The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Name	The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
Director	Noah Baumbach
Writer	Noah Baumbach
Starring	Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Elizabeth Marvel, Grace Van Patten
Music	Randy Newman
Cinematography	Robbie Ryan
Editing	Tim Streeto
Studio	Annapurna Pictures
Distributor	Netflix
Released	2017
Runtime	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) is a 2017 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach. The film follows the fractured relationships of an extended family of artists in New York City and features ensemble performances by Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, and Emma Thompson. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was later released by Netflix, drawing attention for its performances, screenplay, and direction.

Plot

The narrative centers on Harold Meyerowitz, a retired artist and educator living in Manhattan, and his adult children navigating professional failure, creative ambition, and familial resentment. Danny Meyerowitz returns from Los Angeles following a series of personal crises while Matthew Meyerowitz, a struggling sculptor, grapples with legitimacy and inheritance. Their sister, Jean, visits from Boston as disputes over Harold's legacy lead to confrontations at family gatherings and a memorial in Greenwich Village, culminating in a complex reconciliation that examines art, memory, and intergenerational trauma.

Cast and Characters

The ensemble cast includes: - Adam Sandler as Danny Meyerowitz, an aspiring but underachieving musician whose career intersects with scenes set in Los Angeles, New York City, and intimate domestic interiors reminiscent of films by Woody Allen and Paul Schrader. - Ben Stiller as Matthew Meyerowitz, a sculptor and educator whose ambitions echo themes from works by John Cassavetes and Mike Leigh. - Dustin Hoffman as Harold Meyerowitz, the patriarch and former art instructor whose past connects to institutions like Columbia University and galleries in SoHo. - Emma Thompson in a supporting role, alongside Elizabeth Marvel and Grace Van Patten, portraying relationships influenced by cultural touchstones such as The New Yorker profiles and exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art.

Additional cast members include Dustin Hoffman's peers in dramatic scenes, ensemble performers with backgrounds from productions associated with Lincoln Center, Broadway, and independent film circles linked to Sundance Film Festival alumni.

Production

Development was led by Noah Baumbach, whose prior collaborations with actors and producers trace to projects involving Scott Rudin, A24, and Annapurna Pictures. Principal photography took place in locations across New York City, including neighborhoods known for their artistic communities such as Greenwich Village and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan employed handheld and static compositions reminiscent of work by Roger Deakins and Gordon Willis to capture domestic interiors and gallery spaces. The score by Randy Newman provides tonal counterpoint similar to scores used in films distributed by Netflix and exhibited at festivals like Cannes Film Festival.

Release and Distribution

The film premiered in competition at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix for global distribution after negotiations involving companies such as Annapurna Pictures and sales agents attending the Berlin International Film Festival market. Its release combined a limited theatrical run in cities including New York City and Los Angeles with streaming availability, reflecting evolving distribution strategies adopted by streaming platforms and traditional exhibitors such as Criterion Collection discussions and theatre chains like AMC Theatres.

Reception

Critical response highlighted performances, particularly by Sandler and Hoffman, with reviews in outlets aligned with critics associated with publications like The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. The film appeared on year-end lists compiled by organizations such as the National Board of Review and critics from Los Angeles Times, receiving praise for Baumbach's screenplay and for reviving dialogue-driven family drama traditions visible in works by James L. Brooks and Alexander Payne.

Themes and Analysis

Scholars and critics have analyzed the film's exploration of paternal influence, creative rivalry, and the cultural institutions that shape artistic reputations, drawing parallels to biographies of figures associated with Harvard University art history departments and retrospectives at institutions like Tate Modern and the Museum of Modern Art. Intergenerational conflict is examined alongside representations of male identity in American cinema, referencing directors such as Ingmar Bergman and Richard Linklater for comparative study. The film's formal choices—dialogue, framing, and temporal structure—invite readings in the context of auteurist debates involving Noah Baumbach, Wes Anderson, and independent film movements centered at Sundance Film Festival.

Accolades and Awards

The Meyerowitz Stories received nominations and awards from various bodies, including mentions in festival programming at the Cannes Film Festival and recognition by critics' groups such as the New York Film Critics Circle and the National Board of Review. Individual performances garnered awards-season attention from organizations like the Screen Actors Guild and discussions around inclusion in awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and critics' circles across Los Angeles and New York City.

Category:2017 films Category:American comedy-drama films