Review of Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Matt H — 30 Aug 2014

A casual audience isn't qualified to discuss a film of this nature and of this much ambition, as it essentially demands in-depth analysis and several viewings. It's a strange puzzle box of a movie that examines meta-abstractions, existentialism, perception, and, ultimately, life itself on a grand scale and while, yes, it's staggering and intellectually challenging at times, there's never an air of pretension to the project because it's so baldly self-conscious.

It's not a film that everyone will take to, but it is undeniably a great one, featuring severely depressing autobiographical subject matter, outstanding performances, strange humor, and a narrative scope that will have you questioning how this film was ever made in the first place.