Review of Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Andrew M — 24 May 2011

It's rare to see a widely released film that addresses art's role in life. This one goes much further, entering the dreamlike mind of the artist as he struggles to exist, or escape, life of the day to day. By it's end, there's an apocalyptic war going on, and our protagonist has failed to notice, enraptured and entranced by the accordion folds of his elaborate mime show. The film makes profound statements about life and art, but obliquely. My favorite line in all of film is from here: "There are nearly 13 million people in the world, and each has an important story to tell." Not only a story, but revolving and revolving sets of stories that continue to improvise themselves and evolve from their own creation. It's the strange reverse-hyperbole in the statistic that really gets me. 13 million people. That's so many, really, enough to drive you crazy with the endless possibilities for life and art and ideas. It's enough to kill a man, never mind the roles and jealousies and heartbreak and bad health and death that come from just playing your part.

It's a lot to put into a film, and the real pain the film brings out makes it difficult to sit through the slowly moving and long portrayal. But it's delicious pain, full of depth, and life.