Review of Anomalisa (2015) by L B — 23 Feb 2016

Anomalisa is a stop animation feature that has a unique way of telling a story. Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis) is a motivational speaker on an engagement in Cincinnati, but he is depressed and his world view is one of anger and despair. Stone is a selfish character who I found to have no redeeming qualities. He potentially ruins every female's role in his life and treats people so poorly they all just sound the same to him. He takes no value into anything but himself until he meets Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Eventually he grows tired of her as well because he's a horrible human. While talking to one ex-girlfriend whom he walked out on he alibied that he was "mentally ill" right before making a pass at her.

The movie takes place over about a 24 hour period and you are indeed enveloped into Stone's life, but I was so taken aback by how big of a jerk the guy was that I couldn't get into the picture completely despite the beauty.