Review of Anomalisa (2015) by Yang H — 23 Sep 2016

Anomalisa doesn't just work as a movie, it works as a dramatic examination of people's mistakes and misjudgements in life. This movie could be seen as a companion piece to Synecdoche, New York; a smaller, yet just as intimate examination of being lonely, or being trapped in a life you never intended to start. Michael Stone is a part of Caden Cotard, with his own set of insecurities and reality changing views. The reason everyone but Michael looks and sounds the same is because Michael has become so used to people in general, that they all blend together to him. His own speech at the conference is his denial that people are alike, an attempt to say that there are other people-but he knows it's not true(at least from his perspective). In the end, Michael must resign to the truth that no one is different. The thing is, the ending proves that Michael is wrong-Emily has her own face, and so does Lisa. So in the end, Charlie Kaufman doesn't side with Michael. People are unique, not just one in a million. And now, with that little analysis out of the way, I will delve into the technical aspects of the film, to match the themes.

The voice acting is phenomenal. David Thewlis and Jennifer Leigh do amazing jobs as the two unique voices in the movie, but Tom Noonan also does a bang-up job as "Everyone Else". There are certain parts of each performance that made it easy to hear all the weariness, bitterness, and longing in Michael and Lisa throughout the movie.

The animation is, hands down, the best claymation I've ever seen. Sometimes, claymation doesn't require a whimsical or surreal overload of images; it just needs a little bit, a sprinkle to keep everything interesting. The animation has enough restraint to keep it grounded in reality, as well as some surreal images to give it a visual flair. What really impressed me was that there were some shots that ran on for several minutes without cutting. As I understand it, this is likely torture to animate, ESPECIALLY if a mistake is made, so the fact that they put in the effort to do so, is a testament to Charlie Kaufman's pursuit of of real artistic fulfillment. There are a lot of interesting shots as well, like when you could see Lisa reflected in Michael's eyes on the bed. An amazing shot, if I do say so myself.

The music is vibrant and beautiful, with gentle, soft tones in one scene, and intense loud noise in the next. It matches up perfectly with whatever is onscreen, increasing the drama and emotion effortlessly. The music actually reminded me of Synecdoche, New York's own score; they both have the same tone, and they both inspire melancholy when heard. I wouldn't be surprised if Jon Brion did compose Anomalisa's soundtrack.

And finally, of course, the writing is amazing. This is likely the most straightforward Charlie Kaufman script so far. That doesn't mean there is no interpretation; on the contrary, you can take away a few different ideas and themes from this movie. The dialogue is also great, with lots of personality to be wrung from it, and tons of material for actors to use.

I'll end this review with this: I personally believe that Anomalisa is perfect. But it is a bit slow-paced at times, and can be frustrating on the first watch. But, if you love, like, or was even interested in Synecdoche, New York, then you should Anomalisa a chance. Who knows, maybe this movie will show you something about yourself that you didn't even think was there.