Independent Pick: Jeff, Who Lives At Home (2011)
Sometimes a film works best if you know as little about it as possible. These films need to develop at their own pace, and the audience needs to allow them to unfold, like a breathtakingly beautiful flower, with Jeff, Who Lives At Home being a perfect example of one such film.
Have you ever wondered what your day would be like if you truly believed – to the core of your being – that the universe was constantly sending you signs? Maybe if you just followed the clues like a giant, cosmic scavenger hunt, then they would lead you exactly where you needed to be, at exactly the moment you needed to be there? That’s what Jeff (Jason Segel) believes, and it means he’s in for quite a day – along with his brother Pat (Ed Helms), sister-in-law Linda (Judy Greer) and mother, Sharon (Susan Sarandon). That is really all the information you need before heading into this wonderful exercise in attentive mindfulness.
While the cast are all exceptionally good in their respective roles, the real star here is the screenplay – meticulous in its detail and bursting with originality. The film is written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass (Cyrus), who are fast building themselves a fascinating body of work – full of films run through with their distinctive and specific tone. Just listening to the dialogue in Jeff, Who Lives At Home is an absolute joy, as the Duplass Brothers perfectly capture the complexities of human behavior.
This intriguing movie is entirely unpredictable. As the audience, we must simply place our trust in the filmmakers – just as Jeff places his in the universe. In doing so, we are rewarded with a true journey of discovery, that is in turns funny, awkward, painful, scary, sorrowful and joyous. We are in safe hands with the Duplass Brothers, though, and their film never once loses momentum. Just like Jeff, we know we’re heading somewhere important, we just have to wait and see. Ultimately, it proves to be well worth the wait, and Jeff, Who Lives At Home is highly recommended.