Jason Schwartzman is very good at playing unlikeable characters. Maybe it was his experience working with Wes Anderson on RUSHMORE at a young age or maybe it is something that comes naturally to him, but it looks like he will put that talent on full display in his latest film, LISTEN UP PHILIP, which premieres at Sundance this week.
Co-starring Elizabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume, Jess Weixler, Dree Hemingway, Keith Poulson, Kate Lyn Sheil, and Eric Bogosian, LISTEN UP PHILIP premiered an interesting teaser that features almost none of Schwartzman and a lot of his co-stars telling the camera what they think of the titular Philip. The results are dryly funny and hint at something more underneath the surface, which would fit with the style and tone of director Alex Ross Perry’s previous movie, THE COLOR WHEEL.
The plot centers on Philip (Schwartzman) as he awaits the publication of his sure-to-succeed second novel. He feels pushed out of his adopted home city by the constant crowds and noise, a deteriorating relationship with his girlfriend (Moss), and his own indifference to promoting the book. When Philip’s idol Ike Zimmerman (Pryce) offers his isolated summer home as a refuge, he finally gets the peace and quiet to focus on his favorite subject — himself.
I like Jason Schwartzman and even without seeing him in action, this trailer has enough to make me want to see this movie when it gets released. Expect announcements of distribution once Sundance ends on January 26th.
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