Trust the Man explores both the comic and tragic elements of real-life relationships in a true-to-life manner. While appealing to all of the actors involved, this aspect was equally important to Bart Freundlich while writing the film.
"For me it's about learning how to let go of this need to control everything in your life and trust that things are going to work out if you're just true to every moment," he explains. "In large part it's about what buffoons men can be, and how they're just so different from women in their thinking." His wife and the film's star Julianne Moore agrees, "The movie is very frank about relationships and the way that we deal with each other, and also the differences between men and women."
Producer Tim Perell had encouraged Freundlich to write a comedy for several years. The two had worked together twice in the past, on World Traveler and The Myth of Fingerprints, both more serious films. Perell wanted Freundlich to explore his comedic side since "he's one of the funniest people I know." Inspired, in large part, by the films of Woody Allen and David O. Russell, Freundlich finally acquiesced and six months later Trust the Man was written. Perell explains, "Even though the tone is much different than his earlier films, the perspective is still very much Bart."
Freundlich found that directing a comedy was just as challenging, if not more, than directing a drama. He recalls, "In a drama you can sometimes coast by on a vibe. A comedy is almost more technical. I felt like I had to be diligent in making sure I captured all the comedic moments I needed to build a scene."
On the close-knit set, Freundlich was appreciated for both his skill as a director and his ability to put his actors at ease. Working with wife Julianne Moore for the third time had a natural rhythm, as the two have developed a form of shorthand. "Bart has a deep understanding of what she needs as an actress," observes Perell.
Freundlich was especially excited to work with Moore for this role, as he was eager to display her rarely shown comedic side. He explains, "There's no doubt in my mind that she's the best actress alive - I also think she's very funny. People don't use her in that way a lot." Moore read the script and immediately agreed to play Rebecca. "I thought it was great. It's very, very funny and entertaining and realistic and, finally in the end, moving. It's just an absolutely delightful, charming script," she says.
David Duchovny was also after Freundlich to write a comedic film for some time: "We know he's a talented filmmaker, and we've been waiting for him to make a comedy. He sent me the script and asked me to play Tom and I said 'yes' immediately, 'cause I just think Bart is such a funny and smart guy." Duchovny was drawn to the script not only for the characters, but also for the way the film resembled Woody Allen's traditions of incorporating the city of Manhattan into the story. To Duchovny, the film had the feeling of Annie Hall. "You know, there was a lot of verbal intelligence and intelligent sexual politics, as well as sight gags and slapstick that Woody Allen used to do."
Billy Crudup, who has known Freundlich since their days at NYU Graduate School, previously worked with him on the film World Traveler. Crudup respects Freundlich's directorial creativity as well as their similar aesthetic sensibility. "I was inspired by his fearlessness and his imagination."
Maggie Gyllenhaal decided to do the project because "it's the best script for a romantic comedy that I've ever read. This movie was immediately smarter and more interesting to me." She was also excited at the opportunity to work with such an esteemed cast of actors, especially Julianne Moore. "She's really inspiring to me, as a woman and an actress."
Eva Mendes was also drawn to the film because of the opportunity to work with Julianne Moore. "To be totally honest, I'm a really huge, huge fan. I'm borderline obsessed. I just look up to her, and her choices." Mendes was also excited to work with Bart Freundlich due to the intelligence that he portrayed through his last two films. She found working with the director "fun and easy."
In addition to the characters, New York City plays a central role in the film. Says Perell, "One of the biggest (financial) struggles was the ability to stay in New York and shoot this movie there. Everybody was pushing us to go to Canada. But New York is such a significant character in this movie, Bart and I felt adamant about staying here. A big reference to this movie has always been Woody Allen's Manhattan. [This] sort of feels like a modern version of that."

BART FREUNDLICH (Writer/Director), grew up in Manhattan and graduated with a double major in Cinema Studies and Film and Television Production from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He wrote and directed the short film A Dog Race in Alaska (1993), starring Sam Waterston and James Waterston, followed by the documentary short, Hired Hands (1994). Freundlich wrote and directed his first feature length film, The Myth of Fingerprints (1997) when he was 26 years old. The film, starring Julianne Moore, Roy Scheider, Blythe Danner and Noah Wyle, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to win the Audience Award at the Deauville Film Festival.
Freundlich developed a relationship with Julianne Moore and in 1997 they had their first child together. He cast her in his next film, World Traveler (2001), starring Billy Crudup. His third feature, Catch That Kid (2004), starred Kristen Stewart of Panic Room as a 12-year-old girl who masterminds a bank heist.
A year after the birth of their daughter in 2002, Freundlich married Moore. They live in Manhattan with their children, Caleb and Liv.

READ a Q & A WITH BART FREUNDLICH