Review of Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Lee B — 16 Aug 2010

I know you are not supposed to admit it, but I got lost during this movie. But it wasn?t that I couldn?t follow it. It is really pretty brilliant in its portrayal of someone living his life through art and how it takes over his very existence. It?s just that I was lost with how I was supposed to take this movie. It is a lot like Adaptation. The movie becomes one big joke of the characterization of the lead. But that left me no longer attached to the Nic Cage character. The same happened here. I didn?t connect with Hoffman anymore as it rolled along. I found myself rooting for all the women to cast him aside.

Technically, this movie is great for a first time director. There are so many subtle visual clues that he must have really been studying while working with Gondry and Jones. I loved the visual maze of it all and how it didn?t distract too much from paying attention to the interaction and dialogue of the characters. Still, I can?t really get behind recommending this beyond the people that already want to see it.