Phillip at a restaurant and we can only hear his voice, not see his face. There are even scenes where we are shown the perspective of other characters, Ike and Melanie, and we are given their thoughts on what they are thinking during those scenes.There are some shots that I liked, too. The title sequence reminds me of a title sequence from the 70's and 80's, and I appreciate Eric Bogosian's narration (the opening almost made me think I was watching a documentarian for a second) describing the characters and their feelings. There's also a nice sequence where Phillip is driving the car which features some low-key jazz music in the background. While Listen Up Philip is not a film I would rush out to see again, it was enjoyable.