Synecdoche, New York…..Kaufman mind f**k

Readers of this blog would know that I’m not really into laying down plot synopsis’ and boring you with pointless backstory on the films I write about. I’d rather just tell you if they are any good or not. Well, finally that laziness has paid off, because Synecdoche, New York is quite possibly the most difficult film to describe in the history of cinema.

I’m not even going to bother trying to explain it. Oh, I could tell you it’s about a theater director struggling with his home life and the rather “large” new production he is trying to create….but that is a mere drop in the ocean of the multi-layered complexities within the plot of this film.

What I can tell you is that this film is the directorial debut of genius screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. To those who know the man, they will immediately understand…to a point…what to expect, for everyone else, they should refer to such Kaufman penned gems as Being John Malkovich, Adaptation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to get an idea of how incredibly original this guy is, and to grasp the potentially intricate nature of a film he both wrote and directed.

To call Synecdoche, New York ambitious is an understatement. Our lead character’s aim of building a life size replica of New York in an abandoned warehouse should give you an idea of what I mean. But the film is bigger than even that, it deals with the meaning of all things….life, love, existence….it’s both moving and meandering. Inspiring and depressing. This is challenging cinema to be sure, but let’s not forget, this is art…and art is not always supposed to be easily digestible.

Let me also say that I think only two actors in the world could have done the role Caden Cotard, the troubled theater director any justice, and they are Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti. Hoffman landed the role, and he is typically brilliant.

I hardly need to mention that Synecdoche, New York will not appeal to everyone. There are those who will tire quickly of it and dismiss it as high-brow nonsense. That’s cool. Each to their own of course. But to me, this is a film worth studying. A film that will mean different things to different people. A film that has flaws, but a film that can never be accused of being unoriginal.