And you thought Charlie Kaufman's earlier movies didn't make sense? The brilliant writer's first foray into direction produces his least easy-to-define film to date, a movie that turns in on itself so many times that it somewhat loses its way. The best cast of the year and one of the most original screenplays of all time make Synecdoche, New York worth seeing, but Kaufman's writing requires masterful direction from people like Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry to really come to life. Synecdoche is a film so overflowing with ideas about age, identity, and art that the weight of its concepts cause it to be unable to fly as far as it might have under someone else's direction. Having said that, the cast of Synecdoche, New York is so pitch-perfect (it's as if Kaufman found my own personal list of favorite actresses) and the concept so original that it could be the best choice for people looking to exercise their brain's this holiday season. Just don't be surprised if the workout gives you a headache.

The plot of Synecdoche, New York would be almost impossible to recap in 2000 words, but I'll do my best to be brief. Philip Seymour Hoffman shines (when doesn't he?) as Caden Cotard, a neurotic theatre director who discovers that he may not have long to live. His wife Adele Lack (Catherine Keener) doesn't stand by his side and takes his daughter and moves to Berlin, where she becomes a celebrated painter. Caden gets the MacArthur "genius" grant and decides to stage a monumental play about (and this is my interpretation) the futility of trying to capture the mundane aspects of life through theater. In an impossibly large warehouse, Caden basically builds a city and casts people who are directed to go about their lives. He attempts to find love again with first Hazel (Samantha Morton) and then an actress named Claire (Michelle Williams). He goes to therapy with a woman more obsessed with her writing than her work (Hope Davis) and hates the influence that his ex-wife's friend Maria (Jennifer Jason Leigh) has over his growing daughter. Of course, all of this finds its way into the "play." Eventually, Caden must even cast someone as himself (Tom Noonan) directing himself and cast someone as Hazel (Emily Watson). The line between "fake Caden" and "fake Hazel" and "fake reality" starts to dissolve, and you begin to question not if Caden is experiencing a dream sequence but if perhaps you are.

Synecdoche, New York is a movie that must be submitted to more than understood. Like David Lynch's Inland Empire, there will be people who tell you they understand every twist and turn and what it all means in the grand narrative. They're lying. Synecdoche is about a theatrical experiment that turns in on itself so many times that reality and acting become indistinguishable. Kaufman's screenplay is clearly designed to do the same thing. But while Eternal Sunshine or Adaptation didn't make concrete, traditional sense, they were movies that displayed a glee for screenwriting and life in general. I adore them both and have and will watch them repeatedly. However, I don't ever want to see Synecdoche, New York again. Just as the gloomy Caden whithers away his life in a theatrical production that becomes his only reality, I feel like the movie sucked me into a depressing vortex of symbolism and undecipherable characters. I love the originality of Kaufman's work and one of the most expertly cast movies of the year enough to recommend Synecdoche, New York, but with a warning attached. Make sure you have some headache medicine ready for when you get home.

Rating: THREE BONES

Reviewed by Brian Tallerico (MovieRetriever.com Film Critic)

Release Date: November 7th, 2008

Rating: R

Starring: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samantha Morton, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hope Davis, and Tom Noonan

Director: Charlie Kaufman

Writer: Charlie Kaufman

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