By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Charlie Kaufman
Starring: Catherine Keener | Hope Davis | Jennifer Jason Leigh | Philip Seymour Hoffman | Samantha Morton
Country: united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 124
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383028/
Marilyn says: “The most important film we caught in Toronto was SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK written and directed by Charlie Kaufman who said at the Q&A that he appreciated the audience very much because they clearly ‘got it.’ The film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton and Michelle Williams is unique, beautiful and a horror film. Yes, I said ‘horror’ and that is what Charlie Kaufman said he set out to make when asked to by Sony. He and Spike Jones got together and thought about ‘horror’ and came up with what terrifies most people…illness, old age, dying, loss, regret, failure and that is what the movie is about. It moves along at the pace of Caden, the theater director played by Hoffman who ages and faces all the horrors of living. The audience must go with the flow and the experience bc Kaufman does put in some unique symbolism like a burning house that shows up periodically throughout the movie. After watching, some of us were discussing it and there were three different, all plausible opinions on the burning house. The movie is that subjective. It is not a movie that everyone will like but I do think it is very creative and must be seen. I look forward to all the ‘cat’ opinions from this group.”
Chris says: “I watched SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK the other night (we did a trade screening at the Coolidge, so we have a screener, albeit one with a lot of annoying security stuff on it)… it’s strange and often frustrating and maybe not entirely successful, but there’s so much in it to love. Although it didn’t occur to me while viewing it, I can definitely see it as a horror film, particularly a black comic one at times, although it’s unexpectedly moving at other times. The cast is great and in addition to Phil and the actresses Marilyn mentions, it has nice (if brief) performances from Emily Watson and Dianne Wiest. I’ll attempt a longer review once it reaches theaters, ’cause I definitely need to see a second time.”