Listen Up Philip

With its portentous narration and bike-riding/book writing aesthetic, this third feature from Alex Ross Perry is a masterclass in tarnished twee. Shot on faded 16mm and never once depicting digital technology, its charming retrograde trimmings are essentially a Trojan horse for the title character’s caustic tirades.

Jason Schwartzman leads as an ambitious Brooklynite novelist whose artistic process seems to hinge upon the creation of personal conflict, the author’s sociopathic behaviour often following in the footsteps of his heroes. When one such inspiration offers to take Philip under his wing, the protagonist carelessly abandons his girlfriend and we see how each character’s actions impacts upon the next.

The relationship between pain and productivity is a popular subject within metafiction, and Perry addresses it without succumbing to trite platitudes. The writer-director seems more interested in asking whether hurt or isolation is worth the perceived end goal. Yet while it takes guts to present a tale in which no one achieves redemption, Listen Up Philip could be accused of sacrificing humanity for style. [Lewis Porteous]