Review of Synecdoche, New York (2008) by Eduardo Z — 15 May 2010

Brutal, desolating, cynical, intimate. Synecdoche can be seen as the projection of Kaufman-the-writer's universe into his new role - life is still at the mercy of God's little notes, but now it should be directed (!!) and made as honest and universally relevant as possible.

Tidbits of Kaufman's imagination do appear (neurofeedback, Hazel's home), but it's in its honesty against the big questions - pain, change, accomplishment, loneliness - where the film excels at grabbing a piece of the spectator's soul. PSH's fantastic performances - and the always solid replies from Morton, Williams, Keener - become essential to make this ambitious take a believable one, and even help convey those small rays of happiness which interrupt at times Caden's obssessed inner look. Hard to watch, and yet, truly worth it.