Lawrence Michael Levine (born 1976) is an American actor, writer, and filmmaker, best known for writing and directing the films ''

Gabi on the Roof in July ''Gabi on the Roof in July'' is a 2010 American independent comedy-drama film directed by Lawrence Michael Levine. Synopsis Gabi (Sophia Takal), a rambunctious Oberlin undergrad, heads to New York City to spend the summer with her older brother ...

'', '' Wild Canaries'', and ''

Black Bear Black bear or Blackbear may refer to: Animals * American black bear (''Ursus americanus''), a North American bear species * Asian black bear (''Ursus thibetanus''), an Asian bear species Music * Black Bear (band), a Canadian First Nations group ...

''.

Career

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." In 2009, he wrote and directed the short films ''The Empress'' and ''Fat Friend''. His next film, 2010's romantic drama/comedy ''

'', received a positive critical response and was praised by Eric Kohn of ''

Indiewire IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Holl ...

'', who called the film a "lightly amusing comedy". 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 ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...

'' as being "...the closest a contemporary film has come to replicating the unbridled jubilance of a classic screwball comedy". His most recent film, ''

'', stars Christopher Abbott,

Sarah Gadon Sarah Lynn Gadon (born April 4, 1987) is a Canadian actress. She began her acting career guest-starring in a number of television series, such as '' Are You Afraid of the Dark?'' (1999), '' Mutant X'' (2002), and ''Dark Oracle'' (2004). She also ...

and

Aubrey Plaza Aubrey Christina Plaza (born June 26, 1984) is an American actress, comedian, and producer. She began her career performing improv and sketch comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. She starred as April Ludgate on the NBC sitcom ''Pa ...

. In addition to his own films, Levine has also acted in such pictures as ''

Richard's Wedding ''Richard's Wedding'' is a 2012 comedy/drama film written, edited, and directed by Onur Tukel. Among the film's ensemble cast are actors Josephine Decker, Randy Gambill, Lawrence Michael Levine, Jennifer Prediger, and Tukel himself. The film ...

'', 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 An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a dif ...

'' Easy''.

Personal life

Levine is married to fellow filmmaker

Sophia Takal Sophia Takal is an American actress, writer and director, perhaps best known for her work in independent features such as '' All the Light in the Sky'', '' Supporting Characters'' and ''Gabi on the Roof in July''. '' Filmmaker'' magazine named Tak ...

, with whom he has collaborated on several films. In 2013, Jordan Zakarin of ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly larg ...

'' named Levine and Takal two of New York's next big independent filmmakers.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Levine, Lawrence Michael 1976 births Living people American male film actors American film directors American film producers American male screenwriters Place of birth missing (living people)