Synecdoche, New York
Quickcard Review
Synecdoche, New York
Directed by: Charlie Kaufman
Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams
Time: 2 hrs 4 mins
Rating: R
CLICK HERE to read De Salvo’s complete Scorecard Review … he gives it a 7/10
Plot: It’s pronounced (sin-neck-doe-key) if you’re unsure. But unsure just might be the point. Caden (Hoffman) attempts to create the most ambitious play ever imagined at the exact time his life begins to unravel.
Who’s It For? Let me just take a line from the film to explain who it’s for … “Knowing that you don’t know is the first essential step to knowing, you know?” This is an impressionist film. It is what you make it. That will turn away most, but with Kaufman directing, you are guaranteed to see something original.
OVERALL
It’s a movie about a play within a play. Or something like that. And be warned, I definitely didn’t get comedy out of this. Kaufman plays with timelines and reality while Caden attempts to figure out if he should be with his wife (Keener), his box office lady (Morton) or his leading lady (Williams).
Morton shines the most and is quite the chameleon. Here, she’s a full-figured beauty (think “Mad Men”) who lives in a burning house. I assume this means she’s lying in her bed, but now she has to make it … but of course, I can’t be sure.
It’s a film that can be dissected for hours, with nice additions from Hope Davis, Diane Wiest and Emily Watson. Even Kaufman joins the cast as a set designer. Film students will flock. Personally though, I just don’t know what to do with the mild introduction of Sammy Barnathan (Tom Noonan) who has been following Caden secretly for 20 years.
I will not doubt the brilliant acting of Hoffman, and I will not doubt the brilliant mind of Kaufman … funny, they rhyme. But with any impressionist piece of work, your feelings overtake you. I was left with Caden slowly suffocating me with his despair. Don’t see this film if you’re depressed. My hunch is that Hoffman found this role demanding and exhausting … me too. I hope Kaufman keeps pushing the envelope though, because with these risks comes a chance of him making a film that will feel like he’s crafting something just for you (pretty sure he wrote The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for me).
Final Score: 4/10
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This isn’t an “impressionist” movie by any means. Look up impressionism. You need to brush up a bit. It’s way over your head. I’m guessing you failed to notice the play-on and partial portmanteau of “Schenectady, New York” and “Synectics”. If you didn’t then I’m guessing you couldn’t understand the point of this movie. Impressionist movie…stick to reviewing superhero movies.
By no means am I an art major. So you got me there.
But I meant ‘impressionism’ in the sense that this film shows everyday life in a new light or with a twist.
It’s loose imagery instead a stable story. Most films provide structure, there is barely one here.
Am I still way off here? Should I have used a different word?
And I love the jab about superhero movies.
I was worried my post was going to come off as being too harsh. Thanks for taking it so light-heartedly.
I guess you could possibly use the word in that sense…maybe. The context in which you are using “impressionism” stings of the negative connotation of the word when it was first used to describe the movement in the later 1800’s. That is probably more of what I’m responding to.
The movie is trying to base reality through analogy, but in almost an nihilistic manner, in my opinion. So your response towards the character’s deprecation, is plausible. But that is supposed to be where the humor lies (at least I think.) But you’re right that it isn’t humor for everyone to appreciate.
In the context of Kaufman’s other movies, I would say this movie has more to do with the attempted actualization of reality, but through near allegorical means, or through different modes of perception.
I don’t think you are too far off, and I’m sorry that I interpreted your critique differently then what your intentions were.
Hey J,
Have you offered this guy a job?