Listen and Hear

Author(s): Bryce Marrero
Location: Los Angeles, CA

"Listen and Hear"

Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Writer: Michael Arndt
Producer: Peter Saraf, and Clayton Townsend

Comedy

Main Cast

Justin Long as Josh Nervitz
Paul Rudd as The Can Man
Kurt Russell as Joseph Nervitz
Meg Ryan as Marie Nervitz
Kat Dennings as Sophie Nervitz
Lacey Chabert as Julie Perfson

Tagline: "Sometimes, all you have to do is listen"

Synopsis: Josh Nervetz has always lived a very complicated life, with many problems. His charming father, Joseph Nervitz, and strong willed mother, Marie Nervitz, are on the verge of a divorce, and his older sister has picked up a drug habit. To make matters worse, he is about to finish his last year of high school and has not yet asked his high school crush, Julie Perfson, out on a date. But everything about his life is about to change with one simple decision.

The Can Man is known as the homeless person who always talks to himself, and collects empty cans during morning hours. Josh would always ignore him like the other students would, but on a very emotionless day for him he decides to actually listen to what The Can Man has to say. The Can Man gives Josh a simple advice. To talk to Lacy and listen to what she has to say. With
that advice Josh is able to score his first date, and with that date comes a life changing experience.

The Can Man and Josh's friendship grow as The Can Man helps guide him on the dates Josh goes on with Lacey. The Can Man is also able to help him understand what power can come from just listening to what people have to say. With all the advice The Can Man has given to Josh, he tries to not only help his troubled sister but also patch up his parents dying relationship.

What the Press would say:

Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris, and Michael Arndt team up for another sensational dramedy. The story is about a stressed out teen, Josh Nertvitz, getting the best advice he has every gotten from a crazy homeless bum. With the advice Josh gets, he is able to help fix other problems as well, such as his sister's drug addiction and his parent's dying relationship. The film has all the charm and wit that Little Miss Sunshine has, but with a more heavier focus on it's message, which is showing the power of listening and how it can be used to help others. Justin Long has an incredible performance as the clueless and sometimes depressed teenager. He is intensely nervous at times, but also charming at other times.The movie's most memorable character is The Can Man played brilliantly by Paul Rudd. Rudd brings his wit and funny humor to the character adding a bit of craziness to the character as well. Rudd is hands down the show stealer of the movie giving audience a refreshing and unique performance. Kat Dennings also gives a very good performance as the sister who has a drug addiction. As the movie progress, audience witness how she falls deeper and deeper into the cravings, and addictions to the point were it seems like she cannot get herself clean. However, when Josh actually does start to try and help her, audience get to see her character start to clean up and get healthier. The role requires a great deal of transformation and she is able to pull it off. "Listen and Hear" is a great movie with great intentions, and a very strong message that people of today can live by.

Best Picture
Best Director- Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Best Actor- Justin Long
Best Supporting Actor- Paul Rudd
Best Supporting Actress- Kat Dennings
Best Original Screenplay- Michael Arndt