Lawrence Michael Levine
Lawrence Michael Levine (born 1976)[1] is an American actor, writer, and filmmaker, best known for writing and directing the films Gabi on the Roof in July, Wild Canaries, and Black Bear.
Lawrence Michael Levine
Career[edit]
In 2005, Levine wrote, produced, and directed his debut film Territory, based on his stage play of the same name. Critic Aaron West of eFilmCritic wrote of the film, "The off-Broadway version is undoubtedly the more appropriate medium for this story, and if given a choice, I would rather see it there. Still, I cannot help but applaud Levine for trying something a little different. His characters are extraordinarily ordinary, and his tightly wound screenplay reveals their (and our) brightest and darkest sides at various times."[2]
In 2009, he wrote and directed the short films The Empress and Fat Friend.
His next film, 2010's romantic drama/comedy Gabi on the Roof in July, received a positive critical response[3] and was praised by Eric Kohn of Indiewire, who called the film a "lightly amusing comedy".[4]
In 2014, Levine wrote, directed, and starred in the mystery/comedy Wild Canaries. The film received a positive response from critics and was praised by The Village Voice as being "...the closest a contemporary film has come to replicating the unbridled jubilance of a classic screwball comedy".[5] His most recent film, Black Bear, stars Christopher Abbott, Sarah Gadon and Aubrey Plaza.[6]
In addition to his own films, Levine has also acted in such pictures as Richard's Wedding, Takal's Green, All the Light in the Sky, and V/H/S/2 (segment "Tape 49"), and appears in the second season of the anthology series Easy.