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."

The Messenger (2009)

An American soldier struggles with an ethical dilemma when he becomes involved with a widow of a fallen officer.

A study of various people and their ways of coping with loss, grief and bonding convinces mainly through its excellent ensemble of characters and some memorable scenes.

Maltin***1/2: "Episodic, but moving look at the different ways people deal with anger, pain, repressed emotions, and grief...Foster and Harrelson are first-rate, along with a fine ensemble who often have just moments to create their performances."

Emma (1996)

While matchmaking for friends and neighbors, a young 19th-century Englishwoman nearly misses her own chance at love.

Very competent made-for-TV adaptation of Jane Austen's novel needn't hide behind the cinema production from the same year.