Yesterday was a bittersweet day to be a member of the LAMB. I say that fully acknowledging that Battle of Directors won the LAMMIE award for Best Running Feature.
In case you’ve been under a rock for the past couple of days, I’ll say this once more: I’m so incredibly humbled to have won, and my gratitude to each and every person who casted Duke & The Movies on their ballot, will never cease to exist.
I know it may be a cliché, but I’m truly grateful to have you all around. And before I wrap up this diatribe of appreciation, I’d like every reader of mine to know that Courtney Smalls of Big Thoughts From A Small Mind, was the inspiration behind this recurring article that has garnered so much love over the past year. Thank you, Courtney.
As for the controversy that sparked yesterday and continued into the early hours of the morning, I’ll direct you to the forums. I’ve made my stance clear. Here’s hoping the rest of the discussion focuses more on the progression of the LAMB rather than the digression of it.
Oh, and yes – we still have a matchup today. My only word of advice is that before you jump the gun after reading the names of the two filmmakers, be sure to carefully examine each filmography. I feel both are vastly underrated directors that have the ability to make quality cinema in the coming years.
Let the discussion begin …
Noah Baumbach's "Greenberg" (2010).
Four example films from Noah Baumbach:
Kicking and Screaming
The Squid and the Whale
Greenberg
Margot At the Wedding
vs.
Greg Mottola's "Adventureland" (2009).
Four example films from Greg Mottola:
Adventureland
Superbad
Paul
The Daytrippers
I have only seen Squid and the Whale from Noah Baumbach, which I really liked. Also I have a thing for his name… but moving on. I have seen 3 from Mottola and I’m a pretty big Superbad fan and I quite liked Adventureland and Paul. So my vote goes to Mottola I guess
Congrats on the win btw
A thing for his name? Sounds intriguing. And once again, you’re first to comment. Thank you. By the way, I believe a fraction of this LAMMIE belongs to you and your dedication to coming back here.
Congrats on the win man.
I should let you know that it’s The Daytrippers, not Daytippers.
I’ve seen both of their works although I still haven’t seen all of Adventureland by Mottola while I’m still looking for Baumbach’s Highball.
Based on what I’ve seen from both filmmakers so far. I’m going with Baumbach as I think he’s made 2 great films with Kicking & Screaming and The Squid & the Whale while I also liked his other work. Mottola’s best film is still The Daytrippers for me with Superbad a close second.
“Noah Baumbach vs Greg Mottola? Baumbach, of course! He’s great! Who’s Mottola again? Hmm… Superbad? Adventureland? Paul? Hang on, I might have to rethink this…”
That was more or less my inner monologue as I saw this post. It’s a very even match-up for me. Mottola has made some really good movies. Superbad is for my money a modern classic of its genre, and one of the funniest films I have ever seen. Adventureland took me by surprise with how touching it was. And Paul? Paul is just very entertaining.
I have a ton of respect for Baumbach, though. He manages to consistantly blend black comedy with quirkiness in an appealing manner, and populates his films with characters that are so out there and yet so relatable in ways. Margot at the Wedding in particular had my mind boggled at how strange these people were, and yet I loved the time I had watching them interact with each other.
I’ll go with Baumbach. Quality-wise, I’d say the filmographies of these two directors are about even. Baunbach has a more personal style, though. I would watch anything he makes no questions asked, whereas I’d still probably have to know something about a new Mottola film before I invest my interest fully in it.
Congrats again on the win, Sam! It was well earned. Though I may have planted the seed, you deserve all the credit. You put your own unique spin on it and made the feature flourish.
As for this week’s match-up, it is a tie for me. Baumbach may have the slight edge based on Kicking and Screaming, The Squid and the Whale (Mr. Jeaslousy had its moments but was rather forgettable). However, I think Advertureland and The Daytrippers are films that really deserve more love from film buffs…especially The Daytrippers. So I am going to go with Mottola on this one.
I am all aboard the Baumbach train.
Great matchup here.
I’ve only seen Baumbach’s The Squid and the Whale, and I enjoyed the tar out of it. And maybe it’s cheating, but Baumbach was the screenwriter for a few Wes Anderson films that I enjoyed quite a bit.
Mottola… what to do with Mottola. I liked Paul, although I feel like that was more Simon Pegg’s vehicle than Mottola’s. Still, Mottola did what had to be done. And then there’s Superbad. I’ve laughed harder at a few segments of Superbad than I have at anything else that’s come out in the last decade. But I also loathed the rest. And I have no other experience with Mottola.
I’ll go with Baumbach, with the caveat that it’d help a ton to see where each of them go in the next decade.
Congrats on the LAMMY, Sam! I don’t know if I can properly weigh in on this battle. I have only seen one film from Baumbach — Greenberg — which I didn’t much care for. With Mottola, I really enjoyed Superbad. Adventureland and Paul were solid but mostly forgettable. Just based on that limited set, I would have to go with Mottola, but I would still like to see more of Baumbach’s work.
Mottola made Paul which is one of the most unpleasant moviegoing experiences I’ve ever had. His other films are pretty forgettable, while Baumbach made Kicking and Screaming, Mr. Jealousy, and Squid in the Whale (which, for the record, was not a good date movie). I’d say Baumbach handily.
Congratulations on the win! This is a great feature! For me it all comes down to Adventureland VS The Squid and the Whale. That’s an incredibly tough call. I think I have to go with Baumbach (but only just!)
Congrats on the win!
I have to go with Baumbach here. Kicking and Screaming is a personal favorite, and Squid and the Whale and Greenberg are great too. I did not like Margot at the Wedding, though. For Mottola, I really liked Adventureland, and while Superbad and the Daytrippers are decent, he falls a bit short.
I have only seen Greenberg from Baumbach, which I liked a lot. BUT I love Superbad, and Paul was one of the funniest comedies of the year last year. Goes to Mottola in this case.
Paul was a delightful surprise last year — enjoyed that movie aplenty. Have you Squid and the Whale?
It has to be Mottola for me, I find Baumbach to be a little inaccessible at times. I also appreciate Adventureland more than a sex comedy.
By the way, if anyone here hasn’t seen Freaks and Geeks (Mottola was a director on many episodes), please do so.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Someone who appreciates Adventureland. I love the film.
I haven’t seen many of the movies by these directors, but wanted to stop by and say congratulations on your LAMMY winning feature. It’s definitely one that I come check out often and look forward to!
Thank you Mark, thank you
I hated Greenberg, but I’m gonna go with Baumbach here. I dig Squid and the Whale, but I actually think Margot is his best film. Love that one. Nice match up.
I really enjoyed Greenberg on my first viewing, actively disliked it on a second. Need to checkout Margot.
Armond White would have a field day with this post.
For me, it’s Baumbach. I like Mottola, but apart from Superbad I don’t think any of his movies are totally essential. (Maybe Adventureland, but only because Stewart actually kind acts in it.) Not that I don’t like Paul– it’s good! But all of those Baumbach movies are very much “must-sees” for film lovers, particularly The Squid and the Whale.
The Squid and the Whale is an essential film that depicts the residual effects of divorce with more poignancy that I think I’ve ever seen on screen.
I’m not familiar with White’s stance on these two filmmakers? Indulge me.
Health and an otherwise filled-up schedule have not allowed me to do this in some time, and this is a match-up ripe for picking apart.
Both of their films have a lot to do with nostalgia and have a firm debt to Richard Linklater in the relatively no-frills way they present it (Baumbach has a definite advantage here, though Morrola has proven himself to be very strong). Adventureland and The Squid and the Whale try not to romanticize the ’80s but Mottola still favors the “things were better back then” approach. He just pushed things too far with Paul and how literally every single possible reference to sci-fi “nerdy” past habits is actually rad to the max. So, between the two, Mottola is the only one with a noticeable blemish on the record.
Building on that, Mottola makes nostalgic comfort food to the reality of Baumbach’s films. Not only was the past not as bad as you remember it (either the modern adolescence of Superbad or the ultimately successful romance of Adventureland) but the people that you hurt in the process will never feel those effects of your selfishness. There is absolutely none of that comfort in Baumbach’s films, we see evidence in Margot At The Wedding and The Squid and the Whale that the past really does matter and these nostalgia blinders may hurt more than help.
That and Baumbach is a significantly better, if flashier, writer. My friends have tried for years to figure out what’s in a “Virgin Maya Angelou” drink and the verbal sparring of the parents in Squid is too juicy to ignore. Basically, Mottola is the Wonder Years to Baumbach’s M*A*S*H in terms of looking into the past, all excellent it’s just Baumbach comes with a more interesting approach.
So, Baumbach, even if I had to hurdle through some mental gymnastics to get there.