Greta Gerwig might be one of the biggest names in Hollywood after she directed Barbie, but her filmography is jam-packed with excellent films that are sadly underrated. Gerwig’s rise to the top of Tinseltown is an unlikely story, and she got her start acting in low-budget indie films back in the Aughts.
A pillar in the mumblecore community, Gerwig’s talents were apparent from the first time she appeared onscreen. After headlining many of the best flicks in the short-lived mumblecore era, Gerwig began landing juicy roles in bigger-budget rom-coms and dramedies. Her partnership with director Noah Baumbach helped both artists grow into the creative powerhouses they are today.
While acting, Gerwig was instrumental behind the scenes. She penned most of her mumblecore outings, and even co-directed Nights and Weekends in 2008. 2017’s Lady Bird firmly established her as one of the best new directors of the century. The blockbuster success of Barbie made her a household name, but many of her best performances are painfully overlooked.
10
Hannah Takes The Stairs (2007)
With only her second feature film role, Greta Gerwig proved she could lead a film with ease in Hannah Takes the Stairs. The mumblecore classic concerns the quirky Hannah (Gerwig) who is on a quest for love in The Windy City. Made on a shoestring budget, the underrated 2007 gem is the antithesis to the bloated rom-coms of the Aughts.
Gerwig’s natural performance carries the movie, and she makes Hannah an actual lived-in character. It has a nostalgic quality because it so perfectly captures the 2000s aesthetic, especially the indie sleaze and hipster vibe. Hannah Takes the Stairs is rough around the edges, but certainly deserves attention as a time capsule to when indie films had a chance.
9
White Noise (2022)
White Noise is destined for cult classic status, but the wildly underrated Netflix original movie has mostly been forgotten. Set in the 1980s, the movie follows a college professor and his family as they try to escape a toxic cloud released by a chemical spill. Bleak and humorous, the Noah Baumbach movie is a dissection of mindless consumerism in America.
Gerwig co-stars as Babette, a fitness instructor and housewife struggling with an addiction. Her chemistry with Adam Driver is worth the price of admission alone, and together they help to make the Don DeLillo adaptation feel human. White Noise is intentionally challenging and strange, but is well worth it for anyone looking to try something new.
8
Damsels In Distress (2011)
Greta Gerwig was the muse of many indie directors in the 2000s and 2010s, including Whit Stillman. In Damsels in Distress, she plays a student who sets out to pretty up her college, only to find romantic entanglements threatening her friendships. As is the case with most Stillman movies, Damsels in Distress is a witty and dialogue-driven affair.
Though it falls short of Stillman classics like Metropolitan, it doesn’t deserve to be overlooked. Gerwig is electric, and she excels as a slightly-exaggerated caricature of all-American goodness. Damsels in Distress doesn’t induce guffaws, though it is good for more than a few hearty chuckles. It’s a thoughtful and smart comedy, something missing in the modern movie landscape.
7
Baghead (2008)
Gerwig’s close association with the Duplass brothers yielded many hidden gems, and Baghead is perhaps her quirkiest movie to date. A group of actors head to a remote cabin to pen their horror opus, only to find their ideas coming to life. Self-aware from the very first scene, Baghead is a movie about the struggles of filmmaking and being original.
Gerwig plays Michelle, one of the actors, and she essentially crafts the character from the ground up thanks to her improvisations. Like most mumblecore movies, Baghead is largely improvised, leading to an awkwardness not usually seen in film. It’s the kind of horror comedy that was never going to reach a large audience, but it is worth seeking out.
6
Maggie’s Plan (2015)
Rebecca Miller is known for her sophisticated romantic dramedies, but Maggie’s Plan is mostly forgotten. It stars Greta Gerwig as the title character, a woman hoping to have a child. In her quest for motherhood, she falls for a college professor and derails his marriage. With a cast including Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore, Maggie’s Plan features stellar performances.
Gerwig’s talents for both comedy and drama are evident, and she holds her own with co-stars like Moore. Everyone should see Maggie’s Plan at least once because it’s a well-made movie. What’s more, it’s the pinnacle of Gerwig’s years as an actor. It’s charming and raw, and it sticks with the viewer long after the credits roll.
5
Greenberg (2010)
Noah Baumbach’s movies are both simple and arresting, and Greenberg is no exception. Ben Stiller stars as the title character, an aimless man who forms an unlikely bond with his brother’s assistant (Gerwig) while house-sitting in Los Angeles. One of the movie’s themes is finding meaning, and there’s an endearing melancholy to the whole experience.
While Greenberg is mostly a Ben Stiller vehicle, Gerwig’s turn as Florence shouldn’t be overlooked. She tags along with the comedy heavyweight with ease, offering a more down-to-earth performance. Greenberg is quintessential 2000s and 2010s indie, and is ripe with meaning between the subtle laughs. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking for rich characters and realistic atmosphere.
4
The House Of The Devil (2009)
More than a decade before he shocked the world with his X series, Ti West made waves with The House of the Devil. A broke college student takes a job as a caretaker, only to enter a world of horror she could never have imagined. It pays homage to 1980s devil movies, and combines tropes from various horror subgenres.
Greta Gerwig is only in the movie briefly, and the film is led by Jocelin Donahue. The House of the Devil is painfully underrated because of when it was released. Horror had grown stale by 2009, with remakes and sequels dominating. West’s quirky little movie flew under the radar, and is only getting attention now thanks to his recent success.
3
Mistress America (2015)
As with most Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig movies, Mistress America was co-written by the pair. It concerns a lonely college student (Lola Kirke) who finds solace in the strange world of her stepsister (Gerwig). Appropriately loose and breezy, Mistress America is a friendship dramedy that grabs the audience and never lets go.
The critically-acclaimed movie dropped into obscurity right away. This is a shame because it’s some of Baumbach and Gerwig’s best work. It captures the aimlessness of young adulthood so deftly that it almost feels too real, but still has touches of movie magic. Mistress America is painfully underrated, but loved by nearly everyone who has seen it.
2
20th Century Women (2016)
Mike Mills’ 20th Century Women only garnered one Oscar nomination, resulting in the biggest snub of the year. It stars Annette Bening as a mom in the 1970s, who enlists the help of two other women to raise her teenage son to be a good person. It’s an interpersonal drama told in the context of shifting social tides.
Greta Gerwig plays an artist named Abbie, who is struggling with her own rebellious nature and search for meaning. The bonds between the characters are quite natural, eschewing the sort of saccharine plot points of other dramatic comedies. As with all Mills movies, 20th Century Women is powerful in its simplicity and effective in its straightforward execution.
1
Frances Ha (2012)
If there was one film to sum up the first phase of Greta Gerwig’s career, it would be her 2012 collaboration with Noah Baumbach, Frances Ha. In the film, she plays a young woman in NYC who dreams of becoming a dancer, only for reality to have other plans. The black and white gem is a masterclass in coming-of-young-adulthood filmmaking.
Greta Gerwig is likable and raw, and the audience feels all of Frances’ foibles. The black and white photography allows the characters to shine without distraction, and the tiniest role is impactful. The fact that Frances Ha isn’t revered as a classic is shocking, and the painfully underrated dramedy is a must-watch for anyone who calls themselves a film fan.
- Birthdate
-
August 4, 1983
- Birthplace
-
Sacramento, California, USA
- Height
-
5 feet 9 inches
- Professions
-
Actor, Writer, Director