TIFF ‘08 Preview: “Synecdoche, New York”
Describing Charlie Kaufman’s movies—Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich—as “mind bending” is something of an understatement. His ability to craft multi-layered narratives that consistently blur the line between what’s happening inside and outside of his characters has made for some of the most unique—and maddening—films of the last ten years or so.
His latest film, Synecdoche, New York—which also happens to be his directorial debut—has the potential to be his most challenging film yet. The always-great Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a struggling theatre director working to get over a failed marriage and trying to bolster a flagging career. To do so, he hires an ensemble cast (which includes Emily Watson and Samantha Morton) and trundles them off to a warehouse containing a life-size replica of New York, and begins work on his magnum opus—a recreation of his own life right down to the most minute details.
Of course, this being a Kaufman film, you know things are going to get bizarre, as Hoffman’s life and art begin to blur and spiral out of control. Not surprisingly, the film has proven a little divisive at its previous screenings (e.g., Cannes 2008), but IMHO, it’s worth seeing because there’s really nothing quite like a Charlie Kaufman film.
Check out Synecdoche, New York‘s official TIFF entry here.
Comments