How sad is this?

A Masterpiece!

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Just finished watching Jake Squared. I see why its gotten bad reviews. Firstly, it doesn't fit in a nice box. Has none of the common clichés of even Indy cinema. Its got what all interesting art needs. To lay yourself open. To take the risk of showing yourself. Thus being vulnerable to potshots from the postmodern trolls who can't stand a personal art. I like the atmosphere of the whole thing. The music was like another character in the film. Subtle, supportive, original and never overbearing.Just finished watching Jake Squared. I see why its gotten bad reviews. Firstly, it doesn't fit in a nice box. Has none of the common clichés of even Indy cinema. Its got what all interesting art needs. To lay yourself open. To take the risk of showing yourself. Thus being vulnerable to potshots from the postmodern trolls who can't stand a personal art. I like the atmosphere of the whole thing. The music was like another character in the film. Subtle, supportive, original and never overbearing.

I am a fan of small movies. This was a big small one. I enjoyed the self-deprecation as well as Jake's lofty love ambitions. It reminded me of all the constant verbal noise inside my own head, but from a different gender and profession. And funny. I wish I was as humorous when I'm hard on myself. I bet most of the audience relates to this, which could be why there were huge laughs in the theater throughout the film at the screening I went to. And thank you Mr. Goldberg for making a movie for us middle aged people here in "Youngstown U.S.A" aka Los Angeles. Gen Xers can enjoy Vogel and the hot tub girls, but I especially enjoyed Koteas and the seasoned actresses. Loved it!

"Jake Squared" wasn't really what I had expected it to be. And truth be told, for a comedy/drama, then the movie didn't really offer that much to laugh about.The story is about aging movie-maker Jake, who is working on a new project, when unannounced his former selves start to appear in order to help him figure out what it is that he is searching for.I will say that the story was somewhat wasted on me, and I didn't really find it all that appealing or interesting. And the movie tended to drag on for quite a long while.However, what made the movie watchable was the solid acting performances by the cast. And especially Elias Koteas was really carrying the movie so nicely."Jake Squared" is not really a movie for just everyone, and I find it to be something of an acquired taste. I wasn't really entertained by it, and as such I am rating the movie just below average; 4 out of 10 stars.

I've never written a review for a movie before though I have worked in the movie business for a long time! I saw this movie at the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles.Here's what I think: You will be given countless opportunities to see movies about perfect people (portraying underdogs) saving a town/country/world/universe BUT very few chances to see a movie that teaches you something interesting and new about the human condition. This movie succeeds in illuminating the human condition, especially aging men looking for love. I have had daydreams similar to several scenes in this movie, but could not articulate them like Howard Goldberg does. The movie is very "meta"; it's self-reflexive and self-deprecating. Elias Koteas plays four different ages of himself and they talk to each other (along with other actors playing his character). Some of his acting and Goldberg's writing reminded me of conversations I've had with myself, and at other times it reminded me of things I've talked to my father about. To me there are very few movies that really discuss what it's like to be a man. Not a macho man, or a sex crazed man, but just a man, warts and all. This movie really shows it, the loneliness, the need for love, the second guessing, and a lot more. It still funny, and wonderfully acted, and stressful. I never knew what was coming, because of its originality. I don't want to give away too much, just go see it.