Synecdoche, New York (2008)

 

A theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play. 

Fascinating, assuredly made, but over-ambitious drama is multi-layered and delves into serious issues on life, death and creativity (and monomania) however, not just so deep; nonetheless, a remarkable debut and a great vehicle for Philip Seymour Hoffman's genius.

Maltin**: "Screenwriter Kaufman (in his directorial debut) incorporates many of his darkly comic, non-sequitur trademarks at first, then grows melancholy and downbeat as his hero confronts the futility of his quest to understand what his life is all about. Clever and original but wearying, not unlike its main character. The cast is uniformly fine."

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

 

 

Full of misgivings, a young woman travels with her new boyfriend to his parents' secluded farm. Upon arriving, she comes to question everything she thought she knew about him, and herself. 

 

Beautiful photography and set pieces, stellar performances and an increasingly surreal plot make this film an intriguing watch, although it asks more question than giving answers, and the ending is a bit disappointing.

Anomalisa (2015)

A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary.

Basically, it's "Disillusioned executive has an affair on one of his business trips, but in the end decides to stay with his family", and obviously this is based on a stage play; but realizing this story in animation emphasizes its conciseness and introspective, somewhat otherworldly character - and its weirdness.

New acquisitions: Synecdoche, New York (2008)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

When their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a procedure to have each other erased from their memories, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with.

Complex and intriguing love drama playing with our sense of time and memory; well worth watching, but at times a strain putting the parts together. 

Halliwell*: "Another film with a beginning, middle and end, though not necessarily in that order; indeed, the beginning is the end. It is too fussy in its writing and direction to maintain interest in its shifting narrative."

Maltin***: "Ingenious, Oscar-winning screenplay by Charlie Kaufman...is extremely well executed by director Gondry (and cinematographer Ellen Kuras), though the film tends to cleverly dance around the roots of emotional and romantic pain rather than fully engage them. Carrey has never been better; Winslet is (as always) exceptional."