Using the Five W's to tell you what a film is all about.
Synecdoche, New York
WHO: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Michelle Williams, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan
WHAT: A dream-like examination of the life and creative process of a chronically-ill and emotionally tortured playwright as he creates his magnum opus.
WHEN: Present day
WHERE: Schenectady, New York
WHY SEE IT: To see a legend in his own time. Charlie Kaufman is one of the greatest screenwriters living today, and with this film, his directorial debut, he has pushed himself and his audience to a new level. Watching this profoundly sad and confusing film feels much like listening to someone describe an amazing dream they just had: you know it had to mean so much to them but you can’t quite relate to all the pieces. However, Kaufman made sure to include all the pieces in this film. So whether you try to unpack all the film’s dense imagery or you just let yourself be carried along by its melancholy beauty, it will take you more than one viewing to take it all in. But it’s worth the effort.
FINAL GRADE: A
