Frances Ha

Is it fair to call Frances Ha a product of the mumblecore movement in cinema or is it all too, well, professional? Noah Baumbach's examination of culture, early adulthood, and obsessive friendships not only makes for a good, topical debate but a very worthy motion picture, as Frances Ha is one of the strongest films this year. Heavy on dialog, characterization, and the strong, stable topics to examine, this is a thoughtful mediation on what it means to grow up, stay true to your friends, and be self-reliant.

The film stars the zealous Greta Gerwig (whose work in Hannah Takes the Stairs I still regard as terrific) as the title character, a plucky dancer at the age of twenty-seven, living with her best friend Sophie (Mickey Summer) and her best guy-friend Benji (Michael Zegen). Frances and her friend Sophie are like "straight lesbians," so Benji says, as they do everything together, and both of them would seemingly be lost without each other. The thought is put to the test when Sophie decides to move out of the cramped studio apartment in favor of moving in with another friend, leaving Frances sort of lost and unfulfilled with her current position in life.

This is basic framework for a story that begins to follow the path of a series of vignettes, focusing on the ups and downs in life, along with those awkward stretches no one really likes to talk about. Baumbach brilliantly captures this through a black and white lens, and allows his actors the freedom to get immersed in their characters with little restrictions in place.

Frances Ha does a lot in eighty-six minutes, like notably humanizing the "hipster" culture of the last few years, detail loneliness and friendships, impending adulthood, and dependence all the more. The humanization of "hipster" culture comes into play because we notice that these characters are not of the "typical" breed, whatever we define as typical. They are about as free and unrestrained as the wind that catches their hair, especially Frances herself, who is arguably one of the most fun characters I've had the pleasure of watching this year. There's something about the way she engages in quick-witted conversation, runs happily through the streets of Chinatown at random, and is constantly proclaiming she is "undateable.' Gerwig magically transforms a character bound for a caricature state of mind into a strong woman that may not be looked at as a role model for girls but certainly a realistic portrayal of many.

I imagine the loneliness that the loneliness and slight-depression Frances feels when Sophie leaves her is one many post-college girls will feel when their best girlfriend moves on to bigger and better things and she remains somewhat inert and stuck in her current life position. Baumbach details growing up in Frances Ha not as a choice but as an obligation, which it rightfully is in many regards, but the way he doesn't isn't condescending or superficial, but rather hopeful and endearing.

NOTE: My video review of Frances Ha, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc6LbMzbGww

Starring: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Summer, and Michael Zegen. Directed by: Noah Baumbach.

I'm at a phase in my life where I generally have little patience for stories about adults who refuse to grow up. So I had some frustration with "Frances Ha," in which Greta Gerwig plays a woman child who crashes with friends and sticks to her increasing unrealistic dream of being a dancer. But what saved "Frances Ha" for me was that I suspect Gerwig (who co-wrote the script with director Noah Baumbach) and Baumbach intend for us to be frustrated with Frances too. Life is a lot about compromise, and that's something that Frances won't accept until the film's end -- it's not all or nothing, and life can be satisfying without being a dream come true.

One of the things that did irk me about the movie was its implication that anyone who does seem to have his/her life together is either faking it, skating by on rich parents or vapid. It is actually possible to be both responsible and happy, something that movies, particularly a certain kind of indie movie (of which "Frances Ha" is an example), is reluctant to accept. But I still liked the movie despite its decision to perpetuate that message.

I can't decide whether or not I like Greta Gerwig, which makes her perfect casting for this role. Something about Frances is warm and winning, but something else is just as annoying. You understand both why people are drawn to her and turned off by her, because that's how I feel about her as an actress.

Grade: A-

(2012) Frances Ha COMEDY DRAMA

Greta Gerwig's equivalent updated version of "1978 Girlfriends", except that in this movie her character plays a struggling dancer as opposed to a struggling photographer. Gerwig who was also credited as co-writer along with Noah Baumbach second of her four movies with him. Greta Gerwig stars as title character "Frances Ha", once her best friend, Sophie (Mickey Sumner) and long time live-in roommate decides to move out of their apartment, so that Sophie can live closer to her new boyfriend, Frances begins to struggle to find another roommate or to find another place.

Again, the positive rating is the result of the unique moments, improvised dialogue exchanges from director Noah Baumbach and his main star actress Greta Gerwig.

This movie is a sweet piece of art. Brilliant acting (Greta Gerwig is so into the character of Frances), excellent rhythm due to the fine/so accurate montage and very gentle touch of houmor at the right amount. The black and white gives to the whole movie a tone of shade which gives a nostalgic feeling. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry but above all it will bring you to the position to question your own motivations and choices in life and if fighting for your own goals is enough to finally make ends meet and come to balance with yourself. I really reccomend this movie and i'm happy that i discovered it.

Can't really decide how I feel about this film. It was somewhat intriguing, beautifully shot (in black and white), and the lead character was perfectly cast. I love quirky characters in independent movies, but most of the time I couldn't decide if Frances was incredibly endearing or incredibly annoying. Immature, yes. Quirky, yes. Childlike, yes.

I didn't by any means hate this movie, but I did not love it as much as others. It is a film like no other, and worth a watch, but it left me feeling ambivalent. There was really no plot, which made sense because Frances didn't really seem to have any clearcut goals or ambitions (other than being a dancer, which wasn't ever going to happen). She lived moment by moment and the film took us on her journeys even though I am not sure they served much of a purpose.