Review of Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Just S — 06 Jan 2011

Synecdoche, New York.

Purposefully confusing, but fervently honest.

I (along with all who watched this film) went through a series of emotions and opinions about the film from the first second to the last. Let's take a look at them...

Hmm (interesting, could be cool).

Ugh (time to get on with it).

Huh? (unlimited funds, aye).

Woah! Woah! WOAH! (getting weirder and weirder).

Um, okay (that's it? It's over?).

Then I (you probably did too) looked up some reviews, an explanation, something to help me get a handle on Synecdoche, New York. Then I got it. There is no handle on Synecdoche, New York, and that's the whole point. "Everyone is everyone". So many don't have a handle on life. It's confusing, there's loss, there's love, there's life there's death.

Charlie Kaufman created a film that doesn't just raise more questions than it answers, it essentially states that the questions are the answer. A lot of his movies make you think, but their purpose often is more specific. This one's purpose exclaims that the purpose is to think, to question.

I may sound like I'm as high as Charlie Kaufman (or his characters), but if you've seen this, you'll understand. He takes quirkiness to a whole new level. The ending (not so spoil it) was surprising, but fits perfectly with the film's subject matter.

Oh, also, Philip Seymour Hoffman is amazing in this, I cannot believe he wasn't nominated for an Academy Award.

Why 100%?

Because for all its frustrating plots and characters and confusion, it succeeds. Life IS full of plots and characters and confusion. I may not agree with the films solutions (there are none), but I applaud its handle on problems.

Extra: I know there's supposed to be this revelation partway through the film that I am the main character, and that he is me. But I didn't. I'm not Caden. The answer is not that there are no answers.