Listen Up Philip

American independent filmmaker Alex Ross Perry's Listen Up Philip stars Jason Schwartzman as Philip Lewis Friedman, an abrasive, narcissistic thirtysomething New York novelist who ducks out of promoting his second novel after receiving poor reviews. Friedman finds a mentor in an aging, resentful literary lion named Ike Zimmerman—clearly modeled on Philip Roth (right down to the cover art of the novels seen onscreen)—played by Jonathan Pryce with a smarmy smugness that Friedman appropriates to justify his self-absorbed behavior. Elisabeth Moss costars as Friedman's long-suffering neglected professional photographer girlfriend, and Krysten Ritter is Ike's daughter, who takes the brunt of her father's withering judgments. Taking place in a modern day New York that—technology aside—feels like it could be from 20, 30, or even 40 years ago, the story draws on the literary tradition of Roth and other celebrated (and decidedly male) American novelists to emphasize the gulf between the self-reflection found in their work and the distinct lack of same in their lives. A novelistic narrator (voiced with perfect feigned objectivity by Eric Bogosian) slips sly commentary into the poetic observations. While these aren't likable characters, there is a savage and brutal humor in the film's exploration of male vanity and artistic entitlement leading to emotional isolation. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Alex Ross Perry, a behind-the-scenes featurette (10 min.), a production featurette (3 min.), deleted scenes (7 min.), a photo gallery of book covers, and a trailer. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a savvy film likely to appeal to aficionados of literary fiction.] (S. Axmaker)